The 1988–89 season was Kilmarnock's 87th in Scottish League Competitions. After a poor run of results, manager Eddie Morrison was sacked in November 1988. Jim Clark initially took over as caretaker before the club hired Jim Fleeting for the rest of the season. Less than two months into the job, he sensationally sacked centre half Kenny Brannigan who was sent off for head butting former teammate Derek Cook three minutes into the league game with Queen of The South. Despite a 6–0 victory in their last game, the club was relegated to the third tier at the end of the season for the first time on a goal difference by just one goal.
Off the field, the club were subject to two takeover bids during the season. In September, Largs businessman Hugh Scott offered £500,000 for a controlling interest in the club. A second bid was launched in January by a consortium led by the manager's brother Bobby Fleeting.
Scottish First Division
League table
Match results Match Day Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock scorer(s) Attendance113 AugustQueen of the SouthA2–2Gilmour 51', McGuire 70' 1,587220 AugustPartick ThistleH0–12,442327 AugustAyr UnitedH2–0McGuire 39', Marshall 60'5,38743 SeptemberClydebankA2–2McGuire 5', Cuthbertson 73' 1,418510 SeptemberAirdrieoniansA1–5Cook 70'2,016617 SeptemberClydeH1–2McDonald 12'1,745724 SeptemberDunfermline AthleticA0–35,37981 OctoberGreenock MortonH3–4Cook 4', Martin 60', McInnes ?'1,86598 OctoberForfar AthleticA2–2McGuire 22', Gilmour 50' 6851015 OctoberMeadowbank ThistleA2–0Montgomerie 81', Cook 89'1,1851122 OctoberRaith RoversH1–1Wylde 9'1,9651229 OctoberSt JohnstoneA0–22,329135 NovemberFalkirkH0–22,5611412 NovemberAirdrieoniansH0–31,9581519 NovemberClydeA2–0McFarlane 31', 45'1,0281626 NovemberDunfermline AthleticH2–2Gilmour 57' pen., Brannigan 65'2,761173 DecemberPartick ThistleA1–0McFarlane 37'2,6241810 DecemberSt JohnstoneH0–32,5011917 DecemberRaith RoversA0–01,5142024 DecemberMeadowbank ThistleH1–0Watters 28'2,3912131 DecemberClydebankH1–0McLaughlin 5'2,760223 JanuaryAyr UnitedA1–4Faulds 46'8,585237 JanuaryFalkirkA0–23,9722414 JanuaryQueen of the SouthH2–1Walker 38', Watters 87' 2,2642521 JanuaryForfar AthleticH2–1Watters 37', 74'1,8132618 FebruaryClydeH0–01,9532725 FebruarySt JohnstoneA2–2Watters 49', Reilly 83'2,393281 MarchGreenock MortonA2–2Watters 75', Harkness 80'1,807294 MarchAirdrieoniansH1–1McLaughlin 82'2,3763011 MarchAyr UnitedA1–2Montgomerie 20'5,4763118 MarchForfar AthleticH2–2Harkness 8', Faulds 14'1,5863225 MarchDunfermline AthleticA0–05,906331 AprilFalkirkH0–03,870348 AprilMeadowbank ThistleA2–1Harkness 36', Watters 79' 8663515 AprilRaith RoversH1–2Harkness 16'2,2183622 AprilGreenock MortonA0–31,6233729 AprilPartick ThistleH0–02,932386 MayClydebankA2–3Harkness 1', Stewart 21'1,8113913 MayQueen of the SouthA6–0Watters 39', 47', 54', 69', 87', Reilly 61' 1,570
Scottish League Cup
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock scorer(s) AttendanceR217 AugustForfar AthleticH1–0Gilmour 55' pen.1,523R323 AugustHibernianA0–110,000
Scottish Cup
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock scorer(s) AttendanceR328 JanuaryQueen of the SouthA2–2Watters 10', Speirs 90' 2,941R3R1 FebruaryQueen of the SouthH0–15,623
See also List of Kilmarnock F.C. seasons
References
General
Specific
External links https://www.fitbastats.com/kilmarnock/team_results_season.php