Kilmarnock are trying to finalise the signing of Corrie Ndaba before this week's Europa League first-leg match against Cercle Bruges, with the 24-year-old defender not part of Ipswich Town's plans following their promotion to the Premier League. (Herald - subscription), external
Image source, SNSKuPS midfielder Jaakko Oksanen played 16 times for Greenock Morton in 2021-22
Molde: The side who have had Erling Moe in charge since 2018 finished fifth in the Eliteserien last year and currently sit third behind Bodo/Glimt and Brann. A largely home-grown squad includes two midfielders who came through Manchester United's academy and had spells with Cardiff City - captain Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Mats Moller Dæhli.
Finished third in their Europa League group won by Bayer Leverkusen last season before losing to Club Bruges in the Conference League last 16.
Silkeborg: The side managed by former Aston Villa and Denmark centre-back Kent Nielsen were sixth in last season's Danish Superliga. Another largely home-grown squad includes Peru right-back Oliver Sonne and Kazakhstan midfielder Ramazan Orazov.
Finished third in West Ham United's Conference League group two seasons ago.
Tromso: Jorgen Vik and Gard Holme are joint head coaches after Gaute Helstrup moved to be Bodo/Glimt assistant and currently sit 12th in the Norwegian top flight after last year's third-place finish. A largely home-grown squad is captained by former Norway midfielder Ruben Yttergard Jenssen, while goalkeepers Jakob Haugaard and Simon Thomas have experience in the UK with Stoke City and Huddersfield Town and Newport County respectively.
Last reached the Europa League group stage in 2013-14.
KuPS Kuopio: Were runners-up in Finland's Veikkausliiga in Jani Honkavaara's first season as head coach and he was recently appointed Finland assistant. A largely home-grown squad includes midfielder Jaakko Oksanen, who had a spell with Greenock Morton on loan from Brentford.
Lost to Derry City in the second round of Conference League qualifying last season but beat Luxembourg side UNA Strassen in this season's first round.
Image source, SNSKilmarnock will meet Molde or Silkeborg of Denmark in the Europa League third qualifying round if they get past Cercle Bruges.
Should they lose to the Belgians, the Ayrshire side will drop into the Conference League third qualifying round, where they will take on whoever wins between Tromso of Norway and KuPS Kuopio of Finland.
If Kilmarnock were to win their third qualifying-round tie, they would face a play-off to reach the league phase, which replaces the group stage this season.
The first leg of Kilmarnock against Cercle on Thursday (19:30 BST) will be shown live on BBC Scotland and iPlayer.
Molde or Silkeborg will be at home first against Kilmarnock or Cercle, with the two legs played on 8 and 15 August.
Derek McInnes' side will be at home first should they lose to Cercle and face either Tromso or KuPS instead.
Image source, SNSDanny Armstrong makes it 2-0 from the penalty spot after he had been upended
Kilmarnock warmed up for next week's Europa League qualifier with a comfortable 5-0 friendly victory over Barrow at Rugby Park.
A Joe Wright header found the net via a visiting defender to give the hosts a half-time lead.
Danny Armstrong tucked away two penalties in the second half, either side of a well-placed shot from Marley Watkins.
And Fraser Murray capped a fine evening for the home support by finding the top corner of the net with a curling strike.
Kilmarnock, who finished fourth in the Premiership last season, kick off the new campaign at home to Cercle Bruges on Thursday evening.
BBC Scotland will provide live TV coverage of the second qualifying round first leg.
Image source, SNSStewart struggled for game time with Kilmarnock in the second half of last season
Greg Stewart is back in India for a third spell following his Kilmarnock exit.
The 34-year-old forward has signed for Mohun Bagan on a one-year deal, having had stints at Mumbai City and Jamshedpur.
Stewart, who also spent time with Dundee, Aberdeen and Rangers, joined Kilmarnock for a second time in January, but made just one Premiership start and failed to find the net in 11 outings.
Greg Stewart, who ended last season with Kilmarnock, is top of Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan's three-man striker shortlist, but they can only sign the 34-year-old if fellow forward Armando Sadiku leaves the club. (Mykhel), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, SNSAs Kilmarnock prepare for Cercle Bruges next week, their last European foray still provides a painful and embarrassing memory.
Having secured a magnificent third-place Premiership finish under Steve Clarke in 2019, Killie were under the guidance of Angelo Alessio by the time they embarked on their Europa League qualifying campaign in mid-July.
It was job done in the first leg against minnows Connah’s Quay Nomads as the Italian led his side to a 2-1 victory in Wales.
That result put Killie firmly in the driving seat for the return at Rugby Park, which was also Alessio's first in the dugout in Ayrshire.
The tie was poised at 1-0 to Connah's Quay, a result that would have secured Killie's progression on the now defunct away goals rule.
But 11 minutes from time Stuart Findlay hauled down Jamie Insall to earn a straight red card and give away a penalty that Callum Morris converted.
And just like that, Killie were dumped out of Europe at the first hurdle.
Alessio apologised to fans for the humiliating loss while opposite number Andy Morrison, a Scot, hail his side’s win as "one of the biggest upsets in the history of Europa League".
Derek McInnes’ Killie are now the underdogs as they look to secure Europa League progress against Cercle Bruges, who finished fourth in the Belgian top flight last season.
Can the Rugby Park men bring some European joy back to Ayrshire?
We asked for your views on what would be a successful season for Kilmarnock.
Here's what some of you said:
Kerr: I think fourth again would be another great result for us. Other teams will strengthen as well, and be better than last year so I’d say top six and making it to a European group stage would be spot on.
Grant: A successful season is top six again. Let’s not run before we can walk, last season was excellent finishing fourth and quarter-finals of both cups, ideally fourth or fifth in the league and maybe a cup final would be amazing, but consolidation of last season by staying top six would be brilliant. Europe is a bonus!
Graeme: Fourth was a fantastic season for Killie. They may struggle to match that again with Aberdeen and Hibs likely to have much better seasons. Sixth this year would be another great result for Killie even if it meant no European football in 2025/26.
Alisdair: Group stage in the Europa League, a top-six finish again and a wee cup final success would be ideal.
Marwan: More of the same will be successful to me, but qualifying for Europe will be amazing.
Scott: To do at least the same as last season, maybe go for third, but would be happy with fourth again.
Charlie: A top-six finish again. Maybe get to a cup final, and perform well in Europe.
Graeme: At least top-four again this season, a couple of rounds in Europe and a decent cup run. That would be a good season in my eyes.
Amy: Our target should be to try and make the top six again and get to Hampden. Our signings have been really positive, keeping the nucleus of our squad together especially, so really positive going into the season. Especially as we have the best manager in the league.
Iain: Semi-final of Europe, quarter-final of the league cup, out second round of the Scottish Cup and second in the league.
Robert: To have good season and stay in the top half of the league and maybe get a couple of more players.
Malcolm: Use last season's success to recruit well and maintain a top-four position with the drive ever upwards. We can compete with the Old Firm so why not look at third or second place as a reality?
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes admits there is a sense of disappointment after Kilmarnock lost a pre-season Ayrshire derby on Thursday night.
County rivals Ayr United prevailed in a 3-2 thriller at Somerset Park, with Brad Lyons and Robbie Deas grabbing the Killie goals.
"We're aware of the rivalry between the two clubs," McInnes told club media. "I just thought Ayr looked ahead of us in terms of preparation.
"You've always got to be disappointed when you represent the club - whether it's a pre-season friendly, testimonial, or a proper game - against Ayr.
"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.
"Scott Brown might just be the manager that does it because they've got a good squad here.
"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."
Image source, SNSAnton Dowds beat Robby McCrorie from the penalty spot
Kilmarnock suffered a 3-2 Ayrshire derby defeat in their pre-season friendly at Somerset Park in Robby McCrorie's first game since the goalkeeper was signed from Rangers.
Centre-back George Stanger gave Ayr United the lead after 25 minutes, with Marco Rus, the midfield summer arrival from Coventry City, extending the hosts' advantage nine minutes later.
Midfielder Brad Lyons pulled one back just before the break, but Ayr restored the two-goal cushion from the penalty spot through Anton Dowds, who moved from Partick Thistle this summer, after a challenge on fellow forward George Oakley.
Central defender Robbie Deas replied for Kilmarnock after 72 minutes, but Ayr prevailed to add to their impressive pre-season after drawing 1-1 with Celtic on Friday.
Image source, SNSAfter a season of success at Kilmarnock, is there a growing concern manager Derek McInnes could follow the same path as the last man to guide them into Europe?
It's certainly a fear for fan podcaster Paul Montgomery, who feels he is potentially watching a "re-run" of Steve Clarke's exit.
Having guided the Rugby Park side to a third-placed finish, Clarke left Ayrshire to take the Scotland job.
The former Kilmarnock boss remains in post at Hampden despite a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, and Montgomery hopes that means at least "another couple of seasons" of McInnes.
"McInnes is still ambitious," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "He's a brilliant manager, especially at this level, and I'm sure he'll have already had offers.
"My concern about McInnes in terms of staying with Killie would probably be the Scotland job. It feels like it's a kind of re-run of the Clarke stuff.
"He seems settled, but I'm not naive enough to think he's going to be here for another 10 years. If we get another couple of seasons of stability, then he can go to Scotland or Real Madrid or something like that."
Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell added: "I'm pretty sure he is an ambitious guy and I'm pretty sure he will have one eye on the Scotland job at some point in his managerial career.
"Whether that's within the next two, three, five, 10 years, I don't know. But I don't really see him going to any other club in Scotland."
Ex-Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell is backing his former side to progress to the group stage of European football this season.
Click here to listen to more on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
Killie fans, after last season's fourth-place Premiership finish, what do you think would constitute a successful season this time around?
More of the same from Derek McInnes' side, or do you want to see progress in the cups and perhaps a run in Europe?
How do Kilmarnock follow a tremendous top flight campaign?
With the new season almost upon us, the BBC Scottish Football Podcast examines what is in store at Rugby Park as Iona Ballantyne is joined by former goalkeeper Cammy Bell and Paul Montgomery from the Killie Forever and Ever podcast.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSRobby McCrorie says he needed no convincing to join Kilmarnock, and stressed how excited he is to work with manager Derek McInnes.
The goalkeeper made the permanent switch from Rangers, and says the prospect of European football was another "big selling point".
"Everyone I've spoken to only has good things to say [about McInnes]," McCrorie told Sky Sports.
"He's one of the best man managers from what I've heard and even from conversations I've had with him but I didn't need someone to convince me to come here.
"This club sells itself, what the squad did last season to get themselves in a position to play in Europe is a big selling point for any player."
Kilmarnock have knocked back two bids from Bolton Wanderers for Danny Armstrong. (Daily Mail)
Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland senior reporter
Image source, SNSKilmarnock are close to signing Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie on a permanent deal.
The 26-year-old has played just five times for the Ibrox side, spending time out on loan at Livingston, Queen of the South, Greenock Morton and Berwick Rangers over the past seven years.
A move to Rugby Park for the former Scotland Under-21 international would open the door to more game time.
Because he has managed a full pre-season with Kilmarnock, Stuart Findlay feels like a permanent player at Rugby Park despite the 28-year-old centre-half being on a second loan spell from Oxford United. (The Herald), external
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
We asked who you're backing to be Kilmarnock's breakout star in the season ahead.
Fair to say you're all in agreement...
Stephen: It would be great to see Bobby Wales get more of a chance this season. He's done really well out on loan, playing for Scotland at the younger levels and could be the next big youth player to come through at Rugby Park.
Hopefully we see David Watson as one of the first names on the team sheet this season as well.
Charlie: Out of the youngsters coming through at Kilmarnock possibly the most likely is Bobby Wales. He's had a season out on loan and that may put him ahead of the others.
John: Hope this is the year to find out if Bobby Wales can make it in the top league. Had a wonderful spell at Alloa on loan, so the onus is on him!
Blair: Bobby Wales had a great loan spell at Alloa last season which was well-needed first-team football for him, and got rave reviews. He'll definitely be in McInnes' thoughts this year.
Ben Brannan joined the team in Marbella for pre-season, who is highly regarded at full-back and could be an option this year instead of looking into the loan market.
