Steven Naismith has emerged as the clear frontrunner to replace Hearts-bound Derek McInnes at Kilmarnock.
McInnes is set to complete a move to Tynecastle over the coming days after terms were agreed between Killie and Hearts.
It was initially planned that he would remain in charge for Killie’s final two games of the season prior to any departure.
But his position had become untenable on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Motherwell on Wednesday which saw a section of supporters turn on him.
With Hearts due at Rugby Park tomorrow, it was confirmed on Thursday that McInnes has been taken out of the firing line.
Chris Burke will instead take the team, but it’s his ex-Killie team-mate Naismith who is now in pole position to land the job long-term.
Steven Naismith was dismissed by Hearts in September after less than 18 months in charge
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes is set to take a new challenge at Tynecastle
Naismith began his career at Rugby Park after making the breakthrough as a teenager
Mail Sport understands Naismith is in no rush to get back into the game. However, he would be keen on holding talks with his former club about the position.
Naismith left Hearts earlier this season and would entertain a return to coaching and management if the right club came along.
Asked about the links to Killie on the latest episode of The Warm-Up, the SPFL’s weekly preview show, Naismith said: ‘I’m enjoying the time out.
‘It takes over your life, management. It’s on your mind all the time. I loved it but I’ve loved my time out.
‘I’m at the point where everything needs to be perfect. So it has to be the right club, you believe in what it is and that you’re going to make a difference.’
Naismith became a club hero at Kilmarnock after coming through the academy, then scoring 32 goals in 105 games. He was sold to Rangers in 2007 for a club-record fee of £1.9million.
He was part of the Scotland backroom team then took charge at Tynecastle on an interim basis in April 2023.
After landing the full-time job, he guided Hearts to third last season but was axed just six games into the current campaign with the club languishing at the foot of the table.
