Greg Kiltie desperate for Kilmarnock to avoid relegation

Kilmarnock wide player Greg Kiltie is determined to continue his football education in the top flight.

The Ayrshire side occupy the Premiership relegation play-off place with three games left but Kiltie's first-half double at New Douglas Park last Saturday helped maintain their hopes of avoiding an unwanted extension to their season.

A 4-0 win over Hamilton cut the deficit on Accies to four points and Killie can now drag Partick Thistle back into the mix at Rugby Park on Saturday, when they have the chance to halve their six-point disadvantage against the Jags.

Kiltie signed a new contract in January after attracting attention from elsewhere and the 19-year-old has no intention of playing Championship football.

"None of the players, even if they are out of contract, wants the team to go down," he said. "Who wants relegation on their CV? It's not right.

"Obviously Kilmarnock should be in the top flight and that's where we are aiming to keep them.

"I'm young but I want to play as many games at the highest level as possible. There's no way we want to go into the Championship, I want to stay in the top league in Scotland and play as many games as possible at Kilmarnock."

Lee Clark has given Kilmarnock belief that they can avoid the drop and Kiltie explained how the recently-appointed manager had helped him.

"He gives everyone confidence," the teenager said. "He says that he believes in you, so if your manager tells you he believes in you then it's a great boost.