Chris Johnston says the Kilmarnock squad are backing Gary Locke to be appointed manager on a permanent basis. Former Hearts maanger Locke has been in interim charge since Allan Johnston left Rugby Park in early February - stepping up from the assistant manager's role - and the side has suffered just one loss in seven games with the ex-Hearts manager in charge. Talks between Locke and Kilmarnock chairman Jim Mann are continuing, and winger Johnston insists the players fully support him for the role on a longer-term basis.
He said: "You can see from the performances the lads are putting in that they want the gaffer to get the job full-time. We went unbeaten for a few games and we have all been working hard to get him the job. When he came he said that the people who will decide if he gets the job or not is the players. He's not got it yet but we want to do everything we can to help him. Everyone has got a lot of respect for Gary. When he was assistant manager, everybody could go and talk to him. You could speak about anything. If you weren't playing, you could ask why. He's that same way as manager. You can still speak to him about stuff in training or things off the park."
Johnston would also be happy if Kris Boyd returns to Kilmarnock, with rumours circulating that the club's former striker with the role as Locke's assistant at the Scottish Premiership club. Boyd, who has scored just three league goals for Rangers this season, has been dropped by manager Stuart McCall for their last two games, which the Ibrox side have won. Johnston said: "Kris would definitely be welcomed back by the players. When Boydy was here as a player he was somebody we all looked up to. When you look at his career, he has done brilliantly. He saved us last season by scoring 22 goals with a team struggling at the wrong end of the table. Okay, it's not worked out for him this season with Rangers but we would definitely welcome him back not only as a coach, but a player. Does he still have that ability to score goals in the Premiership? Definitely. You don't just lose that from one year to the next."