Connah’s Quay fire out warning to Killie boss
Connah’s Quay manager Andy Morrison has warned his Kilmarnock counterpart, Angelo Alessio, that the Italian’s newlook Rugby Park side must be prepared for the challenge of the Welsh club in the first round of Europa League qualifying.
Alessio’s first competitive match in charge of Killie will be against Morrison’s team on July 11.
Connah’s Quay drew with Aberdeen yesterday in Cork as the Pittodrie side began their pre-season build-up.
Morrison said: “Alessio will want to play his own way, put his own stamp and philosophy into the team.
“I would imagine the new manager will totally change the shape and system they used under Steve Clarke last season although that will take time for him to implement.
“I have watched a lot of footage of Kilmarnock from last season and hopefully I will get to see them under the new manager before we play them. “They have made this appointment and see it as a forward step but time will tell because it is a tough act to follow, what Steve did last year.
“It will be difficult for him to try and replicate the success Kilmarnock had last season because more often than not it is like a one-season syndrome.”
Although this will be Kilmarnock’s first European campaign in 18 years, Connah’s Quay have competed in the qualifying rounds in the Europa League in each of the last three seasons.
Morrison said that the Scottish club were his preferred choice when the draw was being made.
He added: “I will be honest, I just wanted to miss Malmo.
“That is without being disrespectful because financially it would have been a nightmare and in terms of football it would have been complete damage limitation.
“This trip is good for us because it is not going to cost us £30-40,000 to travel, and the profile of the game is great because we could have ended up in Belarus or somewhere like that.
“If I had to cherry pick one it would have been Kilmarnock.
“It is great for the club, players and myself and we want to go and test ourselves against the best.”