Source: Team_Talk
Ford: Locke is key at Kilmarnock
The defender admits the entire dressing room is unhappy at the club's decision to withdraw the job offer to their former captain, who retired as a player at the end of last season.[LNB]Locke had been set to join the backroom staff but further cost-cutting in the wake of the collapse of Setanta means he was told there was no longer a position for him at Rugby Park.[LNB]"As a footballer, you are used to players and people coming and going," said Ford.[LNB]"But it was the manner in which it happened, with him coming back after pre-season in Italy and then out of the blue he's not there anymore.[LNB]"He is a big part of what this club can do, he is a good inbetweener between the gaffer and Billy Brown and the players. No disrespect to them but they've not played for a long time.[LNB]"He has just finished playing and he knows what players want and need and maybe he could have got our point across to them.[LNB]"He is a good middle man and he is a good coach and hopefully we can get him back.[LNB]"He has been a superb club captain, he takes you under his wing and he makes you feel comfortable. He just brings everybody together and keeps them buzzing.[LNB]"Even when times were bad last season, he was the one who put a smile on everyone's face.[LNB]"He lifted morale and I think you need someone like that when things aren't going so good. His new ideas would only benefit the team."[LNB]Budget restraints also mean a slim-line squad and Ford is keeping his fingers crossed that Killie can avoid the injury problems which led to a disappointing collapse in the latter stages of the last two campaigns.[LNB]He said: "The squad is not the biggest this season so hopefully we can keep everybody fit and keep the competition for places because the boys who are not playing at the moment are looking sharp.[LNB]"You know if you don't perform that they're looking to take your place. It was a good team performance last week and hopefully we can kick on from there.[LNB]"Injuries are something that every manager will be worried about but we can't think like that. Hopefully our injuries are past us because we have had a bad couple of years with injuries.[LNB]"We know there are budget cuts and the squad has to be smaller this year but we've got some good youngsters coming through so hopefully it shouldn't be a problem."[LNB]This weekend sees Killie face Motherwell, another team who will be relying on home grown talent this term.[LNB]Ford said: "They've got a lot of young players and I think they will be enthusiastic and excited and they will have no fear.[LNB]"They've played a lot of games already this season so they will be sharp and raring to go.[LNB]"It's their first home game in the league this season so we know it's going to be a tough one."[LNB][LNB]
