Kilmarnock

Latest updates

  1. Craik pens new dealpublished at 12:24 11 June 2024

    Killie have confirmed youngster Zander Craik has penned a two-year extension at Rugby Park.

    The 18-year-old played a pivotal role in Chris Burke’s Under-18s squad last season, as they secured a second-place finish in the CAS Elite League.

    The forward signed a renewed professional deal keeping him in Ayrshire until 2026.

    Rugby Park general viewImage source, SNS
  2. Latest on Kilmarnock keeper chasepublished at 08:42 10 June 2024

    Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes wants to sign goalkeeper Will Dennis on loan from Bournemouth for a second loan spell, but the Premier League club want the 23-year-old to be part of their goalkeeping squad. (Daily Record), external

    Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

    Scottish gossip
  3. Hibs & Kilmarnock target Slicker - gossippublished at 13:45 9 June 2024

    Gossip graphicImage source, BBC Sport

    Hibernian are interested in Ipswich Town's Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper Cieran Slicker, 21, but face competition from Kilmarnock. (Sun), external

    Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

  4. When Sammon met Wales: Killie striker of the past moulding future published at 13:04 9 June 2024

    Sean McGill
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Conor Sammon and Bobby Wales Image source, SNS

    It's been over 13 years since Conor Sammon's goal-scoring prowess at Kilmarnock earned him a move to Premier League Wigan Athletic.

    Now 37, the striker is still plying his trade at third-tier Alloa Athletic, where he spent last season helping to mould a Rugby Park frontman of the future.

    Bobby Wales, 18, bagged 12 goals for the Wasps on loan from Killie and took some guidance from a veteran striker who knows the blue and white stripes well.

    "Bobby was always wanting to learn," Alloa boss Andy Graham told BBC Scotland.

    "One thing he does need to work on is not beating himself up so much when he doesn't score. That's going to happen as a striker

    "Sammo was really good for him in that respect. He's played at the top level down in England, has been capped for his country.

    "He was there to say to Bobby, 'don't worry, it'll come.'

    "I think seeing someone else be like that and have that attitude certainly rubbed off on him and it was something Bobby was getting better at as he spent time with us."

  5. Wales ready for Killie step-up, says Alloa bosspublished at 12:48 8 June 2024

    Sean McGill
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Bobby Wales Image source, SNS

    Bobby Wales has all the necessary attributes to make his mark for Kilmarnock next term, insists Alloa Athletic boss Andy Graham.

    The 18-year-old scored 12 goals at Recreation Park during a loan spell from Ayrshire last term, winning the Wasps' top goalscorer award as they finished third.

    Now back under the watchful eye of Derek McInnes, Alloa's player-manager Graham believes Wales can force his way into first-team if given the opportunity.

    "I think he will definitely be in Derek's plans," he told BBC Scotland. "I'm just judging on what I saw from Bobby and what I know he's got.

    "All the conversations I've had with Derek McInnes [about Wales] have been very positive, he obviously thinks very highly of him.

    "If he didn't have a reserve game, he would ask me if he could come to our training. That's driving from Kilmarnock, it shows his work ethic.

    Killie have already bolstered their forward options with the signing of Bruce Anderson, while there has been no update on whether player of the season Marley Watkins will return for a European tour.

    With Kyle Vassell and Innes Cameron also in the mix, Graham says young Wales just needs the opportunity - and some patience - to show his talent.

    "I'd love him nothing more than to see Bobby start the season with Kilmarnock and do really well," he said.

    "Doing it for Alloa and doing it for Kilmarnock are two different things. It's a massive step up, but with the attitude he's got, it's one that he's capable of making.

    "It's about giving him time and not everyone thinking he's going to come in and be the top goalscorer. It's just about letting his talent flourish - and I'm sure it will."

  6. Are fans in favour of VAR?published at 17:46 7 June 2024

    Referee checks pitchside monitorImage source, SNS

    The results are in. And they may be a surprise.

    We asked you to cast your vote on whether the Scottish Premiership should keep VAR or scrap it.

    More than 3,000 of you responded to the poll - and while there was a clear majority, it was no landslide.

    Those in favour of ditching VAR totalled 67% of voters, while 33% were in favour of favour of keeping it.

  7. Killie reveal new kits published at 18:29 6 June 2024

    Kyle Vassell Image source, Kilmarnock FC

    It's new kit day at Rugby Park.

    Kilmarnock have revealed their offerings for season 2024/25, when the Ayrshire side will venture into Europe for just the second time in 23 years.

    The club say the home kit is a nod to their only top-flight title, secured on the final day of the 1964/65 season.

    It is their first home strip to feature stripes all away around the top in the last 10 years.

    Meanwhile, the more funky away top commemorates the club's dominance in the Ayrshire Cup - a defunct competition that Killie won 46 times, leading closest rivals Ayr United by 23 triumphs.

    The Thistle pattern replicates the design of the trophy, which was last contested in 1998.

    Away strip Image source, Kilmarnock FC
  8. BBC extends Scottish Cup deal for five yearspublished at 13:26 6 June 2024

    Scottish CupImage source, SNS

    BBC Scotland will continue to broadcast live matches and highlights from the Scottish Cup for another five years.

    The new deal extends the BBC's arrangement of showing a game from each round - up to and including the final - on a free-to-air platform.

    The contract also allows the broadcaster to produce "near live digital highlights".

    The Scottish Youth Cup final will also be shown live for the next five years.

  9. Should Premiership keep VAR or scrap it?published at 15:30 5 June 2024

    VAR screenImage source, SNS

    Controversy and VAR have been intertwined ever since its implementation in the Scottish top flight in October 2022.

    From handball decisions to fouls and penalties, managers and fans alike have had grievances over the technology - and the length of time taken for decisions to be made.

    With the 2023-24 season complete and the new campaign a number of weeks away, would you rather see VAR scrapped from Scottish football or persevered with?

    Cast your vote here.

  10. Polworth extends Killie stay by two yearspublished at 20:38 4 June 2024

    Kilmarnock midfielder Liam PolworthImage source, SNS

    Midfielder Liam Polworth has agreed a new two-year contract with Kilmarnock.

    The 29-year-old's previous deal ended on 31 May, but he will now extend his three-year stay with the Scottish Premiership club.

    Polworth began his career with local club Inverness Caledonian Thistle before moving to Motherwell then Kilmarnock.

    He had a loan spell with Dunfermline Athletic in 2022 but was a first-team regular last season, making 35 appearances for Derek McInnes' side.

  11. Findlay to return to Kilmarnock on loan from Oxfordpublished at 18:40 4 June 2024

    Kilmarnock's Stuart FindlayImage source, SNS

    Stuart Findlay will return for a fifth spell with Kilmarnock "pending approval on an extension of our existing loan agreement with Oxford United".

    The 28-year-old made 46 appearances last season for the side that finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership.

    Findlay had joined League One club Oxford in 2022 from Philadelphia Union.

  12. 'Beck and Chambers to be given Liverpool chance' - gossippublished at 08:34 3 June 2024

    New Liverpool manager Arne Slot will give Owen Beck, who spent last season on loan to Dundee, and Luke Chambers, who was with Wigan Athletic after a spell at Kilmarnock, a chance in pre-season to stake a claim to become Andy Robertson's understudy at left-back. (Daily Record), external

    Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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  13. Ajax & Braga among Kilmarnock's potential Euro opponentspublished at 09:14 2 June 2024

    Ajax stadiumImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    A trip to Amsterdam could be on the cards for Kilmarnock fans

    Following Real Madrid's Champions League triumph at Wembley on Saturday, Kilmarnock now know their potential Europa League opponents.

    Derek McInnes' side will enter qualifying at the second-round stage and could be paired with some tasty sides.

    Dutch giants Ajax immediately stand out, as do Portuguese side Braga and Rapid Wien of Austria.

    Norway's Molde, Turkish club Trabzonspor, Cercle Brugge of Belgium and Croatian club HNK Rijeka are also potential opposition.

    Sheriff Tiraspol or Maribor could be paired with the Ayrshire men as well, but both would have to navigate past their first-round qualifiers.

    The draw will take place on 19 June, with the ties being played on 25 July and 1 August.

    If Kilmarnock fail to get through what will almost certainly be a tough tie, they have the safety net of dropping into third-round qualifying for the Conference League.

  14. Eremenko, Pascali, Van Tornhout, Vareille - Killie's best cult hero published at 14:04 1 June 2024

    Your Views

    We asked you to name Kilmarnock's best cult hero signings - the player that showed up with little expectation (and perhaps ability) but won over the support.

    Here's some of your many shouts:

    John: Best cult signing ever is Alexei Eremenko. Unbelievably good.

    James: Eremenko. Enigmatic magician.

    CS: Manuel Pascali. I'm too young to remember greats like Ray Montgomerie or Tommy Burns. I have never and probably will never witness a player play with so much passion and pride for the badge on his shirt. Chris Burke is probably the only one since who comes close to his cult status for me. There's something special about that #29 jersey.

    David: Eric Skora - what a graceful footballer - and you don’t hear that too often. Eremenko was cult hero and what a footballer. He made players around him far better than they were.

    Anon: Skora. What a player. Small cameo before an awful injury in England.

    Grant: My two favourite cult heroes from all my years following Killie are, firstly, French blonde bombshell and legendary centre back Freddie Dindeluex. And, of course, the Italian stallion himself, Captain fantastic Manuel Pascali. Both would run through brick walls for the team and were leaders that the full fanbase fell in love with!

    Derek: Can only be Dieter Van Tornhout. Arrived with, let's say, a varied CV - none of us had ever heard of him. Two months later, in only his sixth appearance (of 13), he scored the winner in the 2012 League Cup final on his 27th birthday. Sadly, he had to leave that summer due to personal circumstance, but will be forever a legend in East Ayrshire.

    Stuart: Cult figure for me was George McCluskey back in the day. Very much at the back end of his career when he joined us but a real character with bags of skill and guile. Great impact as we went for promotion to top flight.

    Mick: Jerome Vareille. What a player. Endless energy bounding up and down the wing with Gus MacPherson in the 90s. Ah, nostalgia.