THE Kilmarnock production line is attracting vultures, as well as plaudits, these days. The Ayrshire club have the current Young Player of the Year Steven Naismith in their ranks, and Scotland under-19 internationalist Jamie Adams, who played in the recent European Championships final, is widely anticipated to make a breakthrough this season.
However, they lost 18-yearold midfield prospect Rory Loy to Rangers when his contract expired in June. Jim Jefferies, the Kilmarnock manager, accepts that losing such talents to bigger clubs is a reality of life at clubs like his own.
"Jim McLean used to get slaughtered for putting kids on five-year contracts at Dundee United, but recently Hibernian and Hearts have been doing the same, " said Jefferies.
"It is getting to the stage now where it is a worry for the clubs and we saw it ourselves during the summer, with the boy Loy going to Rangers before he had even played for our first team.
"But, because he was out of contract, there was not much we could do, as he wanted to go. The compensation was pretty poor and we would rather have kept the player than receive what we did for him.
"Rangers are a massive club and you cannot blame the boy. All you can do is say to the players they will be a lot quicker getting to the first team here than they will at Ibrox. He would have been on the verge here this season and involved in squads, but it is easy to get swayed."
Jefferies insisted that the prospect of his best talents being poached by bigger clubs will not stop him blooding other promising youngsters.
"Jamie [Adams] and Ryan O'Leary are two I took away with us to Italy in pre-season, not just to make up the numbers but because they are close to being first-team material.
"Jamie will take confidence from the Under-19 trip but he has a great temperament and takes things in his stride. He has a few raw edges but has all the attributes to play in the Premierleague.
"He can play at the back but he is a ball-winning midfielder who puts in challenges and is very good in the air. He will be on the bench a fair bit this season and will probably get a chance as the months progress."
Kilmarnock host Hibernian tomorrow, but the visitors will be without new signing Merouane Zemmama.
The highly-rated 22-year-old Moroccan, who has signed a five-year deal, has returned to his homeland to complete his emigration paperwork, but will return in time to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle a week tomorrow.
Tony Mowbray, the Hibs manager, is confident the playmaker will quickly adapt to Scottish football.
"Yes, there are negatives for him, such as a cold February night when it is blowing a gale, so we will have to wait and see, " said Mowbray.
"But it looks as though he has the personality to get through that.
"He has a great temperament and personality which suggests to me he can get through the adversity of the conditions and our aggressive play."
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