Rangers and Celtic ticket cuts have improved atmosphere as Kilmarnock chief insists there's been NO financial hit

Kilmarnock chief Phyllis McLeish claims the club have suffered no financial hit from halving Old Firm allocations - and insists the decision has IMPROVED the Rugby Park atmosphere.

The Ayrshire side took the bold decision to reduce the number of stands handed to Rangers and Celtic fans from one to two four years ago. Instead of getting both ends of the ground the travelling punters have been housed only the Chadwick Stand with the Moffat Stand prioritised as a family section for home supporters.

The move halved the number of briefs heading to the Glasgow clubs from 8000 to 4000 and led to warnings they’d be hit in the pocket. But Kilmarnock argued the threat of reduced crowds on the four occasions Rangers and Celtic visited would be offset by attracting new home supporters to an improved Moffat Stand fan zone.

Now, in a five-year plan document published by Kilmarnock today, McLeish confirmed that it was the right call. She said: "The decision taken to prioritise our own family support by cutting a second away stand for Old Firm games has been successful and we are very proud of the outcome.

"We have since witnessed an improved atmosphere for players, fans, and townspeople in relation to these games. Meanwhile, the potential loss of income has not materialised, with an increasing number of families coming back each week.

"The family fanzone behind the stand is also becoming increasingly popular and we have plans for this to evolve further in the coming months. With the assistance of our director Billy Bowie and the Killie Trust, we installed two safe standing areas for young supporters; one in the East Stand and one in the Moffat. A disabled ramp in the Moffat Stand has also been introduced to enhance our disabled