GOUROCK football star Greg Taylor hailed the impact manager Steve Clarke has had on Kilmarnock’s outstanding season.

Despite losing to Rangers 1-0, Killie secured fifth place in the Scottish Premiership with two games to go, their best finish in several years.

Since replacing Lee McCulloch in October, the former Chelsea coach has gone from strength to strength in his first year at the club.

The ex-Reading coach has also picked up three manager of the month awards in his short stint at Rugby Park, after overhauling Killie’s fortunes at the start of the season.

And left-back Taylor has been impressed with the effect Clarke has had on his side, so much so he signed a new three-year contract with the Ayrshire outfit last month.

The former Moorfoot Primary and Clydeview Academy pupil was selected for the Scotland Under-21s squad last week for the Toulon Tournament later this month.

And the 20-year-old says it’s been a great experience working with a someone of Clarke’s calibre.

Taylor told the Tele: “It’s been brilliant this year. It was a tough start to the season but since the new gaffer has come in it’s been nothing but a breath of fresh air.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. We’ve been winning and we went on a run not long ago where we won six games in a row, which hadn’t been done in 50-odd years in Killie’s history.

“It’s certainly been a good season and to get into the top six was great. He’s brought experience in, he’s simplified everything and got us compact and in a good team shape and we all know our roles within the team.”