Pre-Livingston: Stuart Kettlewell

The new William Hill Scottish Premiership season kicks off this Saturday with Kilmarnock set to welcome Livingston to BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park in the league’s only 3pm kick-off.

All eyes will be on Ayrshire as Stuart Kettlewell leads Killie into a fresh campaign, full of optimism, following a positive Premier Sports Cup group stage and an energetic summer of change.

The new manager has already made his mark at the club, overseeing a comprehensive squad rebuild while guiding his side to top their League Cup group.

As anticipation builds ahead of the league opener, Kettlewell sat down with the media to offer insight into the mindset within the camp.

“We’re Ready to Compete”

Speaking to press ahead of Saturday’s clash, Kettlewell shared his excitement for the campaign ahead:

“The mood’s very good. We’re through the group, we’ve spent time together, and we’ve started to see our ideas coming across. There’s still plenty of work to do, but I think everybody at the club is looking forward to the start of the league.”

The new-look Killie squad has shown encouraging signs during July, but the manager is quick to emphasise the need for consistency and league competition.

“You always want to start well. The shortest of short-term targets is to get that first win on the board, as tough as it is against a side like Livingston. We’ve got a group of players here who are confident, who believe they’re here for a reason, and we’ve got that healthy competition for places.”

A Spotlight on Rugby Park

Saturday’s game takes on extra significance, being the only 3pm kick-off in the top flight. Kettlewell, a self-professed traditionalist, recognises the unique position this game holds.

“It’s a bit strange, being the only one at 3pm. I’m old-fashioned, I still see that as the natural time for football. But with that comes exposure. This is a chance to set the tone not just for us but for the whole league.”

That exposure will fall on a Kilmarnock team determined to make Rugby Park a tough place to visit. With nearly 5,000 season tickets sold, there’s growing belief in Ayrshire.

“You want to be strong at home, that’s your bread and butter. But we also need to improve away from home. If we can get close to a 50-50 split of points home and away, we’ll be in a decent position. We want to give the fans something to get behind from the off.”

Livingston Test and League Landscape

Livingston arrive in Ayrshire with plenty of Premiership experience and a reputation for being difficult opponents. Kettlewell is full of respect for David Martindale’s side.

“We know we’re in for a tough game. Livingston have always been well-organised and hard to play against. We’ll give them every respect, but the focus is on being the best version of ourselves.”

This season’s Premiership is shaping up to be more competitive than ever. With clubs across the country adopting new ideas and fresh approaches, Kettlewell sees a shift in style across the league.

“I think it’s going to be incredibly tight this year. With the changes in recruitment and management, we might see less of the physical, direct football Scotland gets associated with. That presents new challenges, but ones I relish.”

Building for the Future

While Kettlewell avoided bold predictions, he made clear that his ambition for the club is firmly on the front foot.

“I’m not one to talk about targets publicly. But I’ve always said league position, a cup run and developing players are the three key markers. Those are the areas we want to push.”

Following the departure of Corrie Ndaba, the club is still active in the market to strengthen further. The manager remains confident in the club’s ability to attract quality:

“We were disappointed to lose Corrie, but it was a deal the club couldn’t refuse. What we’ve done with players like him is part of the story we sell. This is a place where you can develop, be part of something, and move your career forward.”

Team News

Killie will be without a couple of players due to late knocks in training, while Jack Thomson has returned to light action after a longer-term injury.