Tommy Wright sets out early goals for Kilmarnock

New Kilmarnock manager Tommy Wright is excited about the prospect of filling out Rugby Park if he can replicate his previous success.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Wright has been appointed as Alex Dyer’s replacement following talks with owner Billy Bowie and his fellow board members, plus head of football operations James Fowler.

The former Northern Ireland international enjoyed unprecedented success with St Johnstone, leading them to their first major trophy and enjoying a run of top-six finishes and European campaigns.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Although he inspired devotion from the Saints’ hardcore fans, it proved difficult to get the wider Perth public to regularly attend McDiarmid Park despite the success.

Tommy Wright. Pic by PA.Tommy Wright. Pic by PA.
Tommy Wright. Pic by PA.

However, Wright feels there is major potential at Kilmarnock, although he accepts the priority is to steer the club away from relegation danger.

The 57-year-old told Killie TV: “I spoke to James initially and then Billy and the board and everything was really positive about the club.

“I tried to be as positive as I could be about myself without being too big-headed about how I felt I could help the club and it went really, really well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I got a really good feel for it and I’m just glad the club then said the job was mine.

“Everything was done really, really quickly because on both sides we both wanted each other.

“If you look at the size of the club and what can be achieved here...first and foremost we have to get enough points to move us up the table, and that’s our short-term aim.

“But we spoke about the success the club have had in recent years and how the people of Kilmarnock really turned out in their numbers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“And that was something that we said, if I can replicate the success we had at St Johnstone, we are going to fill three sides of this place.

“If the team is going well they really fill this place out.”

Wright will be assisted by his former Newcastle team-mate Paul Stephenson, who previously worked at Rugby Park on Lee Clark’s coaching staff.

Bowie said: “We received a number of excellent applications but we believe Tommy is the right candidate to lead us up the Premiership table in the season’s remaining games while sharing our vision for the club’s future.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He is an outstanding manager with a strong track record in this league of improving players whilst remaining committed to blooding young talent through the ranks.”

Wright’s first game in charge of Kilmarnock will be against Motherwell at Rugby Park tomorrow night in the Scottish Premiership.

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.