Garry Hay reckons there’s nothing better than a packed out Rugby Park.
The Kilmarnock legend took in the side’s clash with Arbroath as a fan, as he has done for a number of big matches since hanging up the boots.
Over 10,000 Killie supporters piled into the stadium to watch the Ayrshire side defeat Arbroath in dramatic fashion to seal the Scottish Championship title.
And although there are no positives in being relegated – Hay admits it was a good chance to get fans back on board with the club.
Speaking exclusively to the Kilmarnock Standard, the League Cup winning hero said: “Given the opportunity at the start of the season to have your last home game in the scenario that it was, everyone would have taken it.
“It was some atmosphere that night, there have been some special days at Rugby Park and that was another one.
“Since I stopped playing and coming as a fan there has been great days, the likes of that cup game against Aberdeen game, games under Steve Clarke and also the play-off against Falkirk.
“There is no better sight than a packed out Rugby Park, they are great occasions, you’d love it to be like that every week but it doesn’t work like that unfortunately.
“That game probably summed up the full season to be honest, first half really nervous, wee bit erratic, not playing the extra passes required.
“Then to be fair the second half, it wasn’t rocket science, just play passes a bit deeper, switch play and we’d cause them problems, that’s how it turned out.
“Blair Alston has wrote himself into Killie folklore with that goal, he took it really well.
“It was a fitting end to the season, the jubilation when that second goal went in was different class.”
Killie were made to work for it throughout the season, and Hay says it was never going to be a breeze to win the title.
He said: “I think throughout the season we maybe had some doubts!
“But I always felt it was never going to be smooth sailing, there was always going to be bumps along the way.
“It did kind of turn out like that, I didn’t think at any stage Killie were running away with it, there just wasn’t enough consistency in the performances especially in the first half of the season.
“It was tough, but they were always there or thereabouts, then Derek came in probably at the right time, solidified it and got promotion.
“That tells you it was the right decision, Derek came in and got the group together and got us over the line.”
In terms of goals for the new season, Hooky feels that it’s important not to look too far ahead.
He said: “I think for me the focus would be let’s consolidate, but this is all within a season.
“The games will be looked at individually, you just have to look at a points target you ideally want to finish on.
“If those points get you further up the table and you maybe reevaluate at Christmas time, and think about what a realistic aim is.
“I think that’s what the management staff will focus on, but first and foremost make sure we aren’t in any danger.
“If that’s the case then try and kick-on, the difference between being top six and bottom six is huge, but the margains are thin.”
He added: “Dundee United and Hearts both came up and secured Europe relatively quickly, it shows it can be done.
“Especially nowadays with the way the country’s coefficient is, there are more spaces.
“It gives you the chance to think about it if you go on and have a good season, aiming for fifth which would be great in fairness.
“I hope that’s the case that we are focusing on that, but we need to do the right things early doors and get a good start to the season.”
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