Stuart Findlay. Kilmarnock. Unfinished business. It’s not words you’d necessarily link together after the players’ four previous stints at Rugby Park.

That’s exactly how Stuart Findlay would’ve felt if he didn’t get the chance to play in Europe for Killie this summer, though. The defender, 28, is back in Ayrshire for a fifth time having re-joined on loan from Oxford United last month.

Neither the player nor Derek McInnes made it any secret that there was a desire for a reunion in the upcoming season, but not many predicted it would be concluded prior to the club’s warm-weather training camp in Marbella last week.

Findlay was adamant when speaking to his agent that he didn’t want options on the table when it came to deciding upon his future this summer. If Oxford weren’t interested in keeping him in their first-team plans for their Championship campaign, then it was only Killie.

“I’m just delighted I was able to get it done as quickly as it did,” the Scotland cap said. “I made it no secret that this is where I wanted to be this season.

“Obviously with Oxford’s promotion, it worked out for both parties that I was going to go out on loan if I wasn’t in the plans there. To have it done, as earlier as it was, to be back in for the start of pre-season was something that I’d hoped for. I probably didn’t believe it would be that way though, as I know how football can work.

“I made it quite clear to my agent that I wasn’t looking for many options. I was looking to continue the form that I’d rediscovered last season. It’s something I’ve been looking for since I left Kilmarnock in 2021.

“To come back and work with the manager, especially after finishing the season in the way we did, it would’ve been unjust not to come back and reap the rewards of last season and play in these big games coming up.

“Because it’s a loan deal you don’t need to make at too many things other than what happens on the park. To play my football here was a massive influence on my decision.

“To have celebrated in the way we did against St Mirren (by qualifying for the Europa League) and then watch the games from afar, it would’ve been hard to take.

“To not have to worry about that, or to eventually come back but these games are done, is great. It was good to get away with the boys to Spain for a week.

“I know I’m on loan but I feel like I’m a permanent player because I’ve done the full pre-season. I feel like I’ve got a home here and I’m really looking forward to it.”

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What is it exactly that keeps Findlay and Killie so well connected?

He tried to explain: “It’s hard to put your finger on. From my last time here to now, it’s a whole different squad and atmosphere.

“The relationship I’ve had with the fans has always been a good one. When you saw the reaction when I first signed back last season it was a really big morale boost.

“I was lucky to come into a changing room with so many good guys and players. To have a manager who knew what I needed to make me tick again and get me back to where I was. It’s impossible to know that’s going to happen looking from the outside, it’s not until you’re in somewhere and you get that feeling.

“I just knew if I went anywhere else this season it would be very hard to replicate that, so it made my decision an absolute no-brainer.”