Double boost for Killie
Published 12 Jan 2012 09:30
Share this
KEY midfield ace Dean Shiels, son of manager Kenny, has given Kilmarnock fans by terminating his contract at English Championship strugglers Doncaster Rovers and staying on Rugby Park despite earning less money.
The fans' favourite has taken a pay cut, understood to be of around 30 per cent to remain with the SPL club he joined on loan at the start of the 2011-12 campaign.
Meanwhile roving full-back Ben Gordon, who was such a big hit last season, has returned from Chelsea on a short-term deal until the rest of the season and maverick former Hibernian and Celtic Derek Riordan looks close to landing a move to Rugby Park following a stint of training with the club.
The welcome news comes as Killie gear up to host Dunfermline Athletic on league business on Saturday, take on bitter rivals Ayr United in the Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final next Saturday, January 27 as well as facing a trip to Easter Road to take on Hibernian in the William Scottish Cup Fifth Round, if they can overcome Dundee in tonight's (Tuesday) replay.
Shield told Sportscene: "Dean has taken a real liking to the people of Kilmarnock and he is enjoying playing his football. I must say he has taken a bit of a financial hit but am really proud of him as his dad. It's great that he will be here for the rest of the season as he is such an important player for us and has done very well since he joined us."
The manager says Riordan has fitted well into training and is sitting down to talk to him, hoping to arrange a deal after the player's four-month spell at Chinese club Shaanxi Chanba ended in disappointment.
"Derek is a good lad and he has done well training with us, I am not sure what the boy wants to do but he is a player I am very interested in. We will sit down and have a chat with him and see how it goes."
The return of Gordon will give Killie more options in the wide areas and if the player is even close to the outstanding form he displayed last season he will again be a huge hit in the SPL.
This article appeared in Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 12 Jan 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
