Kilmarnock

Staff at the Killie Community experienced Déjà vu on Thursday (April 16th) when FOUR sets of twins took to the pitch at their Easter holiday camp. Fully kitted out in Killie colours ranging from Rory McKenzie’s special testimonial strip, this season’s multicoloured goalkeeper jersey, our Paper Roses kit and of course, the club’s iconic blue and white stripes, the respective pairs of brothers were all thrilled to pose for a photo in unique circumstances at the Community Hub. Involved in the Killie Community’s dedicated Easter camp were: Ollie & Alfie, aged 5 Calvin & Corey, aged 6 Struan & Alexander, aged 5 Rory & Arlo, aged 5   The boys were part of the programme which saw over 150 children, aged 5 – 12, from the local area enjoy football coaching and other fun, engaging activities during the school holidays. Last week’s participants were lucky enough to spend some time with vice-captain Robbie Deas and academy product David Watson as the first team players signed autographs. The kids played on the club’s community nine-a-side pitch at the rear of the Moffat Stand, before enjoying a snack and healthy lunch during breaks throughout the dedicated, fun-filled days of the initiative. Spaces in the camp are partly funded by Scottish Gas, the Scottish FA and various other local and national organisations to allow youngsters to attend at no cost. Thumbnail Photo Credit: Jeff Holmes

Neil McCann aimed to “eliminate the fear” after taking over Kilmarnock in January, as they continue their quest for safety in the Scottish Premiership against Hibernian. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Easter Road, McCann believes his side are in a positive position, despite being perched in the relegation playoff spot. “I’m aware of it, clearly, I have to be aware of it, but just looking at where we are now, I think we’re just in a really good groove in terms of how we’re feeling about ourselves and the way we want to play. “We’ll probably have another wee meeting today, actually, just in fine-tuning because I still think we can get much better. “But I think we’ve found a good place where we’re defensively structured but still retaining a real good threat. I’m hoping that the fans are enjoying what they’re seeing just now. “I think where we are right now is that we always wanted to make sure we’re in the fight here. The former Rangers and Hearts winger took over at the beginning of 2026, and after ending their 14-match winless run, back-to-back victories over Hearts and Livingston have boosted their survival chances. “I think the biggest thing for me coming in here with Billy [Dodds] was to eliminate the fear that maybe was existing. “Fear is maybe the wrong word, apprehension may be a better word to use, and just let the boys get back to enjoying their football, being brave because being brave is going to get results and we’ve started that but we’ve got so much work to do. “We’re nowhere near where we want to be and Saturday is just going to be another example of how hard it’s going to be for us this season.” A positive result over David Gray’s side could help Killie leapfrog their nearest rivals and out of the relegation playoff position. With plenty of football yet to play, there is no doubt that Kilmarnock are in a stronger place under McCann’s guidance.

Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann expressed his delight at his side’s improved home form, following their deserved 1-0 victory over league leaders Hearts at BSSP Rugby Park. “There’s a lot to like. I’m so proud of the players. We’ve had two weeks to dwell on the Falkirk result. “The message was to play with risk and bravery, but that we would have to match Hearts. “We knew they would throw balls in the box and be physical, but to a man, we were outstanding and thoroughly deserved the three points. “We did all the stuff off the ball so well. Derek [McInnes] is a first-class manager, and we had to adjust our tactics to respect how Hearts would play. “We had everything tonight and could have scored more as well. We tried to stay composed, they stuck their chests out and deserve their victory. “The bar was set when we came in – what we expect as a coaching team. What we’re doing at home is so pleasing. I want it to become a fortress.” The victory moves the Ayrshire side level on points with St Mirren, ahead of a crucial few weeks before the Scottish Premiership split. Victories over Aberdeen, St Mirren, and now Hearts at home have fuelled optimism for a rejuvenated Killie support. McCann and assistant Billy Dodds deserve heaps of credit for the side’s steady improvement.

Neil McCann promises that leaders Hearts will be given a “tough game” by his wounded Kilmarnock side, who suffered a damning defeat to high-flying Falkirk in their last league encounter. The Ayrshire team have had 2 weeks to stew on the 5-1 defeat, but believes the break allowed his side to “refocus”. “We’ve had a wee bit of extra time to stew on that defeat from Falkirk, which looked totally out of character in terms of performances that we’ve produced since I’ve been here. “I think everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and we were punished by a really good side. “What it has done is give us a wee bit of time to actually look at where we’ve gone wrong in that game, in particular. “With a mix of just giving the boys a wee bit of time away as well because we have been training them hard, so it’s been beneficial, I hope to everybody.” McCann expects a reaction from his team, who “look forward” to welcoming Derek McInnes’ side. “I’ve never seen anything other than a brilliant attitude in training since I’ve been in here. I’ve been talking about the attitude of the boys and what we’ve been asking them to do, of course. “They are gonna be a wee bit low when they return from that defeat and so we should be it was a sore one for everybody to take. “We were really disappointed in ourselves, the show we put on, in most of the other games, I think you can say we’ve been right in, and looking like a threat. “But it has given up a wee bit of a jolt at a good point of the season, actually, with the four games coming up before the split “It’s maybe refocused our minds, we look forward to welcoming hearts here at Rugby Park.” McCann believes his side will be tough outfit for the Gorgie side to crack. “Hearts are going great, and its gonna be a really tough game, they are coming here with their own pressures, to stay at the top of the table, and I think they’ll be thinking this is a hard game. “I honestly do believe that they’ll be expecting a tough game from us down here and I think we’ve been really good at home of late, so we’ve got to continue that for, and belief. Hopefully, we get a big crowd behind us” The manager added that there were no injury scares, his side were “pretty strong” and had a “full group training today [Friday]”.

Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann has “zero criticism” from his side’s 5-1 defeat to Rangers, after battling for 86 minutes with a man down at Ibrox. Dom Thompson’s early red card was compounded by James Tavernier’s clinical penalty, presenting the Ayrshire side with a mountain to climb. Despite the setbacks, McCann believes his team were the “better side” in the first half. ‘I’m so disappointed, we lost a man so early in the match, and I’ve got my thoughts on that, but you have to suck it up.’ ‘You have to continue to trust the players and what the game plan is, your game plan is sort of up in the smokes, and we’re a man down.’ ‘The instruction wasn’t any different, in terms of, we still wanted them to be brave, we still wanted them to get into the game, we still wanted them to pass, and be everything we want them to be moving forward.’ ‘I felt that we were the better side in the first half, and then it is just natural that we gassed in the second half, then you succumb to what looks like a heavy defeat.’ McCann believed Tavernier should have been dismissed in the second period, after colliding with striker Tyrece John-Jules. ‘I think that should be evened up in the second period, there is clear contact on our striker John-Jules, it’s James Tavernier who is just caught on the opposite side, and when he turns, there’s complete contact, on a player that is on the turn, and he falls over.’ ‘There’s no reason for him to go down, and I’m told that there is not enough contact. I can’t understand that. There’s either contact on a player who is in on goal, or there’s not.’ ‘Not enough contact is not a good enough explanation’ Kilmarnock ended a barren, 17-game winless run on Saturday, after dispatching Aberdeen at BBSP Rugby Park. Sitting six points behind their next opponents, St Mirren, pivotal games await McCann’s side. ‘I’ve got zero criticism of my boys tonight because when you go down to 10 men so early in a match, sometimes it can have an effect, particularly when we were just off that real bad run on Saturday. My goodness, I thought they were brilliant tonight.’