Kilmarnock may be ripping up Rugby Park pitch.. but boss Allan Johnston ...

THE bulldozers may have been in to rip up the Rugby Park pitch – but it’s Kilmarnock gaffer Allan Johnston who faces the far bigger rebuilding job.

The Ayrshire side are installing an artificial surface ahead of the new campaign, though as it stands Johnston barely has enough players to send a starting XI out on it.

The 40-year-old has just 12 men on his books – most of them kids – after a 17-man exodus followed Killie staving off relegation.

To make matters worse, a new deal has yet to be thrashed out with fans favourite Alexei Eremenko after the Finnish playmaker returned for the remainder of last season.

Johnston said: “We lost 17 players over the summer. What we’re going to do is reduce the size of the squad and go for quality over quantity.

“There is no war chest. We have to maximise the budget we have. We are looking to bring in quality and that doesn’t come cheap.

Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston

 

“There are a lot of clubs looking at the same players we are, so you have to compete with that. It’s going to be difficult. Clubs like Dundee and Partick Thistle are spending a lot of money and it’s difficult to compete with that.

“A club like Dundee is spending money and having a go. But they have a big supporter base.

“We just have to concentrate on our own club and try to get quality to take the club forward. It’s a big challenge when you see how many players we have lost but hopefully we can get the right quality.

“There are 12 first-team players left and we are looking to run with a squad of around 20.

“You can’t afford to lose that number of players every year – but you also have to live within your budget. That’s the way forward for the game here.

“We are talking to loads of players and it’s all about getting the right ones in. Hopefully we can start doing that in the next few weeks.”

Johnston reckons his Premiership outfit will need to capture another six players in pre-season.

But he has been left with the unenviable task of replacing top scorer Kris Boyd after the striker’s switch to Rangers last week.

He said: “I’m disappointed that Kris left but I’m convinced he’d have stayed here if it had been anybody other than Rangers.

“We’ve made offers to several targets – including David Goodwillie – but getting these deals over the line is always the hardest part.”

The new pitch that is being laid will be, without doubt, far more straightforward.

It almost sounds sacrilegious replacing the famous hallowed turf at Rugby Park with an Astroturf surface but the controversial move has the backing of the manager.

He said: “The new pitch will be brilliant for the whole club, even for the youth department training at night. These kids can play at a stadium and are used to the surface. They’ve grown up on it.

“You have to be able to
pass the ball on the pitch. It
encourages teams to play the right way – not just lump it.

“These pitches have come a long way since the days of the old
Astroturf at East End Park.

“Parts of that pitch would come up in your hand during games. It was like playing out in the car park. They have improved greatly. They are quality surfaces now.”

With a number of youngsters being forced to make a step up, Johnston will at least have old pal and ex-Hearts boss Gary Locke on hand to help out as his No.2.

Johnston added said: “He has good experience as a coach – he developed a lot of young players at Hearts and will be a great addition.

“We want Lockey to help our young players because that’s the future of this club.”

Article source: http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-union/live/match-commentary/65554/south-africa-v-world-xv

Kilmarnock may be ripping up Rugby Park pitch.. but boss Allan Johnston ...