Selected Manager's Comments 2024-25.... 

Dec 20th on the Well Post-Match: "We were the better team throughout. We were the better team in the first half and the goal went against the run of play. It's such an untidy, scrappy goal and we had it all to do. Our response was good though. Second-half, we worked down the sides a lot more, played in their half more, had more vigour about us.  We deservedly got our equaliser. We had the best opportunities in the second half. The old adage about a point in the road, coming from behind, there's plenty of positives - but the performance on the day would have won us all three points on another day." - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Dec 15th on the Hearts Post-Match: "The effort was ridiculously good. Any time you go down to ten men you need to give a performance and a half. We had to play the game a certain way. We had to stay within our shape. It’s my job to give us the best chance of winning the game. When Bruce scores it gives us something to hold onto and it’s too often we had our two centre forwards at the edge of our box at the end of the first half so we needed to go to a flat midfield three. The boys were magnificent. We’re having to work too hard too often this season because of the red cards but there are only positives today." - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Dec 7th on the Arabs Post-Match: "It's no more than we deserved. I thought it was a really gutsy, gritty performance. We were competitive throughout. It's exactly the type of performance that was required after the other night.  I thought it would've been harsh on us to lose this game 1-0. We thought later in the game, the subs would be important for us and I think that proved pivotal. Character was screaming out the team and I'm absolutely delighted that we've got something from the game. I'm delighted for the fans because I thought they came up with an intention to get behind the team today. " - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Dec 4th on the Rangers Post-Match: "It’s such a horrible night for us, it shows what can happen if you don’t keep your determination and you don’t keep your concentration, keep your heads.  A horrible night for us, not acceptable to lose in that type of manner.  We now need to try and get back to being the team we were. We’ve had wee signs of it, six weeks ago we beat Rangers, a few weeks ago we beat Hearts." - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Nov 30th on the Dee Post-Match: "We were the better team. We were a bit slow out the traps, Dundee started much better than us. They played percentages, got it in channels and we never really got going in that first 10 or 15 minutes. We were terrific second half, relentless with our work. Good opportunities, more shots and corners, and I'm disappointed not to win the game." - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Nov 23rd on the Saints Post-Match: "There was loads of disruption and the boys were on the bus for four-and-a-half hours getting up here.  We planned to have a pre-match meal at Dunblane and that had to be knocked on the head. But we didn’t allow that to impact us and we actually started really well. But our discipline isn’t helping us and we have to be better. We are seeing a lot of red cards and I guarantee you, a lot of them would not have been given last season. Games are won and lost by either bits of quality or a mistake, however we had none of that".  - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Nov 10th on the Celtic Post-Match: "I feel for the players. We've been the better team. Celtic have been getting so many plaudits of late but they didn't enjoy that. I don't think Celtic had any real control. The XG we had, the chances we created - twice as many as Celtic, twice as many touches in the box, twice as many shots - but ultimately it comes down to goals and moments. I'm disappointed for my players but a lot of what we wanted from the game today we got. We made it difficult for Celtic who have been swatting teams away of late."  - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Nov 7th on Stuart Findlay's ankle ligament injury: "He's almost been perfect for us, he's the equivalent of Cameron Carter-Vickers being out of the Celtic team, that's how big of an influence he is. It's a blow for us, he's a big player, a defender who plays every week for me," McInnes said as he previewed Killie's weekend game with Celtic. "It's a real blow for us, but we need to deal with losing important players at some stage in the season. It could be the difference of maybe seven or eight weeks depending on the scan, so it could be from two to three months to four to six months, potentially for the worst case scenario,"

Nov 3rd on the Dee Post-Match:   "We end up coming away with nothing because we don't sniff it at the end there. There's 30 seconds to go we should show inside when the ball is played forward and we don't match Mulligan's run. Credit Dundee they get bodies in the box at the death and Larkeche's desire to get on the end of it and score was more than our desire to stop it."  - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Oct 30th on the Hearts Post-Match: "A brilliant finish from Matty Kennedy and because he scores early enough in the second half, I think that it gives both teams still time to probably think they can go and win, but it's not always easy here when a team comes onto a home team.  I thought we came onto Hearts. I thought we pressed better, I thought our passing was better and I thought we broke better. There was no real surprise to me when we got the second goal and thankfully Kyle gets the all-important winner. "  - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Oct 26th on the Staggies Post-Match: "We've seen a lot of soft sending offs. The first one - Liam's guilty of stopping the play and he doesn't need to do that. But we've not seen a yellow card for that all season. We're not arguing the point too much on that, because it's silly on his part. The second - he's trying not to grab him because he knows he's on a yellow. It's not last gap, he's done everything not to bring him down. I think it's in the soft variety. I'm annoyed and frustrated at my own team, that we've allowed a game to unravel. We're disappointed with a few aspects of the officiating but also with ourselves." - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Oct 20th on the Gers Post-Match: "It was good to get back to being resolute and organised. Our press was terrific throughout. We had good strength through the middle. I thought we were the better team in the first half and we reminded the players of that, but we still needed that moment. At no time did we settle for 0-0, we thought there was a result there for us. Marley's timing was terrific and he takes his big moment in the game. There were no real scares. I felt quite comfortable throughout the game.”  - Match Recap & YouTube Video - 

Oct 18th on the Gers Pre-Match:  "We know we've got that performance in us to beat Rangers and hopefully we can deliver that, We've allowed the opposition to score the first goal too many occasions this season and it's something that we want to stop. Stop having to come from behind, stop giving ourselves a mountain to climb and start to really impose ourselves in the game - particularly when you play against a team like Rangers.  We want to be a team that's confident at home as we've shown in the past, We're only one point less off when we were at this stage last season and that was after having beaten Rangers in the first game, so it was a wee bit of a slow burner last year and we went on to have a brilliant campaign. I think we'll get that familiarity of selection and that was a real benefit to us last season. We've scored eight goals in the last three games, so we're finding our feet."

Oct 5th on the Dee Post-Match: "We did it the hard way, The second goal came out of nothing. We had a lot to do at that point with so few minutes left. But, boy, we did it. It was a brilliant turnaround. There's things we need to be better at. It wasn't perfect, but it was a perfect ending. Matty Kennedy carried the fight for us, always producing shots and crosses. Rory McKenzie and Brad Lyons ran the game and kept us going. Gary Mackay-Steven, Bruce Anderson and Bobby Wales were terrific.  It's something I'm maybe guilty of - not making my forward changes quicker - and I accept that. We got the benefit of it today."  - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Sept 28th on the Arabs Post-Match:  "The story should have been about David Watson, who was outstanding when he came on. He grabbed the game. We were so good for 35 minutes, a real Kilmarnock performance. United tried to force the issue and we need the composure to deal with that. We were in control but we let that authority go. We can do a lot better with the second goal and, from them being on the floor United think there might be something there for them, then we don't see out the dying embers."  - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Sept 14th on the Buddies Post-Match: "We were the better team with 11 men, we asserted ourselves on the game, overran them in midfield, carried a threat on the sides. We were terrific. The first time the ball comes in our box, [Toyosi] Olusanya gets a run. We're so annoyed with that type of goal, but our response is good - a well-worked set play. St Mirren are a big time and sometimes you have to think outside the box to get a solution. I've not seen the handball again, I've got to trust it is. We've got to assume the referee has got it right and we've got it all to do. The moment of madness from Joe Wright is unacceptable. He'll be fined two weeks wages for his actions. If the referee has deemed that as a punch, it is ill-discipline. Kilmarnock fans need to know that's not acceptable. If the referee has seen what I think I saw, it is enough for a red card."  - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Sept 1st on the Hibs Post-Match: "Rest up, get some bodies back, nurse a few bumps and bruises, get some training minutes into certain ones and then ready to try and attack with domestic campaign where we're a bit more bigger and a bit more energy about us. I'm not downhearted at all. We've actually acquitted ourselves well. Today was a test again physically, a test of the squad to come up with something. Thankfully, we got the point." - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 29th 2024 on the Copenhagen Post-Match:  "I thought the first five or 10 minutes after half time was okay, but from 55 to 70 minutes I thought Copenhagen were the better team and you have to say they deserved their equaliser. They were enjoying the game and we looked a wee bit unsure with our press, which didn’t have the same energy or confidence. It was always going to be tough after that. We battled away manfully, the crowd stayed with the team which I’m grateful for. You saw the way they were with us afterwards, it meant a lot. Regardless of the result tonight, I’m extremely proud of this group. I think we were six games in Europe with unbeaten at home against three-seeded teams. We've lost two games away from home against Copenhagen and Bruges. We've actually acquitted ourselves well.  - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 28th 2024 on the Copenhagen Pre-Match:  'Awful is maybe the wrong word but I've said to the players we need to be their biggest nightmare tomorrow. And to do that we need to bring everything we've got and we need to play with confidence. We need to play with a flavour of what we were last season in a lot of the bigger games. And I do think we need to score the first goal and I think if we get the first goal then it's a huge step towards being exactly that. I think we've all got to want to make this happen as a squad, as a staff and as a support behind us. And our will, sheer will, as well as quality and confidence and being smart with our work has all got to play a part. And hopefully if we get an even break, I thought they got a break last week, there's no doubt about it."

Aug 25th 2024 on the Dons Post-Match: "Since Aberdeen last played, we have played two games and travelled. It's not ideal, but it's the cards your dealt with when you want to be playing in Europe.  We need to get back to being smart and keeping that discipline and not being as reckless as we were in that instance, so, being down to 10 men in the last three weeks, has absolutely killed us."  - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 22nd 2024 on the Copenhagen Post-Match: "The effort of the team, the shape - we gave ourselves every chance to get a positive result. It wasn't drawing a line in the sand and having to defend but we recognised the level of opposition we were up against. We'd limited to them from shots from distance, a few crosses. They hadn't done much to trouble us, they didn't disrupt us and the game played out how I was hoping. We carried a threat, had some good moments in the first half, enough to give the players encouragement we could get something from the game. At half-time, the odds start to swing towards us a wee bit. We wanted to keep them at arm's length and make them do something out of this world to try and change it. By and large we felt okay until the referee gets involved with the penalty kick. For me, it's a horrendous decision. It's extremely harsh. I don't think it's a clear and obvious error. It surprised everybody when he was asked to go over. Elyounoussi has got the first touch but I don't think it impacts him having a shot. It's a coming together and I don't think it's a penalty kick. It floored us a wee bit. I know how gutted I felt on the touchline. We're disappointed and it's a real blow. For all the effort, work and organisation - to lose a goal to that is extremely harsh."   - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 21st 2024 on the Copenhagen Pre-Match:   "We've beaten better teams in the past, We’ve beaten Celtic, we’ve beaten Rangers and I think that a club like Copenhagen is in that type of bracket, so that’s the way we are treating this tie. It’s trying to keep it tight, we had some tight games against both those teams last season, I think it’s fair and sensible to treat it that way over two legs, to take it back to Rugby Park and give ourselves a fighting chance. Copenhagen will be "a step up" from the Norwegians (Tromso) , in what will be his "biggest game" as Kilmarnock boss "by some stretch". 
"Two-and-a-half years ago, my first game was at Palmerston against Queen of the South in the Championship, so the club’s come a long way, The rewards for winning would be off the scale. The chance for a club like Kilmarnock to try and generate the best part of £4m from a one-off tie is unimaginable really".

Aug 18th 2024 on the Well (Lge Cup) Post-Match: "That was so tough on each and every one of us. There wasn't a lot in the first half. We tried to get more penetration, because, for all the possession we had, we didn't work the goalkeeper enough. It was always my intention to make three or four changes at 55 minutes or so, but when Stuart [Findlay] got sent off, it was all hands to the pump. It was such a gutsy performance. I love managing this group of boys because, when more was needed, they gave it. We still carried a fight, we didn't accept what was happening. I couldn't have been more proud of them."   - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 15th 2924 on the Tromso Post-Match: "Last season, we had so many games where we got results from being resilient, hard to play against, everything we weren't on Sunday. We played on the outside of their shape really well first half and we got the all important goal. We wanted to try and continue this run and we've not got a really exciting tie to come.  They thought they had one foot in the next round, I felt that last week. I thought there was an overconfidence, we spoke about that".
On match-winner Joe Wright: "He was in such a poor place place on Sunday, he felt like he let everyone down. But in football there's always another game."He's the guy who made the difference tonight."   - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 14th 2924 on the Tromso Pre-Match: "I think there's a natural train of thought that everybody seems to think Tromso are huge favourites and that's fine and well, but from our point of view, we feel we're well in the tie, I think the game’s in the balance, to be honest. We think there's more to come from us in the performance and certainly more to come from us in terms of keeping the ball out the net."

Aug 11th 2024 on the Saints Post-Match:  "We've not had too many bad days at the office in the last wee while. We're not used to losing here and certainly not in that manner. We didn't deal with the front two and we were unnecessarily anxious. I can talk all day long about schedules and the rest of it, but there's still an emphasis to do the job right and we gave ourselves a real uphill task. Joe got sent off - an experienced defender making poor decisions - and he's beside himself and apologetic and he feels as if he's done us in. It was so much more difficult. It was St Johnstone's day today. We lick our wounds, we have to move on from this quickly. I believe we'll pick up on league form as we go through the season. There's still a trust in what we're doing. We're certainly going to have to defend better than what we have done. The Celtic game was different, they're a totally different animal. Today we played a part in losing all three goals and that's something we'll have to get better at. The biggest drain in our confidence is losing cheap goals, and that's not something you've been able to aim at us. The reason we're playing in Europe is because we've defended a lot stronger than that, more robustly. We need to get back to being that." - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 8th 0n the Tromso (H) Post-Match: We're up against a good team here. It's difficult for people to understand. You don't see it in Scotland, a goalkeeper becoming that extra body for them. It disrupts your press. We tried as best we could. We lost a wee bit of confidence when they started to make a few passes. We needed to be better at looking after the ball when we won it. You've got to credit them. They're where we'll be in January, really up to game speed. You saw the spirit, determination and personality of the team, we didn't give it up. I thought we should have had a penalty. I don't see why that's overturned. I've seen it again, the keeper might get a little fraction of the ball but he's careered into Joe [Wright] with his fist. I'm surprised that's been overturned, the referee's decision was the right one." - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 4th on the Celtic Post-Match: "I thought the 4-0 scoreline was a bit harsh on us. IIt was a good time for Celtic to play us and a bad time for us to play Celtic. Hopefully next time we play Celtic we're a bit more prepared and have a few more players available for selection."   - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

Aug 1st on the Cercle Brugge Post-Match: "It was exactly what we thought it would be - tough, hard-fought. I don't think Big McCrorie hasn't had much to do apart from the penalty save. Just so annoyed we lost the goal we lost. One thing you can guarantee is that the ball will come into the box. They're not shy asking questions of you. We just needed to remain calm, a simple shout can deal with it. Their captain Somers is always in a goal scoring position, he always scores a lot of goals for them. It's all avoidable and that's why we're really annoyed. Were we ever going to dominate the game? Ever going to dominate possession? It was always going to be a big ask. We set up in a way to try and spring Marley [Watkins] and Vass [Vassell] as a front two. They played better in the second half. Marley looked off it first half, we contemplated taking him off at half-time but he responded to what I said to him. We were just hoping for that bit of individual work from your wide players that they do so often for us. The ball just fell to two or three of the wrong players. In terms of efforts and guts, and sticking at it on a really hot, humid night, it was a performance that the supporters would want from their team. We were just lacking a wee bit of quality and at this level, there's no shame in saying we're not quite there yet. But it was a tight game, similar to Rugby Park. The only surprise is the type of goal we lost. We're normally very good at defending the middle of our goal but it's cost us tonight. It's no fault of the players' effort. - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

July 25th on the Cercle Brugge Post-Match: "We made the changes at the right time. Cercle play with high intensity. We thought we might have been able to capitalise on that. It was always my intention to get two strikers on the pitch. Frazer Murray has been terrific in pre-season and he gave us a spark. The way we finished the game, we'll hang on to that. I'm comfortable with the result. Normally it takes two big performances. We'll take the confidence and the fitness from it."  - Match Recap & YouTube Video -

July 24th on the Cercle Brugge Pre-Match: "You don’t need to win the home leg but everything’s so much more difficult if you don’t," said McInnes. "Certainly losing the home leg makes it so challenging. When you play the seeded team, they’re clearly the favourites, they’re trading on a different level from us in terms of the money involved. I still think we’ve got to go and show why we’re in Europe in the first place. Our home form was a huge part of that and I think tomorrow gives us the opportunity to demonstrate what we are, what we’re good at. It’s important we go to Belgium next Thursday hopefully with a lead but if not, making sure we’re still in the tie".
"When you look back two-and-a-half years ago when we took over, we had a horrible game at Queen of the South in January, hardly anybody there. Two-and-a-half years on, we’ve got this type of fixture to look forward to. Now we’re here, we just want to have a go at it."

July 11th 2024 on the Ayr Post-Match: "Hopefully, in time, we'll get a proper game against Ayr. Hopefully they'll be good enough some time to get to the Premiership and we'll have a game. When it's a local derby, of course the result matters. It's a disappointing result, but equally, I've never been too caught up on pre-season games in terms of results."

July 5th 2024 on the Pre-Season So Far: "Bruce (against TNS) was exactly what he is. He took advantage of some good build-up play and just being sharp in the box. His goals were all very similar, all in the box, one-touch finishes and a nice calm finisher in the right place at the right time. Just something I felt we could have done with last season and the reason why we brought him in in the first place. It is pre-season, I don’t get too hung up on friendlies and certainly not on the results pre-season because they are never a real indication. But, at the same time, when your centre-forward is scoring a hat-trick, it is always good.
Obviously, there were a few changes and a few lads moved on for different reasons. We were looking to try and get familiarity and get as many of the ones we wanted to keep. Marley Watkins was one, Stuart a massive one. We’ve only added one new signing in terms of Bruce. We would have taken Will Dennis back in a heartbeat, we would take Corrie Ndaba back in a heartbeat if we could. But Will is going at a pace where he is training with Bournemouth. He will go on their American tour. He probably will go out on loan, but, by that time, we will probably have moved on. So that one’s not really in our thinking at the moment. We are looking at other options with goalkeeper. And Corrie is one where we would like to bring him back, but I think there will be more than us.”

June 29th 2024 on re-signing Marley: "We are delighted to have him back, everyone connected with the club is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Marley longer. I think in his season with us last year he showed show much of his best qualities, he was a pivotal figure in a successful campaign. Being able to bring him back to the squad is a huge lift for us, hopefully he can be as important for us this season, I have no doubts that’ll be the case.”

June 22nd 2024 on Squad Planning: "We spoke last season about the strength of the squad, We're still keen to bring one or two of the lads that were with us back, but getting the core of the squad to remain here was very important. It's important you always strive to improve your starting XI and squad. We've got good numbers for the start of the season and hopefully we can make those additions. Getting the likes of Bruce in to get that different type of front player, it's great to do that business early and the club deserve credit for being on the ball."

June 20th 2024 on Killie' Europa League Draw: "From a technical point, Cercle Bruges will be up there, It'll be a difficult game for us, but we knew the calibre of team we were going to be involved with. It's exciting to see Kilmarnock in that draw, and for us to be as best prepared as we can. No one will give us a chance. By the time the game comes around, we'll be well versed [in how they play]. We've got to be as ready as we can be. Nobody is ever going to be at their best that early in the season, but with the nature of the game and level of opponent, it's important we strive to get there. Hopefully [there will be] a big crowd to get behind the lads. It's important we try to get a positive result to go to Belgium with."

May 22nd on Killie Departing Players: “It’s that time of the year where you’re trying to free up some space in the squad, on reflection there’s lads that have left that have been here a long time. We wish them well in the future and thank them for everything they’ve done at this club.

Managers Comments for 2023-24 are - HERE