Kilmarnock's Stevie Smith bemused by Lee Clark quit reports

Stevie Smith has revealed Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark was so unconcerned by stories surrounding his Rugby Park future that he did not even bother addressing his players on the subject.

The former Birmingham and Blackpool manager signed 11 players over the summer but his new recruits failed to shine as Killie crashed out of the Betfred Cup at the group stage.

That sparked reports last week suggesting Clark was ready to quit the Ayrshire outfit after just six months in charge.

But skipper Smith claims he and the rest of his team-mates were left bemused by the stories and insisted the squad was united as they approach Saturday's Ladbrokes Premiership opener against Motherwell.

Speaking at the season launch with the 12 top-flight captains, the left-back said: "These reports came out the blue for us.

"I found it strange these things had been written about the manager, especially having signed 11 players and then looked at the sessions he's put on recently and the hours he's put into the club to make the place better.

"The timing of it was strange but we just got on with it because we knew there wasn't really anything in it.

"I don't know where it came from or why it was in the press. We've all been trying to push in the right direction because nobody involved at Kilmarnock wants to be in the kind of situation we were in last season again.

"The manager didn't even come and speak to us about it because there was no inkling it was going to come.

"Our focus is now all on Motherwell at home on Saturday."