Selected Manager's Comments 2022-23....

June 1st 2023 on Next Term's Squad Planning: “I’d like to work with a tighter squad, I think we had too many last season, not through any fault of our own it’s just the way it was. We’d like to work with four or five less and give encouragement to the younger guys, the likes of David Watson and Bobby Wales came through this season giving encouragement to some of the academy players coming through.  We’re predominantly looking to strengthen the starting XI, we want to be as strong as we possibly can be and have that healthy competition throughout the squad. Over the last couple of days, we’ve had a lot of difficult conversations and decisions to make as it is for every manager at this stage of a season, particularly with lads who have done well for me and this club. Either part of a Championship winning team or playing their part in keeping a team up, but I think, like everything, there is a recognition we need to try and change things. The demand changes on me and the club next season. The demand is still to stay in the league, but we want to look further afield now and be 12 or 13 points better off. If we can do that, it gets you into the region of the top six and Europe, which is what we have to try and do. So, there is a lot of pressure on the recruitment part of it and I feel we are more ready to deal with that than last season.” 

May 29th on Tony Docherty's Departure: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Tony on the opportunity he has to manage such a good club. Living in the area, he knows the full potential of Dundee FC. 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.”.

May 28th on the Staggies Post-Match:   "We were everything I wanted us to be. It was such an unusual situation and we couldn't give Ross County any sense that we were playing for anything other than the win. We were aggressive, dealt with their directness, and we settled and played when we needed to. We don't want to over-celebrate just staying in the league, but, from our starting point, this feels like a huge effort from so many people. With change a lot of boys will be leaving and boys that have done really really well for me over a period so there is always that in the back of my mind. As I celebrate I am watching guys celebrating where their futures will be elsewhere."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

May 26th on the Staggies Pre-Match: “From a mindset point of view we want to go in and fight fire with fire. We’re facing a team that’s coming down with a shot at it. We have to see it as the same shot. The only time we may have an advantage of that point being enough is maybe later in the game or if we’re winning. But if it gets to that stage it will be a bit like street football - Malky will be throwing everything at it or if they’re winning the game we’ll be throwing everything at it. It could end up chaos. It’s important we try to manage that. The message from the start has to be to go and try to win the game." 
On Vassell: ... “It would be a psychological boost to see Kyle in the team. We’ve had some of our better performances and he’s chipped in with some goals recently which is a pre-requisite for a striker but his overall general play has been good. He brings personality, charisma, strength and bullishness to the team that we need. He lets centre half's know they’re not going to enjoy playing against him. He imposes himself well and Kyle and Christian Doidge have given what we’d want from a front two. We’ve committed to a front two since January really, we struggled in the forward areas for goals all season, we tried to get additions in the summer and couldn’t. We tried to add to it in January when we lost Kyle Lafferty and Oli Shaw while Innes Cameron was out for three months so we were actually worse off in terms of options. But signing Kyle in January was key. If we hadn’t made that signing things would’ve been a lot more challenging than what they are. He’s been a very important player and the fact we’ve managed to resign him and he’s committed to the club illustrates how important it is for him, us and everyone that we remain a Premiership club. He’s doing all he can. I think it’s admirable of him and others that weren’t 100 per cent on Wednesday that put themselves out there. I love that about my team. If Kyle knows he can run about then he will be out there.”

May 24th on the Arabs Post-Match: "We have taken a big step tonight but there's still work to be done.  Really pleased with how the players dealt with the game. We were very aggressive from the outset, we turned the ball over a few times with our press and caused a few issues for them early on. The biggest thing was getting that all-important first goal, particularly as the away team. There was so much on the game for United as well and that pressure became even more. We scored a good second goal and managed the game really well. We never really felt pinned in, and the substitutes helped negate everything United tried to throw at us. A good night's work, we're pleased but not over-celebrating. Delighted for the supporters to go down the road happy and a bit more confident for Sunday."   - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

May 23rd on the Arabs Pre-Match: "We can still succeed in what we set out to do this season, Prior to the Livingston game [that Kilmarnock won on 13 May], I had a feeling we needed seven points from 12 and that would keep us in the league. We're now looking for four from six. I think four points from six will keep us in the league. Anything other than that will be play-offs or bottom of the league, which we don't want. The season is two games now for us and we've got to try and concentrate on being the best we can be over these next two games. It's back to where it was a few weeks ago, We felt a few weeks ago it was between ourselves, United and County. We always felt every game would become more pressurised if you didn't win the game before. If we can stay in the league, I think we can take big strides in the summer. We want to try and set up Sunday's game on the back of a positive result. It's important we try and get a positive performance, a positive result at Tannadice. We had it last season. We played Arbroath. We had beaten every other team around us besides Arbroath and we needed to beat them to win the league. Normally, if you're going to achieve something, you have to beat your direct competitors. And it's so obvious that our direct competitors are Dundee United and Ross County."

May 20th on the Saints Post-Match: "It was the start we were looking for but the goal changes things. It's such a poor goal to lose. We feel we've been far better at set plays but for the ball to go across the six-yard box as far as it did is extremely disappointing. At this stage of the season it's not just performance that's required it's responsibility and discipline. And in that moment we were short of responsibility, and then discipline for the sending off. That had a huge bearing on the game."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

May 13th on the Livi Post-Match:  "In the context of the season, three points was much-needed. We spoke confidently during the week about the importance of our home form and we saw that today, particularly second half. First half we were a bit nervy, agitated and understandably a bit anxious. The composure came once we got in front and it's important we show both sides to our game in the remaining games."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

May 6th on the Well Post-Match:  "I felt the game was stop-start first half. It was such a poor first goal to lose. From then on in we huffed and puffed and didn’t get to the levels we showed at St Mirren. [Kevin van Veen] punished us with a brilliant goal. I thought he led the line brilliantly for Motherwell, we lacked a bit of that. We also lacked confidence and bravery in our final decisions." - Match Recap  -

Apr 22nd 2023 on the Buddies Post-Match: "If we were going to start winning, we needed to start winning away from home quickly. I think that's important for us confidence-wise going forward. I think that result against a good side can give us the confidence and belief going into these post-split games. Really looking forward to those head-to-head games, can't wait to have a scrap with that."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Apr 16th on the  the Celtic Post-Match: "We help them with the first goal. Some of that type of decision making was really not great. It's not what we want to see. We were passive after that. Clearly we needed to stop the bleeding. We made the changes and I thought we were instantly better. The second half was just exactly how I wanted us to be. I'm determined to get a Kilmarnock team at this club who can beat Celtic and can do so much better than what we showed today. For the time being, our fight isn't that. Our fight now is to make sure we stay in the league. We've got six games against teams we know we can win against."  - Match Recap  -

Apr 16th on the Dons Post-Match: "We help them with the first goal. Some of that type of decision making was really not great. It's not what we want to see. We were passive after that. Clearly we needed to stop the bleeding. We made the changes and I thought we were instantly better. The second half was just exactly how I wanted us to be. I'm determined to get a Kilmarnock team at this club who can beat Celtic and can do so much better than what we showed today. For the time being, our fight isn't that. Our fight now is to make sure we stay in the league. We've got six games against teams we know we can win against."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Apr 9th on Spurs Interest in David Watson: “We’d always identified David as one who would eventually be a regular in the first team. Physically, for an 18-year-old, he’s in pretty good nick.  That goes along with his determination and his desire to do well. He can do a bit of everything.  To play in the Premiership at 18 week in, week out is a big demand.  His strength has allowed him the best chance to cope and he’s done very well for us here. Fans also love to see a young player coming in. I’m conscious that we’d like to try to get more younger players in.  But they’ve got to be ready for it and they’ve got to have earned it. There’s no point in putting them in for a PR exercise. He’s certainly shown he’s more than that. We want to be in a position to be able to keep our best young players at the club. We’re fighting tooth and nail to keep one we’re probably going to lose at the minute. We lost Charlie McArthur to Newcastle.  We lost a couple prior to me coming in to Premier League clubs. We want to create an environment where they don’t want to be looking for anything else. We want to be giving ourselves the best chance of developing as many youngsters as possible.” - Fans Forum Thread -

Apr 8th on the Dons Post-Match: Please see  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Apr 1st on the Hearts Post-Match:   "I thought we were heroic at times, particularly in that last passage of the game. You saw the connection with the fans and the players today and it'll take more of the same going forward. There was a mistake in the build-up to the Hearts goal, an honest mistake. It was so early on, and the response of the players was terrific. We showed our teeth plenty in that first half. It was a top class performance. To beat a team littered with good players takes a lot of effort. Psychologically, it's great for the team, and supporters, to manage to get the three points - particularly the hard way. [David] Watson has a very good future. We identified when we first came in. He will play for this club consistently and in time, he'll captain the first team here."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Mar 23rd on VAR and Killie: "We were so harshly treated at the weekend and it's not the first time, A lot of the referees - the younger group coming through - are getting so used to refereeing the game with VAR. They need to get back to being a good referee, making decisions there and then. "It's time that the refereeing department really up their game and start justifying why there was this demand and need for VAR. I think it's incumbent of the club to do that - we feel really hard done by and we are paying a lot of money for the technology and to modernise our game. I was a big champion of VAR and I think all the managers got behind it as we wanted to help the referees, we want the league to be as modern as possible."We're not even looking for breaks, we're just looking for fairness and competence. I don't want apologies - I'm fed up getting apologies - I want fairness, competence and I want people making the right decisions; not just for my team, but for everybody."

Mar 18th on the Saints Post-Match:   "I thought it was a very strong performance. It was such a one-sided first half. I need to praise my players, we had a good structure about us, we looked brave on the ball, we looked a threat. We seem to lose goals here to brilliant strikes. I'm not going to be too critical of my players today, they gave everything today. It should have been three points."     - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Mar 16th on the Saints Pre-Match: “We’ve got an opportunity to reset after disappointment in the cup, now we have three home games in the next four. It starts on Saturday against St Johnstone, a team we’ve already beaten this season with a big performance.  It’s going to take more of that to get the wins required, every game is arguably bigger than a semi-final in the context of it. We need to have confidence, belief and motivation to go and get the job done in these games. You look for experience in these types of situations, last season is a good example of getting the job done. Right up until the last kick of the ball against Arbroath it was up for debate if we’d win the league. Now we have to stay in the league, we don’t get a medal or trophy for staying in the league but it’s the same outcome. It was so evident how hard everyone worked and pulled together at this stage last season, on the back of losing to Inverness last season we came back to Rugby Park and had one of the most special nights".

Mar 10th on the Caley Cup Post-Match:   "I'm really disappointed. I expected more from the team. We got off to a good start. I thought from there on in, we stopped playing. We got too complacent and made too many errors. I think the penalty's harsh. I think it gives Inverness a real lift and I thought they were far better than us in the first half on the back of that. There's not a great difference, as we saw tonight, in the levels between Inverness and teams at the top of the Championship... and my team.

"That's a fact. We can lose this game anyway, but we the biggest reason we lost this game is the team who wanted to win the game more, won it. I thought we should maybe have got a penalty, and these things are defining moments. I think there's a couple of main decision went against us tonight, but I have to say Inverness treated it like the cup tie it was and they deserved to win it."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -
 

Mar 4th 2023 on the Gers Post-Match: "First half we never had any real threat in behind. [Connor] Goldson and [Ben] Davies were allowed to squeeze the game and suffocate us. Second half we were far better. We brought Jordan [Jones] on to give us a threat and I thought he was really good." - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Feb 25th on the Well Post-Match:   "I'm disappointed for the players and so many people at the club. It was a strong performance. There was a lot of anxiety in the game and I thought the boys dealt with it well.  We were very good in the first half. We had opportunities to get the second, which would've killed the game. We looked for more of the same in the second half.  We gave them a helping hand by giving away too many free-kicks,   There's  players in every team who have the quality of Slattery. It's a brilliant finish. He's come up with a moment."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Feb 18th on the Hibs Post-Match: "We were well-beaten in the first half. We were too open, too passive. We tried to be difficult to play against - we were everything but. At half-time, we decided to make three changes. We were much better. Losing the second goal is ridiculous. It's such a poor goal to lose. I didn't even think it was a yellow [for Kyle Vassell]. I was raging John [Beaton] had given him a yellow. His eyes haven't come off the ball. I think the Hibernian player comes into him. There was no aggression, no intent. [The referee] shouldn't have been asked to go over - he's dealt with the situation at the time and this VAR lot are doing my head in. We will appeal." - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Feb 11th on the Arabs (Scot Cup) Post Match: "This was a tough draw for us and we've managed to navigate this game. Whatever the draw throws up for us, it is something to look forward to. I am more concerned now that when that quarter-final comes round we are going into it in decent form."  - Match Recap  -

Feb 4th  on the Livi Post-Match: "We helped them on their way. We invited them on to us. We made mistake after mistake and it was just a really poor offering from us first half.  I was so pleased with where we were on Wednesday night with the individual and team performance. That's the level we have to be at to win games. There was a lack of intelligence and a lack of real agression and determination. I'm pleased for Christian [Doidge] getting his goal because he works so hard for the team, so he should be pleased. We win the second half just by playing the way we should have the whole game."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Feb 1st on the Arabs Post-Match: "I thought we were terrific. We were nervy at the start, and we had to recover from the penalty and I have my goalkeeper to thank for saving it.  Once we hit our stride, we were knocking on the door, asking the question, being really aggressive and moving the ball. I thought my front two lead the line and did everything but score. Tonight it was a really strong performance. I'm just disappointed we didn't make the most of our opportunities and we couldn't relax and enjoy the game more. It's a bugbear. There'll be games were we can't be as negligent in those areas. We need to show more calmness and conviction. It was a great debut for Luke Chambers. He played a part in the goal, he picked out the pass, he was quality in possession. He was making his senior debut at 18, there's a lot of nerves, but the level of performance was very mature."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Jan 28th 2023 on the Staggies Post-Match:  "It was a fight. We lost the first goal in a counter attack. We played our own part in that goal. The response was good. We had umpteen corners and twice as many shots. In the second half, we had a chance to clear the ball. We gambled it would be a cut-back and they rolled it across the face of goal for 2-0. There were loads of opportunities for us. For long spells we played well but gave away cheap goals and have failed to score ourselves." - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Jan 21st on the Sons (Scot Cup) Post-Match: "I'm delighted to get through. It was a tough game. We expected that. The credit goes to Dumbarton. They were a credit to their division. They were well set-up. They play very compact: 4-1-4-1. We didn't play well enough or with enough tempo. I thought we were a wee bit disjointed, but I have to credit my players because they kept going and it was a moment of real quality from Jordan."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Jan 18th 2023 on the Rangers Post-Match: We set off the way we wanted, imposed ourselves physically, played a high tempo and got balls in the box. But Rangers were good from 20-25 minutes to the end of the first half - they were enjoying the game too much and it was difficult to contain them. The game changes really on the second yellow card for Danny and from there it was an uphill task."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Jan 14th 2023 on the Celtic (League Cup) Post-Match:  "We needed so much to go right and do so much right ourselves to give ourselves a chance. We nullified the majority of their threat for long spells in the game. To lose a goal from a set-piece, when we've got good size and experience about us, is just really disappointing. We showed good personality and appetite and courage to get after them at the right times. You have to pick and choose your moments against Celtic, and we had to be smart with that. The players did so much right. It's not the right decision. It's a penalty kick at the death. The ball is quite flat, Giakoumakis can't get to the ball and he's put his arms round Joe Wright. I thought it was a penalty at the time and even more so having seen it back. I don't understand. We were told VAR would help the situation - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Jan 12th 2023 on Kyle Lafferty: He is bursting to get involved, it has been torture for him missing out.  I think for any player you can accept and have to deal with injuries. If you are missing three, four, five six months with injury . But Kyle has not been injured, he has been fit and running about and training. He has been really supportive, except Celtic Park on Saturday he has been at every game, supporting the team. He has still got a big role to play in and around the game. We need him now to have a big role until the end of the season on the pitch. I have got a big squad - and everyone is bursting to play, Kyle included."

Jan 7th 2023 on the Celtic Post-Match:  "The better team won, no doubt about it. I was really pleased with our first-half performance but really sickened to lose the goal on the stroke of half-time. That was harsh. The second goal was when we were were attacking and they break on us. From then on, we worked hard. Celtic hit the bar a couple of times and my keeper has made saves, but we did a lot right out of possession and in possession."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Jan 2nd 2023 on the Buddies Post-Match: “We were just looking for that moment where we could unlock them and I thought we became a bit impatient with our work. I was hoping for more quality, hoping someone would would work their keeper.  We had to be more precise and inventive rather than just throwing crosses in, which we were guilty of, just being a bit predictable. We weren't good enough to break them down." - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Dec 28th 2022 on the Dons Post-Match:  “I thought from the word go there was a lot to like about us. We were aggressive about our work. The two 3-5-2 systems matched up and we spoke about the individual battles and fighting our corner. We were better in the first half. We passed up two or three good opportunities before the first goal which was a concern but we got the first goal then the second. We wanted to be physical and ask them questions. Up against a good team at 2-0, we spoke at half-time and said no backslapping as there are too many good players in the other team. We wanted to pick them off and get the third goal but we managed to get the win".  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Dec 23rd on the Well Post-Match: (On the 1,046-strong travelling support who backed the team)...“I’ve got to thank the supporters who stayed with us. At 2-0 down, they could have felt like it was another nothing away trip. They came in big numbers and stood by the team. They were just looking for something; looking for a bit of hope and encouragement. They drove us over the line.”  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Dec 21st on the Well Pre-Match: “The away record is certainly not a mental thing for me because I don’t see any real rationale for it,” said McInnes. “We do play on a different surface at home which is a real factor.  In some of our away fixtures this season we’ve been very competitive but when you put the results together and you don’t pick up enough points and enough wins away from home, you have to change that. This feels like a game where we have a real opportunity to change the narrative of that away record, which is really disappointing and embarrassing. Wve got a little mini league we keep private to ourselves. We’re not where we want to be at the minute but we have got an opportunity to make that position look a lot healthier. When you’ve got an opportunity to play teams round about you, you have to treat it like a cup game because damaging the teams round about you can be pivotal once you get to this stage of the season and beyond". 

Dec 17th (Tony Docherty) on the Hearts Post-Match (as he stands-in for Deek):  "When you come to Tyncecastle you have to have a complete 90-minute performance. First 45 minutes, we weren't good enough. The game was lost. We have to be better than that first half. I think in the second half, it was a strong performance. Our performance in the second half merited getting something out the game. - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Nov 12th on the Hibs Post-Match: "It wasn't straightforward. We've had a tough few days since the United game. The response was everything we needed. The supporters needed to see a team trying to win, playing without fear and getting after Hibs. Sometimes when you have to dig deep like that, 1-0 feels like even more. We just had to find a way to win. We dealt with the long balls and long throws well enough. It all became a bit desperate but thankfully we stood up to it. We're still a good bit short of what I think we can get to."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Nov 9th on the Arabs Post-Match:  "Hugely dissapointing, we were awful! . We were nowhere near it. The first goal isn't good enough, second isn't much better, and I don't think the wall jumps properly for the third. We made some changes to stop the bleeding, and that helped. We spoke at half-time about showing energy, passion, showing that we care. I thought we got that, but the damage was done. We were far too easy to play against."   - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Nov 4th on the Livi Post-Match: "It was poor! We were 2-1 at halftime, and we hadn’t really played. Livi are very good at what they do. We needed to manage the second half, and at times we were all over the place defensively. That was far removed from where we have been. I and the fans should expect better."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Oct 29th on the Saints Post-Match: "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. I don't think VAR should be involved in either incident." - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

 Oct 22nd on the Staggies Post-Match: "I thought it was a mixed bag. We came out of the traps brilliantly and imposed ourselves. We had umpteen chances and thankfully Danny is confident at the moment and I could see that with the finish. We were poor the first 20 min's of the second half, however the sub's made a positive impact. Most pleasing was seeing the game out, even though I thought the players did have some mental fatigue, after Tuesday's gruelling cup-tie" - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Oct 18th on the Arabs (Lge Cup) Post-Match:   "Kilmarnock haven't had a good cup run for a number of years and it's good the players to have that focus, We now can focus on the league, but a good cup run can help. Financially it is good, but the feel-good factor is important too. United have been in good form and we watched them closely and they have a good counter-attacking threat, but what we set up to do was play with two traditional centre forwards, which not many do these days, to take advantage of them at centre-half, We hoped we'd have opportunities with our wide players to put balls in the box, but I wasn't expecting Danny Armstrong at 5ft 4 to get his head on the ball." - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Oct 17th on the Arabs (Lge Cup) Pre-Match:  "We know the priority is always, initially after coming up, to stay in the Premiership and establishing ourselves as a Premiership club again, but I don't see why we can't have both,  I just feel as though what we don't want to be doing is sitting watching Dundee United turn up at Hampden in January and watching the game on the telly." - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Oct 15th on the Buddies Post-Match:  "A lot of what we wanted today we got, we were positive in the way we started and were the best team in the first half. In the cold light of day, a point and a clean sheet away from home is positive. I'm not wanting to make my players feel worse but we must try to get from one point to three points."  - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Oct 9th on the Hearts Post-Match: "It's a sore one any time you lose an injury-time equaliser. We give away a cheap free-kick and it allows them to put that one last ball in. Five minutes of injury time - I was a wee bit surprised at that but, still, you've got to see the game out." Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Oct 5th on the Saints Post-Match: "It was important to the supporters to show that we’re here and we’re fighting. The body language, the effort, the tenacity and the ground covered was far more of what I want.  It was a case of making sure that being strong at home is going to be a big part of us doing well this year. It's important we enjoy being at home but it was important we got a bit of confidence. We had to work for that – and by Christ we worked for it. Callum [Davidson] threw all sorts to change the narrative and we stood up to the majority of it. But that last three minutes was tough. It was a helluva strike but we got it over the line". - Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Oct 1st on the Dons Post-Match: -  "Disappointing afternoon, I felt the type of goals we lost is nothing really to do with the level we've come up and I felt we were disappointed with each and every one of them. We spoke often enough all week about the threat of Aberdeen on the counter attack, they have a lot of quick players and they can go from box to box pretty quickly and ask the question of you. I just though we allowed ourselves to be countered".  Match Recap including YouTube Video  -

Sep 30th on Signing a Contract Extention: "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."

Sep 17th on the Livi Post-Match: "We allowed Livingston to play to their strengths. The one thing you don't want to do against the physicality of Livingston is give them opportunities to put things in your box. I don't think there was a lot in the game. But you'll not see an easier goal conceded all weekend. It was terrible. We need to take more responsibility and have more strength."  - Match Recap -

Sep 3rd on the Hibs Post-Match:  "We had good moments and good opportunities to get the equaliser. My team went right to the wire to try and get the point. We've had two brilliant results this week and that performance was up there. Sometimes you don't get your just rewards, I thought we deserved something from the game".  - Match Recap -

Aug 31st on the Hearts (Lge Cup) Post-Match: "I was pleased with a lot of aspects of the performance. We spoke about the importance of getting a strong start, and keeping a clean sheet. Equally we wanted to make sure we got the first goal. I thought we had so much energy and discipline. I'm delighted we got the win.  If you can get in front then it can add to the game and add pressure on the home team, and it can give us the confidence to go and get the result.  For me Hearts one of the bets front lines in the league, we had to content with Alan Forrest, Barrie McKay, Lawrence Shankland as well as others, they threw everything at us.  To get a clean sheet against that level of opposition demonstrates how much we had to do right.  I thought we had so much energy, so much discipline. Hearts make the pitch big and ask questions. We tried to negate their changes in style a few times, it was a game of cat and mouse at times. 
On Innes Cameron: "I've had every club in the Championship ask about him, we've spoken to him and feel he has a role to play here. He's done well in the last couple of games coming off the bench and he's got a real determination about him. That goal will do him the world of good, we can't give him more belief he's got to find that himself. He is a handful, he competes well and physically he's in brilliant nick. He loves the club, he wants to do so well here, but goals are what centre forwards are judged on, it was a brilliant header and I am really pleased from him. Kilmarnock haven't done anything in cup competitions the last wee while, but we have lifted this trophy before."  - Match Recap -

Aug 27th 2022: on the Well Post-Match: "The players kept believing and trying hard. We looked a very good team today first half.  We need to nullify little moments of slackness that cause ourselves problems. Everything we asked the players to do, they tried to do.  We just needed to convert good play into wins. Okay, doesn’t get the job done. I was delighted we managed to get three points and a couple of goals, it was two going on three or four, and delighted for the supporters. "  - Match Recap -

Aug 25th 2022 on Using Loanee's: "It helps bridge the gap bringing a dose of quality in. You don’t want to be working with too many loans.  If you’ve done your work properly with recruitment you maybe think one or two in any window is probably ample.  This window in particular we’ve got far too many loans. It’s not the way we want to do it at Kilmarnock but we feel it’s the way it’s had to be done. We’ve only got Rory McKenzie and Kerr McInroy under contract next season. You see the challenges which will be there. With so much to do a couple of month ago we weren’t even sure if we were going to be a Premiership club. We’ve advertised for the head of recruitment role and we’ll get someone in place in the first couple of weeks in September. It's a been a strain on us to put a squad together to be competitive. We want to be more forensic and strategic with our work. We want better planning but the process for next season’s signings is now. There’s no doubt we’ve had to go down a route this window to try and bridge the gap to make sure the squad is more ready for the Premiership. I feel delighted with what we’ve done, with the support the board have given us to put this squad together. They're fully aware of the obvious concerns going forward and we want to make sure when the new head of recruitment comes in the proper work starts to really identify good talent, good potential players and value on the pitch. It's not just seen to be developing other clubs’ young players while we’re getting a turn out of them. For this window - and there's only a week or so left - it’s important we put the right squad together to give ourselves a chance."

McInnes on Bringing in Chrisene : "I actually didn't think we’d get him. We’d monitored his games and people in the know I know well had watched game and said there was Championship interest. On the off chance I called Stevie last week and he was so receptive to it. It’s clear Villa and Stevie think a lot of him. He’s been in the first team with pre-season games. He's a good size for a full-back, 18, is physically in great shape, handles the ball really well, a natural lefty and likes to get forward. With a first loan there’s always that element of risk but you have to start somewhere and it’s real football now. I think Villa are looking forward him playing at a level they feel he’ll get tested. He's playing for points and bonuses and for the supporters and it’s a great chance for him. We're just delighted to get him in, without putting much on him. Having him and Ryan in both full-back areas has been good for us and hopefully it pays dividends."
 

Aug 20th 2022 on the Staggies Post-Match:  "We were the far better team in the second-half. I enjoyed watching us get to the edge of their box time and time again. Any game of football is won or lost in both boxes. We would have won today, if we were better in their box. There was loads of efforts and decent moments. In between the boxes we were fine but ultimately, we didn't do well in both boxes.  At the very least, we should have come away with a 0-0. If we defend one last lump up the park... We weren't strong enough to deal with that and that was a real sickener for me. The narrative today should have been about the lack of cutting edge or will to stick the ball over the line. Now, we'll talk about not keeping a clean sheet.. 
On the first of Ross Callachan's two bookings, "For me, if the officials see it as I saw it - it is a red card. It's two-footed, it's a lunge. If that's not a red card, God help us. Between the four officials, they should have seen it. It's a red card all day long." - Match Recap -

Aug 14th on the Celtic Post-Match: "We talked about the importance of the start of the game. I do think that first goal is self-inflicted. It felt like a gimme, and it lifts them. You don't need to give them any encouragement to play their football. Celtic controlled the game as we expected but when the ball arrived in our box, it was nothing to do with their level of player. It was the type of goal we shouldn't be losing and three or four of the goals are avoidable. We're not ready to take on Celtic yet but we are better than what we showed today, certainly with our defending. We've got to make sure there's no hangover from this, but we need to improve quickly in terms of showing more resolve, more resilience, more willingness to keep the ball out of our net. Particularly from set plays, it's not good enough."  - Match Recap -

Aug 6th on the Rangers Post-Match:  "First port of call when you come to Rangers is to try and frustrate. I thought we were okay in the first half. I know Tom Lawrence hit the bar. Apart from that, I don't remember Sam Walker making too many saves. We make a tackle and play it right into Colak's  path, which is disappointing. The goal that they get to give them impetus came from our own mistake. There's got to be a realism here. A couple of months ago, we're trying to get this team out of the Championship, Rangers are competing in a Europa League final. There is a gulf there. We had some good moments in the game but, unfortunately for us, not enough. You'd have to say Rangers deserve to win. I thought we were decent for long spells and I'm delighted with the players' efforts."  - Match Recap -

July 30th on the Arabs Post-Match: "There are times when that level of performance will win the game but any 90th-minute equaliser you grab with both hands, It was the very least we deserved against a team that finished fourth last season. For the vast majority of the first half we were outstanding and it was a real blow when Levitt scored because we had two or three opportunities to clear, and we had a wee hangover at the start of the second half. But from 60 minutes on, we were the better team, hands down, knocking on the door, controlling the game. Ash Taylor has scored a few important goals for us and he made a great connection. It would have been tough to take nothing from that. I'm encouraged by what I saw today."  - Match Recap -

July 23rd on the Stenny Post-Match:  "It wasn't perfect but I thought we showed real control. We knew it'd be a difficult game. For us, we enjoyed the bigger spaces, we played round their shape. I would've taken that result before the game. We were very good at times. The players treated it like a cup tie, like it needed to be. It was a good day's work."
On Alebiosu's debut: I think we'll be keeping in touch with Arsenal to see if there's any more like him!"  - Match Recap -

July 22nd on the Squad: "Some players (Jordan Jones in this instance) can go to clubs, like Rangers, and it's not good for them to be a squad player. It"s not good to be a squad player anywhere. Certain people can maybe adjust to that, though.  When you're not playing week in, week out, some players deal with that better and accept where they are. Some people struggle with that. Jordan, by his own admission, struggled with not being a key player.  He did brilliantly at Sunderland on loan. When you speak to the people there, he did fantastically well. He got a move to Wigan off the back of that work.  I do think his spell at Sunderland showed exactly what he’s capable of. So, it’s not just from his time here, he's played a good amount of significant, solid football at good levels before.  He"s still young enough to go and show everyone that he’s got the experience now. He’s experienced good and bad, highs and lows.  He had a good time here at Kilmarnock in his last spell, we want him to pick up the mantle now and drive on. He’ll get the benefit of that for his career by having a successful season with us, and we’ll get the benefit of that type of player. I must say, in the conversations I’ve had with him, I find a maturity about him. He"s a good boy and there’s a real genuine side. He"s got a point to prove and he’s got that hunger. 

"We"ve got to be respectful to the players I’ve got in the squad here. I feel as though we had to make those improvements when we came up a division.   Any manager wants to make improvements to their starting XI, regardless if they’ve won a league. You’"l see it at Celtic, they"ll still want to improve. Teams down the road too. We’re no different. We"ve got to provide that competition. It"s up to the players who were here already to make sure they put their hands up to say ‘we’re not getting pushed aside here’. That’s what we’re looking for. We've got a really good squad, but I do feel we needed types of players. We needed more speed and athleticism in certain areas of the pitch.   From the ones who’ve come in, Ryan (Alebiosu  from Arsenal) and Jordan certainly provide the latter part of what we’re looking for. To try and have more answers if we’re defending from a deep position, we have a counter-attacking threat. We have players that can isolate one-vs-one and go past people. Every team needs that. In the 11 vs 11s that we’ve done in the last couple of days, having Jordan and Ryan involved, we look quicker, more athletic, we can get up and down the pitch quicker. On that transition, you’ve got to have that. Every team needs that. We’re certainly going to need that in the Premiership.  In certain areas of the pitch we’ve got some good options and real competition. That’s what I wanted when I tried to put this squad together.  We’ve still got a bit to go. But when I look back to that night where we were after Raith on the last game of the season, knowing what needed to be done, I think we’re doing fine.  I’ve been well supported by the board. We’ll continue to try and shape the squad in the way that we want it."

July 19th on Bringing in Jordan Jones On Loan: "Delighted to secure the loan signing of Jordan, he’s familiar with the club so the transition will be seamless. He’s a player that we feel when he’s at the top of his game he can bring so much to the team, he’s a ball carrier and brings a lot more speed into the forward areas, as well as creativity and goals. He had a very good loan spell at Sunderland and its not quite happened at Wigan for whatever reason, but he’s arrived here with a hunger and it is clear he has got a point to prove and we want to see that in his performances. I am really looking forward to working with him, I think he will thrive on the responsibility of being an important player and we want to give him that responsibility in this team. It is a good signing for us, if I had thought when we first came in here in January that we would be preparing a team for the premier league and had signed some of the players we have including Jordan then I would have been delighted. We are delighted to get Jordan in the building and hope he can help with the challenges ahead.”

July 13th on the Jags Post-Match:  "It was a pretty even match, I didn’t expect too much between both teams. We’ve not made as many changes as we’d like to the squad.  We've still got a few [transfers] to do and we have too many on treatment table. We were forced to play a shape we don't want to play this season.  Once we get the players in we’re looking for and more out treatment room, you’ll see improvements. The positives are we got minutes into players we want to top-up. That’s important for the Premiership campaign starting". - Match Recap -

July 12th on Chris Burke Joining Killie's Coaching Staff: "Chris is a brilliant role model for our youngsters to learn from and ensuring we maintained his association with the club was everything we wanted".

July 8th 2022:  “Last thing at night, first thing in the morning, you think about it. You know what you’ve still got to do. But I’ve got to take myself back to when I first came into the club. At that point, it was about where we wanted to be and that was the Premiership. We’re there now and we’ve got to try and enjoy it. We have to try and enjoy the work we’re trying to do. If I was told, in January when I came in, that I’d have Kyle Lafferty, Ash Taylor, Liam Donnelly and Alan Power – boys who were familiar to me – then I’d feel good about that. It makes us better, so while you still see what you’ve got to do, it’s also important to remember what you’ve done. I certainly don’t think there’s any panic. That’s not to say things aren’t pressing – we have work to do and we’ve got to try to get on with it. Any player I sign between now and the window closing would be to try and get into the starting XI, giving us extra quality in the side". 

"I am delighted with the players we have but I still feel this window in particular is about the here and now. We are still playing catch-up from being a Championship team but it’s nothing we can’t overcome, we will put a squad together to be competitive. 
 “I was absolutely happy working with someone in that role ( head of football operations James Fowler.), I think it’s becoming the norm. Every manager needs that support from within the club, it’s becoming more and more critical that clubs get that right. For any manager that level of support is important, no matter the role. I feel as if I’ve had that here, I’ve got good communication with the board, they know my intentions and I know theirs. We just want the club to be the biggest animal we can be. 

A move for former Rugby Park favourite Jordan Jones has been rumoured. "There’s nothing I can specifically say about that. What we are looking for is players with speed, ball carriers, people who can be a bit more creative. We’ve had numerous conversations with a lot of players and clubs. It’s not easy to get players at any time but we’ve made a case and showed players that we are a good club. As weeks go on players who maybe didn’t think Killie was an option may just change their mind.”

July 6th 2022 on McArthur Joining the Magpies: "We understood, like all Scottish clubs, that we’re vulnerable to the richest league in the world with all the money that is available there. Ideally Charlie, as a Kilmarnock supporter, would have played 100 games for the Kilmarnock first team and we would have gotten a lot of satisfaction in seeing that. Unfortunately for us, a bigger club has come along and identified he’s a good player, which he is. The move was something that Charlie was keen on so once we established that with his agents, then it was all about us getting the fee that we wanted, which thankfully we did. We wish Charlie all the best. He’s a great kid and he’s someone we’ve really been impressed with in the short time that I’ve been here. You can see exactly why Newcastle would want to bring him into their system and we’ll look out for him and hope he does well there. He will always be welcome back at Rugby Park."

June 24th 2022 on the Squad Status: "I’ve brought in Alan, Kerr, Zach and Lewis. Zach is a boy we knew from before. A brilliant addition to us after last season. When I joined last season, I thought I had two good goalkeepers in Zach and Sam Walker and I’m delighted to get him back. We've identified specific positions we’d like to try and improve and I think it is important for us and any manager in any given season to try and improve the starting eleven. We probably have a wee bit more work to do in that sense. We have a good squad and a great work ethic. I am really enjoying working with the players, but we need to make sure we are as equipped as we can be to meet the demand that will be on us. The budget that has been afforded to me I need to try and use it wisely. I want to try and get the best starting XI on the pitch, and the best squad possible. I am confident we will do that. Very few managers get everything they want, but the club have been very supportive in helping with what we’re trying to do. We've managed to get staff, equipment and resources in that’ll help us become stronger again. I am confident we will do well in the coming season, how well we will do depends on the last few bits of recruitment I would imagine, but I am looking forward to it nonetheless.  I think it would be unlikely, but you never know. We are still actively trying to strengthen the squad in certain areas. It’s still early on in a sense. We have a lot of out of contract players that are getting thrown at you and it’s important we try and hold our nerve and not just take players for the sake of it. When the English clubs go back as well, things will start to move. Players will move on and, maybe, look at one or two in the loan market from down south as well. But English clubs are not even back yet."

June 23rd 2022 on Signing Lewis Mayo:  "Lewis started really well in his loan spell with Patrick last season and showed signs that he’s clearing improving. We look forward to working closely with him to develop him and I’m sure he’ll help us in the challenges ahead". - Player Page Here -

June 20th 2022 on Re-Signing Zach Hemming: "Delighted to get Zach back he made a big impression on everyone yesterday and made a big impact on helping us win the title. The abilities he showed was the attraction to bring him back, but the added attraction was how popular he was within the group. We feel with him, Sam and young Curtis we have 3 goalkeepers there who are at a level to bring that competition we want for every area of the pitch  He is someone we kept in touch with over the summer and we are glad Middlesbrough see Kilmarnock as the next best place for him again".  - Player Page Here -

June 17th 2022 on the Season Ahead:  "I heard a few people talk about how good the league standard was last season, I didn’t concur with that actually. In terms of levels, I thought a lot of clubs underperformed. We want to concentrate on ourselves though. We have a points target we've set and will try to go after. If we can beat that then it will bring some sort of success. But ultimately, the Premier League focus is to try and make sure we get some good players in, get them fit and ready and then we can assess where we want to or plan to be in the season ahead. We found ourselves out of it last season which wasn't where we wanted to be, so we’ve got to appreciate it, But we’ve also got to make sure we’re there to go and set about the Premiership. We dont want to go up and just survive. It’s important that if we're confident to say that and do that, then we have to recruit well too. Once we get the squad complete, we can say with far more confidence what our intentions are.  Our intention isn’t to be involved in a relegation fight but most teams can find themselves down there in any given season. If the recruitment isn't right, you get injured and all the rest of it it, then you can lose a bit of confidence. It’s important that we remember how we finished last season. The scenes at Rugby Park with a huge crowd shows the support is there, we just need to try and bring them with us as much as we can. We do that by winning games in the Premiership every week and having a team people want to come and watch. We've got a lot of work to do but we’re also encouraged by what’s here already. It’s a great club to work for but we want to be a successful club at the same time."

June 13th 2022 on Signing Kerr McInroy: "Kerr is a player we came up against last season for Ayr and we feel he can give us that nice left sided balance in the middle of the pitch. He’s a good age to try and develop to get those improvements from him in our team. We’ve liked what we’ve seen from him and it's a step up for him to play in the Premiership so we’re pleased to get him on board." - Player Page Here -