Scots legends give new Killie boss Lee a boost
LEE McCULLOCH reckons his first pre- season as a manager has got off to the perfect start.
He has just spent some time in the company of Sunday Post columnist Kenny Dalglish and Scotland boss Gordon Strachan.
The Kilmarnock boss and his squad are in the five-star La Manga resort in Spain for six days to prepare for the new season and it’s there that the former Rangers skipper met the two Scottish legends.
McCulloch revealed: “They are also both out here and they’ve been first-class.
“I don’t need to tell anyone about what they have achieved in the game as players and managers, they’ve had outstanding careers.
“So for them to have a blether with me really gave me a boost.
“It really was invaluable as they have so much knowledge and wisdom about the game. They have my total respect and admiration.
“They were constantly coming away with little nuggets, whether it was tactical or about manmanagement, and I found it all invaluable.
“They might not have realised it, but I’ve gleaned plenty stuff from them and I will put it all to good use over the course of the coming days, weeks and months.
“I played with Kenny’s son Paul when we were both at Wigan more than a decade ago. We got on well.
“So, it was also nice to hear Paul is doing well in his coaching job in Canada.
“I also wished Gordon all the best for the rest of the World Cup qualification campaign.
“We are still hanging in there and the whole country is behind him and the players.
“I’m a young manager and I enjoyed my spell in charge last season when I was caretaker after Lee Clark left for Bury.
“But now I’m in permanent charge and this is my first time getting the players ready for a campaign.
“I’m really enjoying it, but it is non- stop. Management is a 24- hour- a- day job but I am in a privileged position of being in charge of Kilmarnock.
“However, we are training at La Manga and the facilities are excellent.
“It’s a great environment to get things done and we are training three or four times a day in the best of conditions.
“The players are working extremely hard and have responded positively to what we have out here.
“I have to thank Billy Bowie and
the Kilmarnock board for putting this trip on for us. They deserve enormous credit as not every club will have the benefit of preparing for the new season over here.”
Killie’s competitive season starts on July 14 when they take on Ayr United for a derby clash in the Betfred Cup.
McCulloch said: “The first game isn’t far away and we are starting off with a cracker at Somerset Park.
“It will be the first game in what everyone at our club hopes is going to be a successful campaign.
“We will strive every week for consistency and victories and provide good football for our supporters. We need to all work collectively to make this happen.”