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Killie pair upbeat over future
Kilmarnock, 15:18, August 3, 2009 ,
Jim Jefferies and new signing Mark Burchill says they are still confident for the new season despite a 4-1 friendly defeat to Swansea.
Killie were well outclassed by the Swans on Sunday to continue what has been a difficult pre-season for the Ayrshire club, with talk of financial difficulties and player unrest dominating matters at Rugby Park this summer.
However, speaking after their defeat at the Liberty Stadium, Jefferies was determined to look at the positives they could take out of the game.
"It was a great workout for us," said Jefferies, "They're far more advanced in their pre-season than us and it showed. The long journey down didn't help either. I'm not bothered about the result - I just wanted the boys to get tested against a good side and we got that.
"We were also without four key men in Kevin Kyle, Allan Russell, Craig Bryson and Alan Combe. We'll set out as we always do to try and get into the top six."
Former Celtic man Burchill is also keen to look on the bright side of things and still believes Killie have a great chance of making the top six this season.
"Kilmarnock are about the only SPL team that haven't really lost any key first-team players over the summer... I don't see why we can't challenge for the top six," he added.