Rice: ‘I think I’d be in the same position as Alex’

striker

Eamonn Brophy

has signed a pre-contract agreement with

and is going to join the club in the summer.

Kilmarnock manager

Alex Dyer

has left Brophy out of the squad for this weekend’s clash and

manager

Brian Rice

believes he has done the right thing.

“I listened to Alex’s interview yesterday and I think he spoke very well about it,” Rice said.

“It’s a difficult situation to be in, we’re all fighting for our lives, we’re all fighting for points – then one of your players decides it’s not the place for him to be next season.

“So I think I’d be in the same position as Alex.

“It’s very difficult. Eamonn is a goalscorer. He’s a good player. We had him here before I came to the club. He got himself in the Scotland squad through his performances for Kilmarnock, so it’s very difficult to manage.

“I don’t think you can do right for doing wrong in that situation. Some people will criticize you, others will applaud you.

“It’s down to the individual club. Alex has made a decision and I know him well enough to know he’s not just done it off the top of his head, he’s thought about it long and hard.”

Rice praised

Ross Callachan

after he scored his fifth goal in nine games.

“I think Ross has found a place where he is comfortable and in a position where we can get the best out of him,” Rice added.

“I’ve liked Ross for a long time. He’s a midfielder who gets into the box and wants to score goals. He always gets chances in matches.

“We’ve got to remember that a year ago he had a broken ankle and he was out for a long time.

“But it says a lot about his character that he worked really hard during lockdown and got himself into really good shape.

“He’s come here and I’ve been absolutely delighted with him.

“He had Covid and came back from that just a few days before the Motherwell game. He was also one of the players who went through track and trace earlier in the season as well so he’s missed a wee bit of time because of the Covid situation.

“But you would never know the way he trains. He trains the way he plays, which is what I like. His character gets him through. He appreciates everything he’s got being a football player.”

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