Neil McCann, the man at the helm of Kilmarnock, insists that stagnation is equivalent to regression and that the club must keep pushing forward. When he took over the Rugby Park side in January, they were languishing in 11th place, having dropped points in more than half of their league fixtures.
A late‑season surge of victories helped them steer clear of the relegation play‑offs, but McCann knows that merely avoiding the drop is not enough. "The feeling is that there's a lot of positivity around the club in terms of their thoughts for the season, in particular because of how well we finished," he told Sky Sports News. "But that's in the past and it's up to myself, Billy [Dodds] and the rest of the staff to really build a squad that can carry that on. If you are standing still, you're effectively going backwards.
So we need to definitely try and move ourselves forward. We don't want to be in a position we were in last January when I took over. We want to be really positive." McCann's immediate objective is to steer Kilmarnock into the upper half of the Scottish Premiership rather than merely fighting for survival. The upcoming opening match of the campaign at McDiarmid Park against newly promoted St Johnstone will be a litmus test for the team's readiness.
While some pundits might assume that facing a freshly promoted side offers an easier start, McCann is quick to caution against complacency. "Everybody maybe thinks it might be an easier start because it's St Johnstone and they have just come up from the Championship, but I think Simo [Valakari] has a real solid way of playing," he explained. He also acknowledged that his squad is still finding its rhythm: "Like every manager, we're probably not quite at full tilt yet.
Not at the top gears and we'll continue to strive to get there. But I just think the positivity of last year is a good thing to build on." This optimism is underpinned by a significant off‑field development: the replacement of the artificial surface at Rugby Park with a natural grass pitch, the first such surface at the stadium since 2014. The switch follows a decision by the Scottish Professional Football League to ban synthetic pitches from the 2026/27 season, with Falkirk receiving a brief extension before they must also transition. McCann praised the new playing surface, noting its unique construction: "The beauty about our pitch for this season is it's laid on top of what was the astroturf last year, so it's completely flat.
Four weeks ago, five weeks ago, that was just a sandpit. I'm told by the groundsmen that in the next week or so it's going to really thicken up and it'll be a surface that will rival any in the country." He recalled how the previous artificial turf had become something of a fortress, with Kilmarnock winning six of eight home games last season. "I know we came in last year and it was really positive winning six out of the eight here at home, it became a bit of a fortress for us.
But I think it's going to help us with the grass pitch. If I'm honest, I think every top league should have the grass pitches. This will be one of the finest in the country and hopefully that can benefit how we want to play." The transition to grass is more than a cosmetic change; it aligns with McCann's broader footballing philosophy. He believes a high‑quality natural surface encourages a more expansive, possession‑based style, allowing his players to express technical ability without the constraints sometimes imposed by synthetic turf.
Moreover, a well‑maintained grass pitch can reduce the risk of certain injuries associated with harder artificial surfaces, potentially keeping the squad fresher over the long, grueling season. Beyond the pitch, McCann is focused on strengthening the squad during the upcoming transfer window. He and his backroom staff, including former player Billy Dodds, are scouting for players who can add depth, experience, and versatility. The goal is to assemble a roster capable of competing not just for survival but for a top‑six finish, which would secure European competition qualification and boost the club's financial outlook.
Kilmarnock's fan base, still recovering from the disappointment of a near‑relegation battle, is eager for a fresh narrative. The club's recent history—surviving the drop, renovating the stadium, and now installing a premium grass surface—provides a platform for renewed ambition.
McCann understands the emotional weight of these developments: "The supporters have stuck with us through a tough period, and they deserve to see the team move forward, not linger in the past." Looking ahead, the manager emphasizes incremental progress. He does not expect an overnight transformation but envisions a steady climb up the table, built on a foundation of solid defensive organization, creative midfield play, and clinical finishing. "We will keep working on the details, from set‑pieces to transitions," he said. "Every training session is an opportunity to improve, and every match is a chance to test what we have learned." In summary, Neil McCann's message to Kilmarnock is clear: standing still is tantamount to moving backward.
By embracing a new grass pitch, reinforcing the squad, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, the club aims to shift from relegation survivors to genuine contenders for the upper echelons of Scottish football. The season's opening fixture against St Johnstone will be the first gauge of whether this ambitious blueprint can translate into results on the field, but the underlying belief is that with the right attitude and resources, Kilmarnock can indeed write a new, more positive chapter in its storied history.