Latest news with #StuartKettlewell
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kilmarnock full-back relishing 'strange' challenge of facing former club
The 27-year-old captained Livingston to promotion last term - and is set to face them in his home Killie debut this evening Kilmarnock defender Jamie Brandon admits it will be 'strange' coming up against his old pals in tonight's Premier Sports Cup clash as Livingston visit Rugby Park - but's he's looking forward to the challenge. The 27-year-old was Stuart Kettlewell's first signing as Killie boss, ending a three-year stint at his local club that included captaining them to a promotion and SPFL Trust Trophy double last term. But while he's fond of his time at the West Lothian club, he's looking ahead and hoping for a successful campaign with Killie after making his debut in Saturday's 2-0 win away at Brora Rangers. Speaking to the media, he said: 'I know everyone there very well and know how they like to work. 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. '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.' He added: 'It was a time that 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. 'I'm here at Kilmarnock now and I'm looking forward to kicking on here and hopefully we can be successful this year. 'Coming to work underneath the gaffer, people I've spoken to and who have played under him have always said positive things. I felt like he could improve me as a player and I felt coming to Kilmarnock was the next step for me in my career. 'I think we've signed really well this summer and I think it's a great squad so I think we can go on and be successful this year.'
BBC News
19 hours ago
- 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.
STV News
a day ago
- Sport
- STV News
Kettlewell preparing Killie for 'toughest' League Cup task against Livi
Stuart Kettlewell considers Livingston as one of the toughest draws possible in the early stages of the League Cup as he prepares to pit his wits against David Martindale again. Kilmarnock host the newly promoted side in Ayrshire on Wednesday in their second group stage following Saturday's 2-0 win at Brora Rangers. Former Motherwell boss Kettlewell, who replaced Derek McInnes in the Rugby Park dugout over the summer break, is familiar with Martindale's sides from their last spell in the top-flight and he also kept a keen eye on them during their Championship campaign last season. When asked if it was one of the toughest tasks they could have been handed at this stage of the competition, he said: 'I think so, obviously I've come up against Livingston many, many times over the years, and been up against Davie's teams many times. 'They probably look a wee bit different from what they did the last time they were in the Premiership. 'I watched a lot of them last season in the Championship, there is a lot of flexibility about them in the way they play and what they do. 'I always felt if it was a scrappy game they could take part in that, with a bit of physicality about them, but if it was a football match then they had quality as well, and I think they are trying to utilise the quality they have in their squad as well. 'They have done terrifically well to bounce back this season, and I think if you look at the draw in the groups, it's certainly one of the tougher ties you can get as a Premiership team.' Livingston recorded a 2-1 away win over East Fife in their first competitive game of the season at the weekend. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
3 days ago
- 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."
STV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Stuart Kettlewell happy with win after first-half frustration against Brora
Stuart Kettlewell experienced some early frustration in his first game as Kilmarnock boss before overcoming his former club Brora Rangers in a 2-0 Premier Sports Cup group win. On the opening day of the season Killie broke the deadlock against the Highland League side in the 39th minute through 18-year-old debutant Ben Brannan and Djenairo Daniels, the Dutch striker also making his debut, added a second in the 80th minute for three points. Kettlewell, formerly player/assistant manager of Brora, told the Rugby Park club's official X account: 'I think first and foremost we wanted to come and get a clean sheet and win the game. 'There was a lot of frustration in the first half and feeling that we could execute things far, far better than what we did. 'That feeling-out process, when you're playing against the team that is dropping in and killing those spaces in their half, we just have to be a wee bit more slick there. 'We have to trust ourselves to be able to open them up. 'Sometimes I just felt we were just a little bit hesitant in what we were doing. 'Start of the second half, we find ourselves in a position where we created a number of chances and with these types of games, with all due respect, that's the ones that you want to convert and then you probably start to enjoy the rest of the game. 'But that said, I'm still seeing elements that I like. 'I think that out of the games that we've had to this point, it's probably the one that I would be asking much more of the group but as you see round the country, it is not that easy.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
