Kilmarnock currently find themselves 6th in the Scottish Premiership, having been involved in a relegation play-off last season.
Gary Dicker swapped England’s fourth tier for Scotland’s first tier when he made the move from Carlisle United to Kilmarnock in February 2016. The former Ireland youth international arrived at Rugby Park when the club was struggling, and it didn’t get any easier during 2015/16. Killie finished the season in 11th place, but emerged victorious from their relegation play-off and currently find themselves 6th in the Scottish Premiership.
Dicker, formerly of Stockport and Brighton, spoke exclusively with HITC Sport about the club’s aims this season, the standard of Scottish football and the job Lee Clark has done since his arrival. The 30-year-old has been a virtual ever-present in the Kilmarnock side since his arrival more than 10 months ago.
Gary Dicker applauds the fans during his time at Carlisle
Dicker finds himself playing under Lee Clark at Kilmarnock, a manager he feels isn’t getting the recognition he deserves for his work in East Ayrshire. Clark has had a somewhat unusual managerial career. He had four largely successful years with Huddersfield Town, regularly competing at the top of League One and going on an extraordinary run of 43 Football League games unbeaten.
Despite that success, he was criticised by some for the number of draws the Terriers picked up rather than wins, and he was sacked in 2012, three months before Huddersfield’s promotion to the Championship. His next two clubs were Birmingham City and Blackpool, moves that Dicker described as “wrong club, wrong time,” with the former Newcastle man hamstrung by financial troubles and issues at board level.
Dicker called Clark “brave” for the way in which he made the move north of the border, “He came on his own and worked with the staff that were already here, that takes guts.” The midfielder also credits Clark with keeping Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.
“I think we would’ve gone down without him. I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. He has given the youngsters a chance, we’ve a good blend of youth and experience here and we’re in the top 6.”
Dicker credited Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark
With regards to Killie’s targets this season, Dicker was unwavering. “Get in the top 6. We want to pull away from the teams at the bottom. Everyone here believes we can do it; we want to start looking up and not down.”
It’s a target which seems very realistic right now, with the club sitting pretty in 6th, but only 4 points separates themselves and bottom place Partick Thistle, who also have a game in hand, a mark of just how tight things are in the Scottish Premiership right now.
Dicker during his time at Brighton
Dicker spent 9 years playing professional football in England, and given debate regarding the standard of Scottish football being rife recently, the Irishman can offer a better insight than most into the current comparisons between Scottish and English teams.
“Obviously the Scottish leagues get a hard time down south and take a bit of flack. It’s a tough question. The pool of players is so big in England, but I think the standard here is a lot better than people say and the support is huge. The fans are certainly there.”
Republic of Ireland head coach Martin O’Neill
Capped at under-19 and under-21 level, Dicker has never received a senior call-up to the Republic of Ireland national team, but he remains hopeful. Aged 30, he is obviously aware his opportunities are likely to be restricted, but says he just hopes the team “keep qualifying,” whilst praising Martin O’Neill and his group for repeatedly pulling out big results.
“Again, I don’t think they get the credit they deserve. When you look at the squad’s England, Wales, Scotland, etc have got, Ireland’s is probably the least talented, yet Martin O’Neill keeps getting the job done.”
Despite the success, Dicker expressed concerns ahead of Ireland’s next game up against an impressive Welsh team in a game which is likely to have a big say on their qualifying group.
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