Kilmarnock youngsters have Lee McCulloch firing on all cylinders

He just didn’t expect it to be with Kilmarnock.

But on the back of the Ibrox club failing to win promotion last season, and McCulloch becoming one of the high-profile departures, Rugby Park offered him that chance.

It’s proving to be a new lease of life for the 37-year-old.

While winning a fistful of medals in Light Blue, completing his haul of

18 Scotland caps and appearing in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final, McCulloch was using his time wisely off the pitch.

He took all of his coaching badges and helped out with the club’s development squads at Murray Park.

McCulloch now admits: “My time with Rangers Under-15s and Under-20s gave me a taste for coaching.

“I enjoyed working with the young players and trying to improve them.”

McCulloch quickly built a reputation, and that’s what attracted Gary Locke to offer him a player-coach role at Killie.

So far this season he has only managed a few games as a player, but his contribution to the backroom staff has been vital.

“I’m constantly asking questions, constantly listening to advice. It’s what I need to do to improve,” McCulloch continues.

“I’m loving it but it is hard work. The amount of planning – whether it’s training sessions, video analysis, or studying of the opposition – all take up a huge amount of time.

“We had a bad start to the season, but we were able to pinpoint where we were going wrong and we got to work to turn it around.

“We didn’t go into a shell. We worked harder on fitness levels and team shape and the players responded very well.

“We know we need to bring through good youth players and then sell them on. That’s our philosophy. We don’t have the budget to buy in.

“We have some very good youngsters, such as Adam Frizzell, Scott McLean and Dean Hawkshaw.

“They’ll be pushing towards the first team from Alan Robertson’s development squad in the near future.

“The manager is not scared to throw a kid in, and that’s what we’re about.

“We then have guys such as Mark O’Hara, Craig Slater and Greg Kiltie. They have been doing very well.

“Mix them in with experienced lads such as Kris Boyd, Josh Magennis, Mark Connolly, Jamie Hamill and Jamie MacDonald and it gives a nice balance.

“The dressing-room is only as good as your experienced players because that’s who the young boys look up to and learn habits from.

“We have opened up our game a wee bit in recent weeks and we’ve had complimentary remarks from other coaches and players about the style of football we’re trying to play. That’s been nice to hear.

“Ultimately, though, it’s about results. All managers are under pressure and most are only two defeats away from the heat.

“It’s part of my job to make sure I’m there for the manager to lean on, and to try to alleviate some of the pressure he may feel. I’m there to try and protect him when needed.”

McCulloch has nothing but praise for Locke, and adds: “It’s been educational to work for the manager. He knows his stuff.

“He is still young but he is not inexperienced. He has been coaching and managing for about eight years.

“Any credit going at the moment should go to the manager. He has been through tough times at Hearts and never got the credit he deserved for what he managed to do the season they were deducted 15 points and on a transfer embargo.”

McCulloch wants Killie to target a top-six place. They have lacked consistency for too long and have only managed a top-half slot on three occasions in the past decade.

The last time was a fifth-place finish in 2011 and McCulloch stresses: “I’m Mr Positive. So I believe we should be looking towards the top six.

“We haven’t finished in that area for long enough and we’d love to put that right in the coming weeks and months.

“But we have to be mindful of the teams in and around us, and not take our eye off the ball.”