Kevin Kyle urges Kilmarnock role for Garry Hay

Hay has been told his 18-year playing career at Rugby Park is over, despite being promised a new player-coach contract by subsequently sacked manager Kenny Shiels before the end of last season.

But former Rangers player Kyle feels Hay’s experience is invaluable and has urged Rugby Park chairman Michael Johnston to have a rethink.

Kyle said: “It’s very rare in this day and age that you hear of someone serving 18 years at one football club. I think only Ryan Giggs has probably beaten that. It’s a sad day for Garry, but he knew this time would come eventually.

“But I’m sure they will find a role for him at Kilmarnock. He knows Kilmarnock inside out and he has been a great servant. Winning the League Cup last year would have been one of his proudest moments and he was there when they won the Scottish Cup as well. He was a great guy around the dressing room with a lot of experience and a lot of good advice to younger guys.

“Hopefully there will be a role for him somewhere and he can continue to do what he has done at Kilmarnock all those years.”

Shiels had tipped Hay to become assistant manager after he left but the prospect of Jimmy Nicholl stepping up ended last weekend when he moved to Hibernian amid the uncertainty. And Johnston, who is hoping to appoint Queen of the South boss Allan Johnston as his new manager, has told the 35-year-old there is no job for him at his hometown club.

Hay said earlier: “I automatically checked the list to see who Killie got on the opening day, saw it was Aberdeen away – and then realised that I wouldn’t be involved. I really don’t know how I’m going to be able to tell my son that his daddy won’t be playing for Kilmarnock again. Blake is five and he supports the club because it’s in his blood, the same way it was in mine.”