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Daily Record
Sport
Paul Thomson

St Johnstone legend Chris Millar provides insight into new East Kilbride boss and former Saints team-mate Kevin Rutkiewicz

East Kilbride midfielder Chris Millar is looking forward to working with his old St Johnstone skipper Kevin Rutkiewicz after he was appointed the new manager at K-Park.

The pair played in Perth together for three years and now they have been reunited at East Kilbride just over a decade on from their glory days at Saints.

Rutkiewicz replaces Chris Aitken at the helm and 39-year-old Millar has given Kilby fans an insight into what they can expect from the new gaffer in the Lowland League.

He said: "It's great to see Dinky here, well, it's gaffer now.

"He was my team-mate at St Johnstone and we used to travel together so it's good to see him again.

"It's been a number of years.

"But I know what he's like as a character.

"He's always a good laugh and good fun, always involved in the team banter and things like that, but he wants to win and demands a lot from his team-mates.

"I think he'll have a good balance with that and that's what you want.

"He was a leader on the pitch and he was a good guy about the dressing room.

Chris Millar at St Johnstone in 2015 (SNS)

"That's how he was as a player and I'm sure he'll be like that as a manager.

"It will be good to see what ideas he puts in for the rest of the season."

Former Morton man Millar arrived at Kilby last summer and was handed the captain's armband by then boss Stevie Aitken.

Aitken's brother Chris took over in August when his sibling resigned and now Millar is working with a third gaffer this season after Chris' shock exit, following a 6-0 Lowland League Cup win over Gretna last week. He also left with EK sitting second in the Lowland League table behind champions Bonnyrigg Rose.

"We were totally shocked by Chris leaving," Millar admitted.

"You come back in from a game where you've won 6-0 and that's the last thing you expect to hear.

Chris Aitken was let go by Kilby, despite a good run after replacing his brother Stevie at the helm in August last year (Ian Edwards / Photograph-IE)

"Personally, he was brilliant for me and I really enjoyed working under him.

"I think his record at the club speaks for itself and we are gutted to see him go.

"But that's the board's decision and about how they see the club going forward.

"All I know is Chris can leave with his head held high because his record was brilliant and I hope he gets back in the game really soon."

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