Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies has angrily denied reports players threatened strike action over the club's decision to withdraw an offer of a coaching role to Gary Locke. Jefferies said: "The chairman had a meeting to explain Setanta and in that he was asked about the Gary Locke situation.

"The chairman has said he'd give it some thought.

"Making out that the players are taking strike action is absolutely ridiculous."

Locke, 34, retired at the end of the season and the former captain was in line to join the club's backroom staff.

But the loss of television revenue following the demise of Setanta and a significantly reduced contract with Sky and ESPN led to a U-turn.

"He said he would listen to the players and give it some thought but he hasn't made a decision yet," Jefferies said.

Even if a return is not immediate, Jefferies would love to work with Locke again in the near future.

"Hopefully sometime, if things are better, we could get him back but it's our loss and somebody else's gain because he's tailor-made to go into that side of things.

"I'm sure if anybody was looking for somebody, he'd come highly recommended."