Kilmarnock’s shortlist for the next manager will be narrowed further as the Ayrshire side interview their preferred candidates over the weekend.

Former Hearts and Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson has been identified as a target, as well as Aberdeen coach Peter Leven.

The Rugby Park outfit sacked Stuart Kettlewell just over two weeks ago after a winless run of 10 games, and the 41-year-old is already back in the dugout, returning to Ross County where he played and managed, winning promotion to the Scottish Premiership in both spells.

Neilson guided Hearts back to the Premiership in his first spell as Jambos manager, before doing the same with Dundee United four years later in 2020. He made it a hat-trick of Championship promotions when he left for Hearts in the same year, and also finished runner-up in a penalty shootout Scottish Cup Final defeat to Celtic.

After leaving Scotland in 2022, the former Scottish international’s last managerial role was with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL, before linking up with former Killie midfielder Lee Johnson at Belgian side Lommel SK to become his assistant.

Leven also enjoyed time at Rugby Park as a player from 2004 to 2007, as well as two years as assistant manager to Gary Locke and Lee McCulloch from 2015 to 2017.

His only experience as head coach has came at Belarusian side Dynamo Brest’s B team, as well as a handful of matches as Aberdeen caretaker, having been part of the Pittodrie setup since 2023.

Steve Bruce has also been linked with the vacant post, with his son Alex incidentally playing one season at Kilmarnock from 2019-2020. The 65-year-old did say he would be unlikely to manage again however, following his dismissal from English League One side Blackpool three months ago.

Killie released a statement yesterday from their Board of Directors, saying they ‘expect to have a first team manager in place next week’, which would set up a potential first clash against 12th placed Livingston, of whom Kilmarnock only sit 4 points above in 11th.