Kilmarnock

Watch highlights as Motherwell win 3-0 against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

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Corrie Ndaba says his Killie colleagues "don't really stress too much" about the current managerial situation at the club, with Derek McInnes set to depart for Hearts.

McInnes is currently negotiating personal terms with the Tynecastle club and will complete a move to Gorgie once the season concludes, should those terms be agreed.

However, Ndaba is fully focused on finishing the season on a high, as they prepare for their final home game of the season, against Hearts.

We want to win every game," the defender said, looking ahead to the final match of the season, following their 3-0 drubbing away from home against Motherwell.

"Especially the last game of the season at home for the fans, give them something to cheer about."

Before their game at Fir Park, many Kilmarnock fans told BBC Scotland they'd prefer McInnes to step aside now and were concerned about him taking charge of the side against his soon-to-be-employers on Sunday.

"You know, all I know is he's our manager right now," Nbada said when this was put to him.

"So he's got to focus on Kilmarnock, so all we can do is focus on the job we have to do and win games.

"We know he's a top manager. You know, it's natural for clubs to want top managers, top players or whatever, but we don't really stress too much about these things.

"We just obviously focus on our job."

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• Lennon Miller has assisted 8 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Motherwell player.

• Callum Slattery has scored 6 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), no Motherwell player has more.

• Stephen O'Donnell attempted 93 passes in this game, the highest total for a Motherwell player in the Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have beaten Kilmarnock for the first time in the Premiership since 26th August 2023, a run of 5 games without a win.

• Kilmarnock have failed to score in 12 of their 37 games, only Ross County (15) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have attempted 579 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

Kilmarnock suffered a heavy defeat in what seems set to be Derek McInnes' penultimate game as manager, as three late goals from Luke Armstrong and Callum Slattery gave Motherwell an ultimately comfortable Scottish Premiership victory.

What did you make of that, Kilmarnock fans? Has the manner of McInnes' potential exit irked you?

Let us know your thoughts.

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Kilmarnock assistant manager Paul Sheerin tells BBC Scotland: "The manager made his point in the press before the game and in the lead up, so we know his stance on the situation. That's the only reason I'm stood here.

"Our structure was good, our shape was good, we nullified them to very few chances. Once we lose the first goal, we lose our discipline in terms of shape and lose a couple quickly after that.

"There's walks of life where you work your notice and nothing is really said about it. It's part and parcel of people's contracts. The manager has done everything he can to be in the dugout for the last couple of games, he's stressed that to the players - he'd love to be here.

"He's got a brilliant relationship with the club and always has. If it all to go through and be finalised, he's leaving them in a far better place than what they were.

"I understand their frustrations and there is an awkwardness about it. We can't get away from that. But I'm sure the manager will do his best for the club."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Before the game, Kilmarnock fans were canvassed for their opinion on McInnes' seemingly imminent move to Hearts.

While they were generally thankful for his efforts in charge, the manner of his exit has prickled plenty.

Should he be in the dugout as he negotiates with another club? There is no right answer, but it is certainly not the best look when his side go on to lose 3-0.

He would not have wanted that, of course. He will be fully committed to Kilmarnock right now if, perhaps, a little distracted.

His players don't have that excuse, and they didn't need one until the last 15 minutes. That was when the energy and legs, having defended with a man disadvantage for 50-odd minutes, started to wane.

In fact, in the first half they were largely the better team and forced Aston Oxborough into a couple of smart saves - mainly from a Danny Armstrong free-kick.

Their ill-discipline haunted them at the start of the season, forcing them to stumble out of the blocks and ultimately cost them a place in the top six. As the season winds to an end, it reared its ugly head again.

Now, attention turns to Rugby Park on Sunday. McInnes against his potential employers, Hearts. An awkward situation indeed.

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Robbie Deas believes Kilmarnock are "capable of going on to bigger and better things" with or without manager Derek McInnes.

Hearts have agreed a deal to secure McInnes' services, although personal terms have yet to be finalised.

Defender Deas, meanwhile, has agreed a new two-year contract extension with the Ayrshire club and revealed "I wouldn't have signed" if he did not think they could be successful under a new manager.

"I feel very at home here," the 25-year-old, previously of former Inverness Caledonian Thistle, said. "I think it's been a successful two years.

"Finishing fourth and getting into Europe was amazing and I maybe took that for granted because it was my first year here.

"This season's been quite difficult, but at the end of the day, we secured safety in the Premiership."

Kilmarnock have won three games in a row despite speculation about McInnes' future during which Deas thought there had been "no mood change in the camp".

He admitted that McInnes' "stature" was "one of the main reasons" he signed for the club and that: "I feel he has been really good with me and I've come on leaps and bounds."

However, Deas believes "I've still got a lot to give to the club" and that there is "loads of quality" in the squad no matter who is manager next season.

"The only reason I want to stay is because I know the players who are going to be here," he added.

"There's nowhere else I would want to play my football for the next two years."

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• Motherwell are unbeaten in six home league games against Kilmarnock (W3 D3) since a 2-0 defeat in December 2020.

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in five league games against Motherwell (W2 D3), and could win successive league matches against the Steelmen for the first time since December 2018 (four in a row).

• Motherwell have lost their final home league game in two of the past four seasons (W2), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W6 D3 L2 – including curtailed 2019-20 season).

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Kilmarnock have only lost their final away game in one of their past 16 top-flight campaigns (W11 D4), although that was at Motherwell in 2016-17 (3-1).

• In his top-flight managerial career, only against current side Kilmarnock (24) has Derek McInnes won more games than he has over Motherwell (21), although he is winless in his past six away league games against the Steelmen (D4 L2) since a 3-0 victory with Aberdeen in October 2019.

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Motherwell defender Johnny Koutroumbis completes a two-match ban. Liam Gordon, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Paul McGinn are back training but might not feature.

Kofi Balmer (hamstring), Shane Blaney (knee), Sam Nicholson (knee), Jack Vale and Zach Robinson (both Achilles) remain out.

Kilmarnock's Kyle Magennis is back training following a knee problem but the game comes too soon. Brad Lyons (groin) and Joe Wright (hip) remain out but both have a chance for Sunday.

Youth team winger Cole Burke, 16, is added to the squad.

Steven Naismith is the frontrunner to become the next Kilmarnock manager, with fellow Rugby Park player Chris Burke also possibly involved in a shake-up should first team boss Derek McInnes complete his move to Heart of Midlothian. (Record), external

Hearts' plans to unveil McInnes as their new manager have been put on hold until chairwoman Ann Budge returns from holiday. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Derek McInnes thinks "we've got a good thing going here" despite the expectation that he will be leaving Kilmarnock to become Hearts' new team boss.

The Kilmarnock manager revealed that the Scottish Premiership rivals have agreed a deal for his services, although talks continue before the move can be finalised.

Kilmarnock sit ninth in the table, with games against Motherwell and Hearts to come, having failed to replicate last season's fourth-place finish.

But McInnes insisted: "The club is in a good place. The reserves got beat in the League Cup final, the 18s won the Scottish Youth Cup, we've got value on the pitch."

Since missing out on a top-six finish, Kilmarnock have won three games in a row to steer themselves clear of relegation trouble.

"Everybody keeps saying to me it's been a disappointing season," McInnes said. "I hear the narrative - I think it has been more a difficult season.

"We are annoyed that we've not been able to get into the top six, but we have no divine right to that.

"For a club like ourselves, we had to do so much right to finish fourth last season. To get something close to that this season was always going to be tough.

"There was a lot of optimism at the start of the campaign and that's maybe why, when it doesn't materialise, there is that tinge of disappointment and frustration."

McInnes thought the threat of relegation had "been good for us".

"You would never encourage that - you don't want to be in a situation we were in - but it was the importance of the situation and the boys have been magnificent with that," he added.

"Our time at Kilmarnock has been so enjoyable and it's important we try to enjoy the last couple of games."

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Returning to Kilmarnock to succeed Derek McInnes as manager would be a good "opportunity" for Steven Naismith to get back into football, according to former Hibernian, St Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic midfielder David Wotherspoon.

McInnes revealed on Tuesday that a deal had been agreed between Kilmarnock and Hearts for him to switch to Tynecastle after the final two games of the season.

Former Rangers, Everton and Scotland forward Naismith, who has been out of management since being sacked as Hearts head coach in September, started his playing career with the Ayrshire club and has naturally been linked with a return there as team boss.

"I don't know what they'll be looking for next," Wotherspoon told BBC Scotland's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The likes of Steven Naismith, who's played at the club, they might want to bring him back in because he's an exciting young manager and might revitalise the squad and have a bit of excitement about it to get up and running again.

"Obviously, he had a short stint at Hearts and he'll be desperate to get back in I would imagine.

"So, as someone that knows the club and has been there before, that might be an opportunity for him to get back into the game and progress his career."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

It was a weekend of relief for Killie fans as we beat Dundee to secure our top-league status for another season.

It was our third win on the trot, but there was only one question on lips of every fan: how funny is it to see Ayr's bottle crash every year?

The other issue was whether our manager was heading to Tynecastle in the coming week.

There is certainly serious interest from Hearts and media reports suggest he will shortly make the switch.

Derek McInnes has served up a mixed bag in his time at Killie and divides opinion among the fans. He took us to the Championship title and a great six months last season earned us some fantastic European memories.

On the flip side, he has given us two relegation battles, served up an embarrassing away record and frustrated fans with constant tinkering of personnel and formations.

As football fans we are used to players and managers coming and going, no individual is ever bigger than the club - we'll simply move on.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Talks with Kilmarnock over a compensation deal to make Derek McInnes Heart of Midlothian's new team boss will not be concluded until after the sides meet in their final Scottish Premiership game of the season this weekend, with former Hearts head coach Steven Naismith favourite to replace him at Rugby Park. (Sun), external

McInnes is edging closer to accepting the Hearts job - almost eight months after Jamestown Analytics suggested him as the ideal man to replace Naismith before the appointment of Neil Critchley. (Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart dissects the impact of Danny Armstrong at Kilmarnock as the winger nears the end of his deal. (Available to UK users only)

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Robbie Deas is convinced he can "offer a lot more" to Kilmarnock after signing a two-year extension to his contract.

The defender, whose new deal will until the summer of 2027, has been a regular in the Rugby Park side since his arrival from Inverness two years ago.

The Ayrshire club say the centre-back has showcased "leadership qualities and defensive prowess" during his two seasons in the team.

And 25-year-old Deas added: "I've enjoyed my time at the club so far and I'm looking forward to building on what we've achieved and pushing on again next season.

"I feel like I can offer a lot more to this club."

Kilmarnock secured their Scottish Premiership safety with victory over Dundee on Saturday, but there is uncertainty over manager Derek McInnes' future with Hearts set to make an official approach for the ex-Aberdeen boss this week.

Heart of Midlothian are set to make their move for Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes official before close of business on Monday. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock ensure their Scottish Premiership survival with a 3-2 win over Dundee. (Available to UK users only)

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes hailed the influence of Stuart Findlay after the 3-2 win over Dundee on Saturday secured their Scottish Premiership status.

The 29-year-old defender, on loan from Oxford, returned to action at the end of March having been out since last November with severe ligament damage.

Since his return to the side, Killie have won four out of six matches, the last three of which have been victories that have kept them away from the relegation play-off spot.

"There's no doubt having Stuart Findlay back has been massive for us," McInnes said.

"He doesn't always catch the eye, and he's not exactly dribbling out and making chances and all the rest of it, but he's such a calming influence.

"That ability for a centre-half to make people round about them better is a dying art, because so many boys now just what to play their own game and look after themselves, but he does it in such a quiet effective way.

"It was Robbie Deas' best performance of the season, maybe the best performance in a Killie shirt, he was outstanding.

"Stuart makes him better, he makes [Corrie] Ndaba better, he makes [Lewis] Mayo better. And you can't buy that. That is worth so much."

We asked for your views on the 3-2 win against Dundee that secured Kilmarnock's Premiership survival as Hearts prepare to make an approach for manager Derek McInnes.

Here's what some of you said:

Alastair: Well done team, squad and manager to keep a town team in the top league again after hectic European start. It's all good experience. Perhaps everyone, including fans, were a bit overconfident after last year but we now seem to have our confidence back. If Derek McInnes goes, then Steven Naismith for me, as he got breaking Hearts into Europe.

Dugald: Glad to have, eventually, secured Premiership status for next season. If the manager goes then so be it. I've never been a big McInnes fan. If anything he's got a reputation beyond his achievements. Hopefully Billy Bowie has some succession planning in place to drive the club forwards.

Joe: Good result for Killie. Derek has done great job for us and I have no problems with him moving on.

Anna: Impressive performance. Solid at the back and in midfield, nice to see David Watson get a start too. Danny Armstrong's passion impressed me big time and I hope he stays along with the awesome Stuart Findlay. We can rest easy knowing our Premiership survival is secure. Hearts you can get lost, you are not getting our manager, he's staying put.

Robert: McInnes must stay. No ifs, buts or maybes. The way we played showed that his players would run through brick walls for him. We can all argue with his selections/tactics in some games but in my view we could not possibly replace him.

James: An excellent performance all round. The defence were solid and we created lots of chances which would have made the final score more impressive. I really hope McInnes stays because he has started a project which will set firm foundations for the future of the club.

Kilmarnock held off Dundee's late fightback to secure victory and their Scottish Premiership status while uncertainty around manager Derek McInnes' future continues.

Danny Armstrong's penalty gave Kilmarnock the lead before the break, but Lyall Cameron's first goal of the afternoon levelled.

Two headers, scored by Bruce Anderson and Robbie Deas, looked to have finished the game but Cameron netted again - this time a stunner from the edge of the box - to set up a tense finale.

However, the hosts held on and, having achieved safety, the focus intensifies on the Rugby Park boss, who is the frontrunner for the vacant post at Hearts.

What did you make of that one, Killie fans? A well-deserved three points?

And what do you think of the speculation linking McInnes to Tynecastle? Would you be sad to see him go?

Let us know your thoughts here.