League placing: 8th Scottish Cup: fifth round League Cup: quarter-final
PERSONNEL CHANGES
Ins: Steven Old, defender; Graeme Owens, midfielder; Mark Burchill, striker.
Outs: Allan Johnston, midfielder, David Lilley defender, Willie Gibson, midfielder; Grant Murray, defender; Scott Anson, forward.
WHAT THEY SAY
Jim Jefferies Kilmarnock manager
For years money has been tight at the club and this year has been a little bit harder.
We're a bit short-staffed when you look at what we're having to compete against.
I'd like to have kept a couple of players who were out of contract.
But we'll be well up for the first game of the season and hopefully that will spur us on to do well.
We have a decent squad and, if Kevin Kyle continues his good form at the end of last season, then we'll be nearer to achieving a top six place.
WHAT WE SAY
John Barnes BBC commentator
Kilmarnock have gone about their pre-season in quiet fashion. After two successive bottom six finishes, Killie will be looking to be in the top half of the table come May.
A run of one defeat in their last seven matches brought a respectable end to a difficult campaign during which injuries played a major part.
That will be one thing manager Jim Jefferies will be hoping he doesn't have to contend with this term.
With a lack of money being the key issue in Scottish football at the moment, Killie have almost the same squad for this campaign. Only Allan Johnston, Willie Gibson and David Lilley have left the club.
Lilley was hitting a good run of form before his departure to Queen of the South, so his versatility in defence may be a loss if injuries affect the squad again. The hope is Ryan O'Leary will stay injury free.
Kevin Kyle is their main threat to opposition defences. And they may take the little-and-large approach in attack with new signing Mark Burchill partnering the big striker. Allan Russell will add strength to that area when he returns to action in the autumn.
Craig Bryson and Mehdi Taouil will again be the key men in midfield and Manuel Pascali will be an important player now that he's acclimatised to the Scottish game.
Jefferies has worked wonders on a shoestring budget and is due a change in fortune. I believe, if he can keep the nucleus of his squad fit, a top-six finish is attainable. Qualifying for Europe would be seen as a major achievement.
WHAT YOU SAY
A fully-fit Kevin Kyle would be an asset for any SPL side and he'll get us 15-plus goals next season, something we've been missing.
If Burchill can get among the goals, we could have a decent season. Top-six will be tough, on the other hand. I don't expect us and relegation to be used in the same sentence next season. 1869
We have five strikers, a good range of midfielders and two players for every position across the squad. We've added a player from Middlesborough, a Confederations Cup defender, a 28-year-old proven goalscorer with international caps for Scotland.
Most SPL clubs would be happy with our squad, especially when you look at the depletion of Hamilton, Falkirk, Aberdeen and Motherwell. The things we lack are a bit of pace and a solid looking defensive unit. antiOF
I am very optimistic on Killie's chances of a top-six this season, although I would be happy with a seventh after last season's relegation scare. KFCRyan
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