Kenny Shiels in line at Rugby Park

KILMARNOCK are expected to announce the appointment of Kenny Shiels as manager next week, after the Rugby Park club called a press conference for Wednesday.

Shiels has been in charge on a caretaker basis since Mixu Paatelainen left the club earlier this year to take the Finland national team job. The Northern Irishman could be joined by his compatriot Jimmy Nicholl, who would be the 55-year-old's assistant.

Before becoming Paatelainen's assistant a year ago, Shiels headed up the youth football operation at Tranmere Rovers, and managed Coleraine, Ballymena United, Larne and Carrick Rangers in Northern Ireland.