Neil McCann
THE KILMARNOCK BOSS TALKS ABOUT HIS FIRST WEEKS IN CHARGE
Lochlin Highet
Supporters have welcomed a new chapter at BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park with the arrival of manager Neil McCann. We sat down with the Killie boss to reflect on his first weeks in charge, the January window, and the direction of travel at Kilmarnock.
It has been a busy start. How would you sum up your time here so far?
It feels like a lot has happened in a short space of time. When you actually count it up, it has only been four or five weeks. In that period we have had a transfer window to navigate and a run of matches coming thick and fast. You are thrown straight into it.
There has been a huge amount of work behind the scenes. We have been assessing the squad, looking at how we can get the best out of the players, and understanding how far we can push them without overloading them. What I have seen is steady growth in our performances. That is important.
Improvement does not always happen overnight, but you want to see signs that the group is taking on information and developing, and I believe we are doing that.
Did this spell confirm that returning to management was the right decision?
Without any doubt. I have always loved football. Even when I was working in punditry, I was drawn to the tactical side of the game. Breaking down systems, studying patterns of play, analysing how teams try to hurt each other. That never leaves you.
Being back in a dressing room, building towards a Saturday, preparing a team to compete, that is the best place to be. I had a taste of coaching again at Rangers and that reignited the fire in me. When the opportunity came to join Kilmarnock, there was no hesitation.
It is a brilliant club. From the outside you see certain things, but when you are inside you realise just how many good people are working hard every day. That support makes a huge difference.
January can be challenging. How did you find the transfer window?
January is never easy. You can lose players you would rather keep, and you are trying to replace quality at short notice. Sometimes clubs are asking for more than they would at other times of the year. There is a lot of negotiation and patience involved.
I was really pleased with the backing we received from the board. We worked hard to identify targets who could improve us.
You have mentioned having a big squad. How do you manage that day to day?
I actually enjoy working with larger groups. It allows you to structure sessions in different ways. You can split into three teams, rotate, and maintain intensity while still managing workload. Players get small recovery periods but the overall demand remains high.
The challenge at this level is that you are leaving good players out of the starting eleven, and sometimes even out of the matchday squad. It is vital that they still feel part of the journey. I have made that clear.
What we do on the training ground reflects that. Standards are high across the board, and everyone is pushing each other.
How important has your backroom team been in settling in quickly?
Massively important. A manager never works alone. We plan sessions together and everything we do during the week has an eye on the weekend opponent. The principles remain consistent, but we adapt details depending on who we face.
There has to be trust within a coaching staff. Open discussion, honesty, alignment. I feel that here. From the coaches to the analysts, sports science and medical team, everyone is pulling in the same direction. That unity filters through to the players.
Finally, how have you found the supporters and the wider community?
The welcome has been tremendous. Kilmarnock is a club at the heart of its community and you feel that straight away. My focus right now has been on the training ground and preparation, often arriving and leaving in the dark, but I am aware of the backing.
You can sense a growing optimism. Results help, of course, but so do performances. There is still a lot of work ahead and it will be tough, but there is real positivity about where we are heading. Our aim is clear. Keep improving, stay united, and build a team the supporters are proud of every time they walk into Rugby Park.
