Season Diary for 2022-23...

June 2022

Killie's New 2022-23 Kit

Killie go into the close-season with the following players under contract; Sam Walker, Chris Stokes, Euan Murray, Jack Sanders, Ash Taylor, Charlie McArthur, Liam Polworth, Brad Lyons, Blair Alston, Fraser Murray, Oli Shaw, Scott Robinson, Innes Cameron, & Steven Warnock.

During the course of June McInnes recruits Alan Power (Ex-Buddies, 1 year deal), Kerr McInroy (Ex-Celtic 2 year deal), and re-loans Zach Hemming back from Middelsboro, on a season-long deal.                     

Harvey Gilmour signs a one year professional contract at Killie, while Chris Burke decides to part company with Kilmarnock after five years, to continue his playing career. "I just think sometimes fairytales do end, but it's ended in a good way, I just want to see the club do well".

Prior to the Bairns (A) friendly Killie free Euan Murray to let him join Hartlepool, having just signed Lewis Mayo, on a season long loan from Newco.

Killie beat the Bairns 4-1 (Taylor 2 & Cameron 2), and then head off for training camp sessions in Spain.

Also of note in June was the pending sale of Charlie McArthur to Newcastle and the unveiling of Killie's third strip (right). 

July 2022

Ash Saves A Point For Killie on Flag Day!

Killie end a good week in Spain by beating Charlton Ath 1-0 before returning to Scotland.                     
Killie start the campaign in the League Cup away to  Fraserburgh and win  3-1.(Shaw, Murray & Lafferty).  Before the Fraserbourgh match  Killie announce the signing of Liam Donnelly to a one year deal, and that James Fowler following a restructure has taken a voluntary redundancy and departed his role of Head of Football operations. Killie also confirm that Charlie McArthur had joined Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee.

Killie then host the Jags in the Scottish League Cup, and draw 1-1 Jags, (with Donnelly scoring on his Killie debut), however Killie went on to lose 5-4 on Pen's. 

Some better news was that Killie had added  Chris Burke to Killie's backroom staff, and had brought in ex-Doncaster defender  Joe Wright (who had been on trial at Hearts).

Killie's next result was in the Scottish League Cup, where it finished Montrose 0-3 Killie. (McInroy (on his Killie debut), Armstrong & Shaw). 

Before Killie's "must win" home Stenhousemuir League Cup match, McInnes was agian busy, bringing in "much needed pace" in the form of  Jordan Jones (on a season long loan from Wigan Ath) and Ryan Alebiosu (on loan from from Arsenal). 

Having just loaned Curtis Lyle out to East Kilbride, Killie then sign Gary Woods, as reports indicate that Zach Hemming may be out for an extended period of time, and that he would return to Middlesboro for treatment. 

Killie go on and beat Stenny 4-1 Stenny, (Polworth, Shaw (2) & Armstrong),  in the Scottish League Cup, and were drawn away to Hearts in the next round. 

It would be a 91st min volley from Ash Taylor that secured a point for Killie at Rugby Park against the Arabs on "Flag Day" to open the 2022-23 Premiership season for Killie, in a match attended by over 8,000 fans.

Also of note in July was that Kyle Connell had gone out on loan to Raith Rovers (thru Dec).

August 2022

Big Innes Sends Killie Through in the League Cup

August In’s & Out’s  

In : The loan signing of Jeriel Dorsett from Reading FC, Deji Sotona on a one year loan deal from OGC Nice, Ben Chrisene on loan from Aston Villa, & Christian Doidge on loan from Hibs.                     
Out: Lee Hodson went out on loan to Partick

Premiership Form: Killie played 4 Premiership matches in Aug losing the first three Rangers (A) 0-2, Celtic (H) 0-5, & Ross Co (A) 0-1. Obviously no goals and no clean sheets meant no points for Killie.                     
Most disappointing was the surrendering of a point in Dingwall, conceding a 86th min goal to the 10 man Staggies.                     

Killie then have their best outing of the season in a come from behind triumph over Motherwell 2-1 at Rugby Park to close out August with Danny Armstrong AND Big Ash getting the killie goals.                     

Killie move off the bottom of the League and up to 9th with this fine performance & result!

Killie Were One Win Away From Hampden in the League Cup:  Even better was to follow on Weds Aug 31st where Killie picked up a 0-1 win at Tynecastle in the League Cup, with Innes Cameron getting his first goal of the season.

Killie are then drawn at home to the Arabs in the QF's.

September 2022

Boyle Fooling With The Wrong Guy!

September saw only 2 matches for Killie with the passing of the Queen, and Stevie Clarke's Scotland European Nations League fixtures. Killie had no home fixtures.                     

Killie open Sept at Easter Rd, and fall 0-1. Ash Taylor was red-carded after 11 min's, leaving Killie with an uphill task. A good performance with no goals and no points.

Killie then lose at Livi 0-1 in a pretty dismal performance. Zach Hemming did return in the Killie goal, and didnt cover himself in glory while conceding the games only goal from a corner. Also of note was second Premiership debut for Jordan Jones. 

In off the field news Killie did have to issue a club statement to address alleged discriminatory behaviour on the part of Kyle Laffery. Lafferty subsequently apologised for his actions, and had an SFA hearing pending going into October.                     

On September 30th Killie announces a three and a half year extention to manager Derek McInnes's contract.

Del said: "I've known for a while that Kilmarnock is the place that I wanted to commit my future to, so I'm really pleased that the extension has now been agreed. Thanks to the backing of the board and the supporters, the club has come a long way since we joined forces in January and I’m looking forward to the next stage of our journey. With a bolstered club structure and strengthening recruitment process behind the scenes, there are plenty of reasons for Kilmarnock fans to be excited about the club's long-term future. In the short-term, there’s a lot of football to be played and everyone including the squad, staff and supporters will play their part."

Additionaly, Killie announce the following appointments ;  General Manager, Gregg McEwan, Recruitment Manager Russ Richardson,  Senior Analyst, Greig Thomson, Also Liam McDaid was welcomed to the football administration team, working alongside Club Secretary Karen Costello. Lastly, Andrew Fitzsimmons joined Killie as Marketing and Media Co-ordinator.                     

In other news  Killie added two more year's to teenager David Watson's contract and that Jack Sanders (Cove Rangers) & Jon Craig (Clyde) had gone out on loan for the remainder of the season.

October 2022

Hampden Here We Come!

After the good news of McInnes's new contract Killie got thumped 4-1 at Pittodrie against his old employers. Taylor did manage his 3rd league goal of the season, however forwards Shaw, Lafferty & Doidge had still to get off the mark for the new season!

Then up stepped Danny Armstrong! (he would score 4 goals in October!). 

Danny scored twice in Killie's 2-1 home win over the Saints. Then Stokes & Laff gave killie a two goal advantage over Hearts at home, only to succumb to a stopage time "worldie" in a 2-2 draw.!                     

The Hearts match was the second straight home game where Killie had conceded "wonder-strikes" in stoppage time for the luck-less Hemming.                  
Prior to the Arabs home League Cup Quarter-Final, Killie picked up their first point of the season away from home at Paisley in a 0-0 draw at the Buddies!. Killie did prevail over the Arabs at Ruggers 2-1, (Lafferty (Pen), & Armstrong (again)) and booked their Semi-Final date at Hampden on Jan 14th 2023 against holders Celtic.   This Hampden date is Killie's first match there in 10 years!.          

Kyle Lafferty is then banned for 10 matches by the Scottish Football Association over a sectarian comment he made. He will be unavailable until Killie's League Cup semi-final against Celtic.                 

Killie's fine home continues with a 1-0 win over the Staggies, with Danny A netting the winner from a Cameron flick on. This was the first match played at Rugby Park where VAR was in use!                 

While VAR was'nt an issue in Killie's prior match, it certainly was in there second! After going down 0-1 at Perth Del said:" I think we were good enough to get something. We lose such a scabby goal; it's not even going towards goal - it's going back across the six-yard box and it hits off big Ash [Taylor]. We scored what I feel is a legitimate goal. I don't see why VAR has to get involved in that."   Also of note in Perth was a cameo debut for Bobby Wales!         

Killie finish the month in 10th place, with 12 points from 13 matches.

November 2022

Big Sam Replaces Hemming to Pick-Up Hibs (H) Clean Sheet

Killie had 3 Premiership fixture in Nov, prior to the World Cup break           

First Killie fall 2-3 at home to Livi despite Joe Wright giving Killie the lead twice in a Friday night affair. Chris Stokes had a "mare" in conceding both a penalty & and the game losing O.G.           

Although not confirmed it is believed that this the first time in the club's history that Killie had lost consecutive matches to Own Goals. 

Killie then travel the bottom of the table Dundee Utd and got pumped 0-4 and move to the bottom of the league themselves. Del makes a triple-sub after only 35 mins at Tannadice. 

Killie Arabs Line Up: Hemming, Alebiosu, (Power 35), Taylor, Wright, Mayo, Armstrong, McInroy, Alston, (McKenzie 35),  Donnelly , (Murray 76),  Jones, (Cameron 35), Doidge, (Wales 76).

Subs Not Used:  Walker, Dorsett, Polworth, Shaw.

Killie would now need a result against Hibs at home to avoid 5 weeks of dwelling on being rooted to the bottom during the World Cup break. 

Killie Hibs Line Up: Walker, Mayo, Dorsett, (Stokes 81), Wright, Murray, (Taylor 84), Power , Donnelly, Polworth, (Alston 92), McKenzie , Armstrong, Cameron, (Wales 92).

Subs Not Used:  Hemming, Lyons, McInroy, Jones, Shaw.

Out of Killie's stating line-up went: Hemming, Alebiosu (injured), Taylor, McInroy, Alston, Jones, & Doidge (inelidgible). Only Mayo, Donnelly, Wright & Armstrong kept their places!

The Hibs match finished 1-0 to Killie, with the aid of a VAR awarded second half penalty taken by Armstrong who had just signed a 2 year  contract extention to stay at Killie through May of 2025. 

Killie are then drawn at Home to Dumbarton in the 4th rd of the Scottish Cup.

Killie finish the month in 11th place, with 15 points from 16 matches.

December 2022

Robinson Scores on his First Start in 11 Months

Post the World Cup shut-down Killie visited happy hunting ground Tynecastle on Dec 17th and were only given an allocation of 500 odd tickets. Killie lose 1-3 after a poor first half. Taylor again scores to give Killie some second half hope before a late penalty finishes off Killie!        

Next up on Dec 23rd Liam Polworth (right) saves Killie's Christmas scoring a screamer to pull Killie even at 2-2 having trailed 0-2 (and down to 10 men after a Power red card) at Fir Park.  In the announced attendance of 4,861 there were a remarkable 1,046 Killie fans!       

To finish up 2022, Killie host the Dons looking to break an 11 year home Hoodoo against them! Goodwin says in his Dons post-match that the score "flattered them" as Killie ran out "easy" 2-1 winners in a fine all-round team performance. Scott Robinson after two second-half Dec sub appearances scored on his first start for nearly 11 months to open the scoring for Killie, with big Joe heading the second just before half-time. 

Also of note in December, Physio Ross Goodwin returned to his former club Killie. He had also previously worked with Queen of the South, as well as Annan Athletic, & Carlisle. Ross replaced Alan White who left in November.       

Killie finish the month with 19 points from 19 matches and were in 9th place in the table.

 January 2023 

Zach Serves Up "A Howler" at Victoria Park

Killie start the New Year with a dissapointing home 0-0 draw with the Buddies, despite having a man advantage for over 80 mins!

On the squad front Killie extend Lee Hodson's loan at Partick, send Dylan McGowan out on loan to the Accies, and bring free-agent Northern Ireland international Kyle Vassell on a deal until the end of the season.

Additionally Jack Sanders loan at Cove was ended, and Curtis Lyle and Kyle Connell's contracts expired. Deji Sotona's loan from Nice was also ended.

Killie then play three consecutive Old-Firm matches. Killie fell 2-0 at Parkhead conceding the opener on the stroke of half-time, which they could not recover from.

A much improved showing at Hampden in the League Cup Semi, saw Killie be very unfortunate not to take the tie to extra-time having a strong penalty shout being denied in stoppage time. Killie lost 0-2, with Lafferty making his return in front of just under 8,000 Killie fans.

Next was a Premiership mid-week home loss to Rangers where Killie scored first and last (Stokes & Wright) in a 2-3 loss.

Killie's only January win was against Dumbarton at home in the Cup, where sub Jordan Jones scored in stoppage time to save Killie's blushes.

The real "kick in the teeth" was Killie's visit Dingwall where Brophy opened scoring while Ash and Robbo missed sitters just before half-time. A quick counter and a Zach "Howler" saw Killie go on to lose 0-3 and fall to the bottom of the Premiership (on goal difference along with the Staggies, Dundee Utd & Motherwell). .

On January 30th Killie sign England youth international Luke Chambers who joins from Liverpool FC on a loan deal until the end of the season. This loan was needed due to the long-term injury to Ben Chrisene (which he picked up in the Hampden Semi). 

On transfer deadline day, Killie confirm the realease of Kyle Lafferty. and Gary Woods. Also, Oli Shaw has departed to join EFL League One side Barnsley for an undisclosed fee. Killie made no new signings.

Killie finish the month with 20 points from 23 matches and were in 12th place in the table.

 February 2023 

Liverpool Loanee Luke Chambers Supplies Assist on Arabs Winning Goal

To open Feb (at home to the Arabs) A lot of pre-game talk centred around where Killie's goals would come from following the departure of Kyle Lafferty and Oli Shaw on deadline day. Between them, that duo had scored one league goal all season. Armstrong had scored five before kick-off. He'd be influential again. Luke Chambers, on his debut after signing on loan from Liverpool, sent in a low inviting cross that Armstrong lashed high into the net with a first-time strike for the games only goal. Walker had saved a penalty earlier to deny Fletcher as Killie's fine home form continued. 

Killie then confirmed Calum Waters had gone out on loan to Greenock Morton for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. Wigan Ath confirm that Jordan Jones re-call was not completed correctly.  Killie then lose at Livi 3-1 Christian Doidge's first goal for the visitors wasn't enough as the Ayrshire club continue their search for a first away league win of the season.

Killie's good away form "in the Cup's" continued with biy big Kyle netting in a Arabs 0-1 win at the Arabs.in the Scot Cup.

Killie then confirm that Steven Warnock has gone out on loan to FC Edinburgh for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.

No road joy for Killie at Easter Rd, as then fell 2-0  to Hibs with Vassell seeing red!

To close out Feb Killie drop2 points at home to Well after 1-1 Draw, with a Slatery 91st min "worldie" denying Killie after Robinson put Ayrshire's finest in front.

Killie finish the month with 24 points from 27 matches and were in 11th place in the table. 

March 2023

Joe Earns Killie A Home Point Vs the Saints

Killie open March with a 3-1 loss at Ibrox and then it was a Scottish Cup Qtr-Final, at the Caledonian Stadium. Caley beat Killie  2-1 despite Vassell opening the scoring. Killie miss a fantastic chance to make history in reaching two Cup Semi's in the same season, which they had never done before! Many in the crowd were calling for Del's head after the match!

Killie did manage to move up the table into 10th after a 1-1 draw at home to the Saints. VAR did Killie no favors (again) as a clear "volleyball" by Considine was missed whille were one up!

Killie finish the month with 25 points from 29 matches and were in 10th place in the table. 

April 2023

Killie Pick Up Their First Away Win of the Season!

Killie move into April and get the full 3 points off of Hearts at Home (where else ?) in a 2-1 victory. "Heroic" Kilmarnock held on with 10 men for the final half hour to beat Hearts and move six points clear of the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. Hearts led after Lawrence Shankland lasered one in, before goalkeeper Zander Clark made the first of two mistakes to hand Kilmarnock the win.First, he conceded a penalty after spilling a shot then wiping out Kyle Vassell - Danny Armstrong dispatching the resulting spot-kick - then Clark flapped at a cross, allowing Christian Doidge to bundle in. Rory McKenzie was then sent off after catching Jorge Grant around the knee with a challenge, however Killie saw the game out for the vital win!

Killie then lose 2-0  at Aberdeen and 1-4 at home to Champions "ellect" Celtic. Killie now needed  a morale lifting win at St Mirren before "the split". Picking up 3 points away fro Rugby Park had elluded Killie until this match.

Some good news prior to the Buddies match was that both that both Joe Wright & Kyle Vassell had signed a two-year contract extension's which would keep them both at the club until June 2025.

On onto the 33rd match of the season. the Killie fans were in dreamland as they watched their side pick up their first away league win in 407 days. An army of 1600-plus filled the away end in Paisley as they watched their side pick up a crucial win away to St Mirren.

Stephen Robinson's side failed to produce a performance befitting of the sell-out crowd, but Livingston's defeat at Dundee United ensured their place in the top half.  Impressive forward play by Kyle Vassell set up Liam Donnelly to score the opener and silence the Paisley faithful. Christian Doidge then scored with a towering header to make it 2-0 before half time, with the hosts' Thierry Small receiving two yellow cards in the space of 14 seconds just after hour.

Three points for Derek McInnes' side did'nt change their league position but did move them four clear of bottom side Ross County.

Killie finish the month with 31 points from 33 matches and were in 11th place in the table.

May 2023

Brad & Co Ensure Killie's Premiership Status!

Killie were to get a third home game against St Johnstone, as the fixtures were announced for the post-split. Killie then confirmed that Steven Warnock  had signed a one-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until June 2024.

Killie cinched the SPFL Reserve Cup 2023 following an impressive 7-0 win against Dunfermline, prior to the Well (A) match. 

Killie get off to a terrible start losing 0-2 at Motherwell after conceding inside the first 5 min's. Bottom-club Ross County's win at home to Livingston meant 11th-placed Killie, who registered just one shot on target at Fir Park, were now just a point off the foot of the table with four games remaining.

Killie then added two new inductees into their "Hall of Fame",  George "Sam" Maxwell & Ally "Bully" Mitchell.  David Watson then signed a new 2 year deal to stay with Killie.

During the Livi Pre-match McInnes urged his team to take advantage of their excellent record at Rugby Park, where only Celtic, Rangers, and Livingston had won in the league this season.

But a nervy and untidy first half suggested his team were struggling to cope with the pressure, and Vassell passed up the best chance when clean through after Christian Doidge's excellent flick. However, persistence paid off soon after the restart as another Doidge flick put Vassell in behind and this time his low shot found the far corner, albeit with the help of some weak goalkeeping from Shamal George. From there, Kilmarnock found the confidence they needed to kick on. And after a series of shots were blocked, Doidge's effort struck Jason Holt's outstretched arm. Referee David Munro initially awarded a corner, but after video assistant referee Willie Collum sent him to the monitor to have another look, Munro pointed to the spot. Daniel Armstrong, Kilmarnock's talisman all season, stepped up and calmly tucked the ball away from the despairing George to bolster their lead and ultimately wrap up a critical three points.

Against St Johnstone, Derek McInnes' side hit the woodwork twice after going behind after 11 min's, but then David Watson's red card for a reckless challenge just before the break gave them a mountain to climb as Killie fell 0-1.

With 2 games to go and one point off of the bottom of the league, Killie would need a minimium of 4 points to avoid relegation.

Prior to the Arabs (A) match Luke Chambers gives up the chance to go to the Under-19 World Cup with England, to stay and help Killie avoid the drop!

Killie were clinical and dominant at Tannadice, in just their second away win of the league season, winning 0-3 (Vassell (2) & Cameron) and now only needed to avoid defeat at home to County in their final fixture to ensure survival.

The Rugby Park side who had the worst away record in the Premiership were clinical and composed as United capitulated and subsequently were relegated. 

Derek McInnes' side would need just a point against Ross County at home. but collected all three to finish in 10th place and guarantee they avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Brad Lyons and a Daniel Armstrong penalty either side of half-time cemented the hosts' superiority and Kyle Vassell made sure of victory after Yan Dhanda's spot-kick had reduced the arrears.

Despite only needing a draw, Killie manager Derek McInnes had pledged that Killie would go full throttle for the victory and his side delivered with gusto in their 3-1 win at sun-drenched Rugby Park.

Killie finish the month and season  with 40 points from 38 matches and in 10th place in the table.

Killie before the end on May, confirm that Assistant Manager Tony Docherty had agreed to take the vacant managerial role at newly-promoted Dundee FC.

Season Diary for 2021-22 - Here

Season Diary for 2023-24 - Here

All the squad shanges coming out od Season 2022-23 are - Here

Season End Review

By Derek McInnes' own admission, the 2022/23 season was not an enjoyable one for Killie.

The Killie boss watched on as his side comfortably beat Ross County 3-1 on the final day to secure their Premiership survival at Rugby Park. 

The Ayrshire side ended the campaign on 40 points, nine ahead of bottom-placed Dundee United and six more than the Staggies, who will now take on free-scoring Partick Thistle in the play-off.

In the end, three wins from their final five post-split fixtures were enough to avoid any relegation drama in their first season back in the top flight - the ultimate end goal for the club.

But with the dust settling on a topsy-turvy campaign, there's undoubtedly a lot of work facing McInnes if Killie are to kick on next term. 

Here are five key areas that will need to be addressed in the coming weeks and beyond...

Moving players on

McInnes has said himself that there will be some difficult conversations to take place over the coming days before everyone jets off for a well-deserved holiday.

Killie have 23 players who are due to move on at the end of their contracts at the start of June, including those who are on loan from various clubs.

Some will be offered new terms, and rightly so, but there needs to be an acceptance that while the current crop has got the club over the line this season, if Killie are to gain the additional 12 or 13 points next term that McInnes has alluded to, then a large portion of the group will need to move on.

There can be no room for sentiment. Fans have an idea of who they'd like to see remain and who will likely depart.

Sam Walker has certainly proven to be a solid goalkeeper at this level. Liam Polworth, Liam Donnelly, and, very recently, Brad Lyons have shown they can cut it and are valuable members of the team. Innes Cameron is still young enough to be worth another deal and others could potentially stay too.

But for all of those who will stay, there will be a higher number that leaves. It will be interesting to see the retained list.

Recruiting & assembling a smaller but better-quality squad

This point directly follows from the last. Once it's clear who is under contract for next season, it will obviously be apparent just how many signings are required this summer. 

Killie ran with a huge squad this season, with several players who have barely featured and have either been forgotten about or farmed out on loan.

Assembling a core squad of around 18 better-quality first-team players, and taking the numbers up to around the 22 or 23 mark with youths and loans would hopefully brighten their chances of success. The likes of Kyle Vassell, Joe Wright, David Watson, Daniel Armstrong, and Rory McKenzie give McInnes a solid enough base to build from.

Russ Richardson has been in the post since the Autumn of last year. McInnes has already pointed to the head of recruitment's importance with the additions of Vassell and Luke Chambers in January. His old Aberdeen ally will play a vital role in ensuring Killie can get themselves on an upward trajectory once more.

Some signings have already been rumoured among the Killie fanbase, but at this stage, nothing is concrete yet.

Replacing Tony Docherty

"I would like to congratulate Tony on the opportunity he has to manage such a good club," McInnes said of the news that his trusted No.2 had joined Dundee as their new manager. "Living in the area, he knows the full potential of Dundee.

“On a personal note, I would like to thank Tony for his help and immense loyalty over all of the years we have worked together, and wish him well in his new challenge.”

To say Docherty's appointment at Dens Park was a surprise would be somewhat of an understatement. He'd worked together with McInnes at St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen, and Kilmarnock over a 14-year period. 

Nobody of a blue and white persuasion could begrudge him the chance to go it alone, though, especially with his first managerial gig coming in the Premiership.

Killie say that Docherty's replacement will be announced in due course. Whether that points to an external appointment, or the internal promotion of either Paul Sheerin or Chris Burke remains to be seen. Maybe some fresh input will be beneficial as part of the summer rebuild.

Striving to achieve greater consistency

In the league, only once did Killie string two back-to-back wins together. And what a time they left it until. Earning six points from six against United & County ultimately had Killie safe. 

Killie did eventually earn two victories on the road in Paisley and Dundee, and they were critical in the club's survival.

But if McInnes has greater ambitions than just fighting off relegation once more, the need for greater consistency needs to be matched, especially away from home. 

Killie's home record is impressive under McInnes, but by contrast, the results away from Rugby Park have been very poor overall. There was an 80-20 percent split in terms of where Killie amassed their overall points total over the course of the season.

It's no use doing the business one week if the next it all goes down the drain because of the team's inability to consistently pick up points away. There will be no progression toward to top six if the performances on display at the SMiSA Stadium and Tannadice cannot be regularly repeated next term.

In the interests of balance, McInnes' impressive cup record continued with Killie last term and he will look to build on that again after guiding the club to its first Hampden outing in 11 years in the semi-finals of the Viaplay Cup. Killie also reached the last eight of the Scottish Cup, although were knocked out by Inverness. That was a dark moment in the campaign and very much one of the biggest disappointments of the season, mind you.

No more over-reliance on Armstrong

The 25-year-old made 47 appearances for the club in all competitions this season. The winger scored 12 goals and notched 10 assists in what was for sure the best year of his career to date. 

From seemingly being nowhere to be seen in the club's Championship promotion success, to becoming the best player in the squad, it was quite the turnaround from Armstrong. 

He's become a real talisman for Killie and he thoroughly deserved the club's player of the year award amidst all of the plaudits from fans and pundits. 

McInnes admitted that it was fitting Armstrong netted a penalty at the start of the second half against County, as the pacey attacker had carried the fight for his team all season. 

It would've been handy for the manager to be able to hang his hat on other players, though. Armstrong certainly displayed his tremendous fitness levels, but he probably should've been afforded a break when his usual high levels dropped at points. 

At times, some teams would have three men on the No.11 - that's how much he's improved over the last 12 months. 

The conundrum for McInnes is to work out a way of ensuring his side isn't overly reliant on Armstrong to step up to the mark week in, week out. In fairness, Vassell has more than risen to the challenge in recent weeks, but recruiting in the attacking areas will be key for Killie.