3/10
LEAGUE: 9th, 39pts (2012-13 - 9th, 45pts)
SCOTTISH CUP: Fourth round
LEAGUE CUP: Second round
MOST USED FIRST XI: Craig Samson, Sean Clohessy, Lee Ashcroft, Manuel Pascali, Jeroen Tesselaar, Chris Johnston, Jackson Irvine, Craig Slater, Michael Gardyne, Rory McKenzie, Kris Boyd
OVERVIEW: Well, that was a rough ride. Killie had a rotten start, an okay middle period where they seemed to have found their feet, and then a dreadful finish that nearly plunged them into a relegation playoff. The fans had plenty of reason to find fault with the two Johnstons - chairman Michael and manager Allan - and precious little to cheer. Kris Boyd, at least, rolled back the years and was the one player who could be counted on. But it was a season to forget. No team conceded as many in the league (66) as they did. About the only silver lining was that the club's sorry financial state appears to have been sorted out.
HIGH POINTS: Finding the bottle in the last two games to win both and guarantee survival. Apart from that, there wasn't too much to shout about. A 4-1 win at Tynecastle on Boxing Day was probably the best performance of the season.
LOW POINTS: Going without a league win till October put the team on the back foot from the start. The nadir, however, was losing 5-0 to Hearts post-split. Killie had none of the quality, organization or enthusiasm of their opponents, and it was obvious to all.
STAR MAN: Without Boyd, goodness knows what might have happened. He scored as many SPFL goals as all his teammates put together. No-one else managed more than four in the entire campaign. I questioned his attitude before the start of the season, but I'm happy to admit that he proved me and all his other doubters wrong by leading the line impressively all year long.
ONE FOR THE FUTURE: Craig Slater made a central midfield berth his own, and his engine and range of passing make him one to watch. Disappointingly, many youngsters who impressed under Kenny Shiels regressed this season.
WASTE OF SPACE: Where to start? Mark Stewart, Kyle Jacobs and David Silva were pointless signings and out of their depth. A decent keeper, Antonio Reguero, took up a wage but didn't play all season. January loan signing David Moberg Karlsson, who Sunderland paid £1.75m for last summer, only played in four games.
THE BOSS: After a rough start, Johnston appeared to have turned things around and worked out his best eleven; however, the late season collapse will be of concern. Fans used to Kenny Shiels' tiki-taka approach were nauseated by the more direct football used this season and there are question marks over whether the man known as Magic is cut out for management at this level. If he survives the summer, he'll still be on the hot seat come August.
PROSPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON: With the club's bank debt now settled, the club are in a good position to move forward in 2014/15, as long as they keep Boyd. Whether that will be with Johnston at the helm is debatable. Kilmarnock need someone who will nurture and improve their academy graduates, but only Slater looks like he has improved under this manager's tutelage. If they can't convince Boyd to stay, they will be lucky to find a replacement who can provide half as many goals. It's still possible that Rugby Park will have an artificial surface next year, and it will be intriguing to see if that gives them an advantage.
FIRST TEAMERS DEFINITELY LEAVING: Michael Gardyne (end of loan), Jackson Irvine (end of loan), David Moberg Karlsson (end of loan), Vitalijs Maksimenko (end of loan)
L.
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