Manager addresses Kilmarnock budget cuts but points to 'tremendous' horizons

After near-£1m losses in each of the last two sets of financial results, the Ayrshire club has cut its cloth accordingly this summer.

Jul 15, 2025

Stuart Kettlewell insists Kilmarnock’s recent cost-cutting exercise is nothing to be ashamed about.

Instead, the manager would rather focus on what is shaping up to be an exciting future with a brand new training facility and pitch on the horizon.

In the next 12 months, Bowie Park on the outskirts of the town will be completed, and a new grass/hybrid pitch will be installed at Rugby Park.

As a result, after near-£1m losses in each of the last two sets of financial results posted by the Ayrshire club, it’s been well-documented how they’ve set out to make savings where possible regarding first-team spending this summer.

The club received money for Derek McInnes’ move to Hearts - understood to be in the region of £250k - while Bobby Wales leaving for Swansea City saw £300k added to the coffers.

A total of 14 players left the club, while 10 have been added to Kettlewell’s ranks so far, with a mixture of Scottish top-flight experienced pros signed up, and others who are an unknown quantity at this level.

Kettlewell has utilised the budget afforded to him by the club and remains in the market for at least one more defender.

While, from the outside, budget cuts may look a bit doom and gloom for the team’s prospects this term, the 41-year-old is thrilled to look ahead at what’s set to come inside the next year.

“That’s never a stick to beat anyone over the head with,” Kettlewell said. “That’s the harsh reality of it.

“I don’t say things for effect and don’t say things to try and change people’s minds or whatever.

“The catchphrase is no one cares at the end of the day, but that’s a fact.

“We’ll be changing the pitch here, we’re working through what looks like an absolutely tremendous training facility.

“So sometimes you’ve got to cut your cloth accordingly. It’s not a complaint from me.

“It’s just sometimes that wee bit of a reset as to the pond you can fish in and what you’re able to throw at it.

“You just have to work as smart as you can. You might not see a group of household names coming in, but sometimes that aspect of players that we think have got talent and room to grow, and we need to get that out of them.

“We’ve tried to get a wee bit of a balance there. Players who are fresh to the league and you hope fit in with their profile.

“But also making sure there’s that bit of continuity and experience and guys who’ve played so many games at this level and done well.

“That was part of the plan. Whether you’re able to get to that is another thing. But that’s where I come back to being quite happy with the business we’ve done.”

Ben Brannan was on the scoresheet on his debut at the weekend.

The highly thought of academy prospect started the game at right-wing-back, but in a tactical change by Kettlewell, was swapped to the left flank, with Jamie Brandon switching in his place.

This coincided nicely for Brannan to step onto the ball with a powerful right-footed strike into the bottom corner after a Greg Kiltie cross.

“Yeah, that was my plan,” Kettlewell joked. “I knew he’d come in on his right foot and score at the back post area!

“It was something we saw in the game. We know that Ben has the quality to play both sides.

“He had a good loan out at Inverness, and there were a few teams that have been really keen to bring him in on loan from what they’ve seen of him.

“But he was a player I knew before coming into the club. I was kind of hellbent that if he came along with us that he’d get an opportunity here. He showed up really well. We make sure he doesn’t get carried away.

“I had a bit of a joke with him and the rest of the players. He’s sitting on the wall waiting for the recovery session to take place. And he got the boys to do a wee round of applause for him because he scored on Saturday.

“He’s been first class as a young player and one I do have high hopes for.

“But how quickly that happens, or how good that is, it’s probably on Ben, because he’s going to get all our support, all our backing.

“The same way a lot of players have in the past with players I’ve worked with in his position, of his age and profile.

“The next bit comes down to him. If he continues to impress and do well. You can see the supporters are pretty excited by him, being able to watch one of their own. On that conveyor belt of Davie Watson, guys like that, the supporters tend to enjoy watching them.”