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Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell hails debut keeper after fine display in win over Livingston
The Polish stopper made a number of decent saves in the 1-0 victory Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell heaped praise on debut keeper Max Stryjek after he pulled off a string of fine saves in their 1-0 win over Livingston last night. The victory, against the stopper's former team, puts the Rugby Park side in control of Group H with two wins from two. Mo Sylla's first half own goal decided the game but the Polish keeper impressed in denying Stevie May twice and repelling Robbie Muirhead on a number of occasions. Kettlewell said: 'You just see his experience, don't you? He's some character, but he just wants to play football. He wants to get back out on the pitch. He's been a guy for a number of years now that's been active in the game, playing, being involved, under pressure, doing well. 'So I think you can kind of see that in his performance. He's been really vibrant about the place and delighted that he performed as well as he did.' It was far from a vintage display from Kilmarnock, but Kettlewell insisted he's not going to be overly negative at this stage of the season. He added: 'I need to rein myself in for being negative, because I absolutely think we can play much better than what we did. I think we'll have to over the course of the season. 'What the players showed us was a bit of grit, a bit of determination, to make sure they dragged themselves across the line to get the three points.'
The National
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Jamie Brandon ready for reunion with 'biggest influence'
The versatile defender made the move from the recently promoted play-off winners to Rugby Park this summer, as he became Stuart Kettlewell's first signing as the new Killie manager. Brandon was Livi's captain after spending three years at his local team in West Lothian. Now, he's fully focussed on Killie. And while facing his former employer adds another dynamic to the Premier Sports Cup group fixture, he's ready to tackle it head-on. 'I definitely look back on it with a lot of fondness,' the 27-year-old reflected on his time at Almondvale. 'It's obviously my local team, you know, I'm a West Lothian boy. "They gave me an opportunity to go back into the Premiership when I was leaving Hearts after being on loan at Morton. "I felt I improved a lot as a player in my time there, obviously made friends that I'll have for life. Last season was definitely the best season I have had in my career. "Davie [Martindale] has to be up there with my biggest influences. He's the manager I've played most football under. "He sets high standards, and they are standards you want to take into the rest of your career. "Playing them twice so early is a bizarre double! It will be a good challenge for us. They're a good team and they will be competitive.' Speaking about the summer transfer window and his move to Ayrshire, he discussed how that all took place. Brandon also divulged how he broke the news to his former boss. He added: "He was brand new when I told him I was leaving. He understood and said I went with his best wishes. "He wanted to keep me, but it was out of his hands at that point'. The versatile full-back still stays in Whitburn and commutes to Killie and still keeps in touch with his good friends Andrew Shinnie, Jack Hamilton and Danny Wilson. Jokingly, he went on to say he hasn't heard from them this week. "They are three great lads and three people I spent a lot of time with last season,' he said. "There's been no chat this week. It's been radio silence from them. "I usually hear from them quite regularly. I'm sure after the game, I'll speak to them and catch up with them." Brandon was quick to remind everyone that he is a Kilmarnock player, as he revealed what his chats with Kettlewell were like before and after signing his two-year deal. He said: "I had a conversation with the gaffer here and I liked what he had to say and liked his vision for the club. "After that conversation and things were agreed, it was something I looked forward to. "Everybody is fitting in well. There is a good core group here who have welcomed all the boys." Meanwhile, Kettlewell is eager to get down to business in his first competitive home match as Killie boss. He added: 'It gives us a good test, where some of our new players will get to experience what it'll be like to go up against a Premiership team, and what that feels and looks like. 'We want to try to rotate the squad so that we're getting minutes into other players. Equally, we want to be as strong as we can to try to win the game.'
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kilmarnock's Brandon braced for 'strange' Livingston reunion
Jamie Brandon is prepared for a tough test in "quite a quick turnaround" as he prepares to face his old club when Kilmarnock welcome Livingston to Rugby Park on 27-year-old left the West Lothian side after captaining the team to top-flight promotion last the right-back is preparing for a "strange" fixture against his old club in the Scottish League Cup group stage."It will be enjoyable obviously. I know everyone there very well and know how they like to work," said Brandon."It will be a tough test and they're a competitive team so it's one I'm looking forward to. With the draw and then the first league game as well - nice and quick playing against them."I do find it a little bit strange. Obviously I was there for three years and I only just left not long ago and you're back playing against them."So it's quite a quick turnaround but it's one I'm looking forward to and I want to showcase what us at Kilmarnock can do against them."The defender became Stuart Kettlewell's first signing after three seasons at reflected on his time with his former team but insists he is hopeful for more success at his new club."It was a time I really enjoyed and I think particularly last season, it was a successful year and probably where I played my best football in my career, so I look back with fond memories," he Kilmarnock have announced a co-operation agreement with Annan Craik, Josh Gilmour and Duncan Barlow will head to Galabank as part of the agreement, which focuses on boosting opportunities for young Scottish Rugby Park club say "this is a flexible loan agreement that allows players to move between the sides" during the campaign.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kettlewell heaps praise on 'eye-catching' debutant Brannan
Stuart Kettlewell says he has "high hopes" for "eye-catching" Ben Brannan after the teenager scored on his Kilmarnock debut against Brora Rangers on 18-year-old midfielder, who came through the Rugby Park academy, netted the first goal of the Kettlewell era at Killie in the Premier Sports Cup."I don't often pick people out but I thought he (Brannan) was probably our most eye-catching player throughout the day," he told club media. "Really good."He's a lad that I knew of because an obsession of trying to get to know football players, not just at one club but around the country."So he's one that we've got high hopes for and quite clearly, like us all, we all need to improve, we all need to get better."But we changed him, we moved him to that right-hand side, he comes in from the left and covered the back area really well with a composed finish."But just trying to encourage him to give us a bit more because we believe in his talent and what he can bring to the party."We don't want him to wait five or 10 minutes to get going in the game. We want him to stamp up on it as quick he possible can."
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lyons 'natural choice' for Killie captain, says Kettlewell
Brad Lyons was the "natural choice" for Killie captain says manager Stuart Kettlewell. The 28-year-old has been at Rugby Park since 2021 and signed an extension in April 2024, committing him to the side until 2026. Kettlewell, who replaced Derek McInnes as manager this summer, has chosen centre-back Robbie Deas to deputise the midfielder. "It was a difficult decision in many ways because we've got so many good players here," Kettlewell told club media, external."Just in terms of their character and their nature, they're a really good bunch of boys. That's the first thing that I caught a glimpse of when I came in."Brad is somebody that has worn the armband before, he's got great experience at international level and also in the Premiership. He's a brilliant type, seems to be available for training sessions, for games, so that was the natural choice. "Robbie comes in and we believe he's somebody who can back Brad up, another good player, again somebody who is available. But we'll look for loads of leadership. the likes of David Watson, Rory McKenzie, there's so many boys in there that will support these guys."The decision has been met with full respect as you would imagine."
