BY DARREN JOHNSTONE – CAPITAL CITY PRESS
Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke has warned the club’s fans not to expect an influx of new signings – despite losing nine players.
Locke’s budget has again been cut for the forthcoming campaign, with chairman Jim Mann admitting earlier this week that Rangers’ failure to get back to the top-flight will cost the Ayrshire outfit up to £200,000 in additional revenue.
The likes of Lee Miller, Paul Cairney, Sammy Clingan and Nathan Eccleston have already departed, while captain Manuel Pascali and playmaker Alexei Eremenko look set to turn down the offer of fresh terms.
Locke has signed midfielder Scott Robinson from Hearts and has been linked with Falkirk goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald but the 39-year-old concedes that Rugby Park will not be a hive of transfer activity this summer.
He said: “The fans have to be realistic like we are, we’ve lost nine but I don’t think there is any chance of nine coming in, it will be around three or four.
“The budget has been cut again and we’re going to have to run with a smaller squad.
“Hopefully we can strengthen the team, allied with good young players we have here.
“These things take time. It’s pretty evident from the last couple of seasons that we’ve had that we need to change things, we can’t keep struggling against relegation every season.
“We have to try and freshen it up. That’s my aim, it was disappointing to lose so many players but one thing I can guarantee is that we’re trying our best to get better players in.”
