Kilmarnock in state of flux: The candidates to replace Alex Dyer, what sort of manager they want and why decision was taken

Kilmarnock have displayed the decisiveness many fans of Celtic, the team they host tonight, are wishing their club would show when it comes to severing ties with a manager. James Fowler, the Rugby Park head of football operations, faced the media yesterday following Alex Dyer’s sacking on Saturday night.

Kilmarnock's Chris Burke is left dejected at full time after the 3-2 defeat by St Johnstone.

Although he was and will always be associated with a period of great success under Steve Clarke, Alex Dyer’s own time in charge at Kilmarnock never seemed set to be a long-term enterprise. As recently as December, after his side had lost five successive matches, he admitted he could have no complaints if the board decided to sack him.

What happened to Alex Dyer?

Things picked up with two wins over Motherwell and Hamilton Accies bookending a draw v St Mirren. But he always seemed another bad run away from bad news. A second-half capitulation against St Johnstone on Saturday made it three defeats in a row and while Celtic are next to visit Rugby Park tonight, when, as we know, anything could happen, the Killie owner Billy Bowie was quick to act.

Kilmarnock head of football operations James Fowler is not interested in replacing Alex Dyer as Rugby Park manager (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

It was always going to be hard to sustain the success brought to the club by Clarke and Dyer, with the side finishing third in 2018/19. As so often happens, the promotion of an assistant – when it eventually happened, following an ill-starred period under Angelo Alessio – did not work out as intended. Dyer eventually look over in December 2019 after Alessio was sacked after just 22 games. He led Killie to eighth in the Premiership last season. They are currently ninth – five points from bottom team Ross County, but just six away from sixth-placed St Mirren.

James Fowler, the head of football operations at Rugby Park, yesterday distanced himself from the events of Saturday evening. “It was a decision the board had taken, they felt they had to make a change,” he said. He did add everyone must feel the burden of playing some part in the departure of a good man.

“I spoke to the players yesterday and said everyone takes a bit of responsibility when a manager loses their job, whether that’s the club, the board, myself, the staff and certainly all the players as well,” he said. “You have a look and what you maybe could have done better or done more to help the situation.”

Who is next for Rugby Park hotseat?

Alex Dyer left his post as Kilmarnock manager - but the whole of the coaching staff have to carry the can.

With a game coming so quickly against the – admittedly tottering – champions, it’s an intense period at Rugby Park. CVs have already been arriving at the ground. Asked to outline the type of manager desired, Fowler was straight to the point: “One that wins games.”

He then cut to the chase. “One that keeps us in this league”. He also mentioned the obligatory “bigger picture”, such as bringing through youth players to supplement the budget.

But the primary objective is prolonging Kilmarnock’s remarkable 28-year stay in the top-flight. The helps focus the mind when pondering potential candidates. “In my opinion, someone who has knowledge of Scottish or British football and knows the league, that would be preferable,” said Fowler.

It’s hard to look past Tommy Wright, who is understood to be ready to return to the game after leaving St Johnstone last summer and who was interviewed for the recent vacancy at Motherwell. The reason that opportunity came up was Stephen Robinson’s resignation, and he is another whose name was immediately linked with the vacancy at Kilmarnock.

Nothing Fowler said yesterday suggested these men should not be in the frame. They themselves may have doubts with Kilmarnock’s plastic pitch not to everyone’s liking.

Someone who knows all about playing on such a surface is Gary Holt, who left Livingston – one of three teams who have an artificial pitch in the Premiership – in November. He has since been unveiled as sporting director at Falkirk but might be tempted by a switch to Kilmarnock, the club he supported as a boy and played for with considerable success. He also still lives a corner kick away from Rugby Park.

One thing is for sure: the next permanent manager won’t be Fowler himself. Although he has experience of management at Queen of the South, the 40-year-old ruled himself out of the running yesterday.

Who will be in the dugout v Celtic?

Fowler is having a busy time of it. As well as being involved in the discussions to help identify the next manager and making last minute moves on the transfer front before the deadline, he must also devise a tactical game plan for the visit of Celtic.

“Can you tell I’m looking tired? I’ve not slept much in the last couple of nights for different reasons. It’s never nice when something like this happens.

“Alex is a top bloke as well as a real good coach. But the board decided to make a change, so you feel responsible for that. Last night, it was all go, with trying to get players in and the stresses that come with a window closing and no manager in place.”

Fowler will be joined in the dugout by assistant manager Andy Millen and club skipper Gary Dicker (if he is not selected to start). It will be Fowler’s first time in the dugout since he stepped in for Jack Ross when he was sacked by Sunderland in October 2019. The omens are good for Killie fans. Fowler, who was Ross’ assistant at the Stadium of Light, oversaw a victory. Will Grigg scored a late winner in a 3-2 win against Grimsby in the Football League Trophy.

“It will be a team effort,” said Fowler. “Andy took training the morning because I had my hands full trying to get players in. I’ve spoken to Gary as well, who is club captain and well respected.”

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