Clarke says fairytale title talk is better off ignored

STEVE CLARKE shrugged off the Celtic loss, claiming those who spoke of a title challenge had been ‘talking out of their backsides’.

Killie ventured to Parkhead as league leaders after midweek slip-ups from Celtic and Rangers allowed them to move a point clear with a 2-0 victory over Livingston.

Preferring to focus on that performance and the excellence displayed in beating Hibs 3-0 last weekend, Clarke admitted his side had been beaten by a side on top form in Glasgow.

And, even although his club’s major shareholder Billy Bowie had been among those indulging in talk of a fairytale season to rival the Leicester City story of 2016, Clarke insisted all the hype had been generated from outside of Rugby Park. He said: ‘We didn’t speak about titles, nobody at Kilmarnock spoke about titles. There was a million questions from you guys and people talking out of their backsides, if I may say. It’s not that important for us.’

Reminded that Bowie had in fact spoken out too, he responded: ‘Billy’s the owner. He can say what he wants, he pays my wages.

‘He was asked the question by you guys. Everybody can dream. I’ve said that fans can dream. As well as being the major shareholder, Billy’s a supporter of the club. He’s allowed to dream.

‘We know where we are and where we’re trying to get to and we are doing alright.’