Kilmarnock Football Club News

• Nickname:Killie
• Founded:1869
• Manager:Jim Jefferies

• Ground:Rugby Park
• Capacity:18,128

Killie keen to keep Naismith

12 Jun 2007 - 14:35:40

Click To Enlarge

Kilmarnock have not given up hope of keeping Steven Naismith at Rugby Park and are set to offer him a new deal on improved terms.

The 20-year-old, who has been linked with both Rangers and Celtic, is under contract at Killie for another three years.

The Gers have already failed with a £400,000 bid for Naismith, while Celtic manager Gordon Strachan hinted he was interested in the player at the weekend.

Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston will do everything he can to keep the player though, telling the Glasgow Herald: "We'd be happy to explore the possibility of a new contract for Steven.

"We might be prepared to improve his contract without extending it to keep him happy. Our manager Jim Jefferies is on holiday, as is Steven, so we might have to wait until they get back.

"As I've said before, we're keen to keep him. Steven is improving all the time and he knows he's guaranteed first-team football at Kilmarnock, which he might not get elsewhere.

"His progress will continue here if he stays and I'm sure he'll go on to win many more Scotland caps."