Football
Exclusive: Former Southampton Caretaker Simon Rusk in Frame for Kilmarnock Job
Former Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk emerges as a surprise candidate to become the new Kilmarnock manager. With Aberdeen coach Peter Leven also in contention, Kilmarnock are in desperate need of a turnaround after a poor season under former boss Stuart Kettlewell.
Southampton Training and Press Conference by Matt Watson | Getty Images
Former Southampton caretaker boss Simon Rusk is in the running to become the new Kilmarnock manager, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
And our sources have learnt that Aberdeen coach Peter Leven remains high on the club’s hit-list of potential replacements for Stuart Kettlewell.
Club cult hero Kettlewell was sacked on Monday after just six months in charge and the club languishing in 11th place in the Scottish Premiership after a tortuous season thus far.
One win in 17 games has left Killie facing relegation firmly in the face and Kettlewell, only appointed in May this year, ultimately paid the price for failing to turn the club’s worrying fortunes around.
A ten-game winless run means whoever takes charge knows they have their work cut out to improve results.
And former Stockport County and England Under-19 boss Rusk has emerged as a surprise candidate to replace Kettlewell at Killie’s managerial helm.
Most recently Rusk was interim boss of Southampton, a position he has held twice in recent times following managerial departures at St Mary’s.
CHANCE TO IMPRESS
But the former midfielder is understood to want the chance to land a permanent role to take his managerial career to the next level.
A respected midfielder with Boston United during his playing career, which also included spells at Peterborough United, Northwich Victoria, and Rushden and Diamonds, Rusk is a young manager looking to make his mark.
“I believe in my abilities as a coach and a manager, I believe in my track record, I believe in my experiences, and I'm finding that balance of enjoying it, but also pushing myself,” Rusk said earlier this season.
Similarly Aberdeen first team coach Leven is a young manager hoping to be given the chance to prove his worth.
Twice caretaker boss with The Dons, Leven has acquired many admirers for the way he has applied himself during challenging times.
Amazingly, Kilmarnick have picked up just two points from the past 30 available to them and whoever takes charge with have to work wonders to haul the strugglers out of the mire.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.