Johnston and Kyle have held talks and more are planned

Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston says he is willing to alter his club's disciplinary system if players come to him with specific grievances.

Club captain Kevin Kyle has already held initial talks with Johnston after the Killie squad contacted the players' union about fines imposed this season.

"Like any system, it can be improved," Johnston told BBC Scotland.

"That's why I told our team captain I was happy to have a discussion with him about this."

A £500 fine has been introduced for a red card and a £1,000 punishment for a repeat offence and some players are believed to see these as unacceptable as such fines are more than some are earning as a weekly wage.

But Johnston said the new system had been discussed during the summer and the final version issued to the players on 14 August.

"The surprise is that it has become an issue three months later and nobody seems to know how it has come into the public domain," he said.

The chairman spoke to me and we'll get it sorted out and get back to concentrating on playing football Kilmarnock captain Kevin Kyle

"Nobody has highlighted the areas of concern and I spoke to Kevin asking for clarification of these.

"Although there was supposedly a meeting with Fraser Wishart of the PFA and some players last week, I have not heard from Fraser Wishart or the PFA."

Johnston explained that the system, which penalises players for offences deemed unnecessary, such as yellow cards for dissent, had emerged from discussions with team manager Jim Jefferies last season.

"Kilmarnock unfortunately had the worst disciplinary record in the Scottish Premier League and, bar Clyde, we had the worst disciplinary record in the Scottish Football League and the SPL," he said.

"That resulted in a fine of £5,000, which is not a great deal of money, but we should not have to pay such a sum for a poor disciplinary record.

"We wanted to address that and this is a recognised way of doing that. They are not large amounts.

"The system has been in operation for three months and we have fined players a total of £150."

Johnston said that one player received a £50 fine following a caution for retaliation, while another was fined £100 after being shown two yellow cards in the same game for shirt pulling.

"The alternative, which I believe other clubs have operated, are fines imposed in a rather arbitrary manner, of maybe a week or two weeks' wages," he said.

Jefferies had on Saturday suggested that it was "other things that have been added on that they are not happy about".

Striker Kyle thinks the dispute will soon be settled following further discussions.

"The boys accept that, if we do wrong, we do get fined," he said. "That's part and parcel of being a footballer.

"It's just the circumstances and the way it's happening that we are not happy about it.

"But we will get it resolved. The chairman spoke to me and we'll get it sorted out and get back to concentrating on playing football and getting points for Kilmarnock.

"But all the boys are really happy and the morale is really good."

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