Kyle Lafferty breaks silence on ‘surprise’ Kilmarnock exit as Rangers hero says he rates Derek McInnes like Walter Smith
KYLE LAFFERTY last night spoke of his regret that he can’t help Derek McInnes keep Kilmarnock up.
The Northern Ireland striker has returned home to pen a deal with Linfield — eight days after he left Rugby Park following showdown talks with the Killie board.
Lafferty, 35, said: “I am disappointed that I won’t get to work with McInnes and his staff again.
“I rate him next to Walter Smith.
“Walter was Walter and no one comes close but, from what I experienced with Derek, he knew how to get the best out of me.
“Like Walter, he showed so much faith in me and I wanted to run through brick walls for him. We were climbing up the table this season and he deserves success.”
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Lafferty had returned to action following a ten-game ban after using sectarian language in a video on social media.
But on transfer deadline day he was released and he added: “One minute you’re the main man and the next you’re out of the team. That was because of the mistake I made.”
Linfield boss Healy was delighted to get the deal over the line for Lafferty and reckons he will quickly become a fan favourite at Windsor Park.
He said: “I’m delighted to advise our supporters that Kyle Lafferty has today signed for the club until the end of the season, subject to the normal international clearance formalities.
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"He’s an out of contract player with vast experience at all levels of the game and he’s a player I know very well.
"His signing will strengthen the squad and he will give us a different attacking option, ahead of the remaining games in this hard fought and fiercely competitive league campaign.
"I’ve no doubt that this signing will give everyone at the club a real boost and he can certainly make a significant contribution and impact over the course of the short term contract that he has signed here today.
"Our kit manager Gary Eccles advises me that Kyle will wear the number 28 squad number shirt over the period of his time here and I know there will be huge interest from our supporters in wanting to get along to see Kyle in action in the Windsor Park stadium that he knows so well.
"I want to thank our recruitment and development manager Willie McKeown for his considerable effort in bringing this deal to a conclusion and I also want to thank the board for their backing in bringing in a player of this top level calibre and pedigree."
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