Derek McInnes has brushed off doubters who are surprised by him heading down to the Championship.
The former Aberdeen boss left Pittodrie nine months ago after an eight-year stint – now he's back in the dugout after accepting the Kilmarnock job.
But despite it appearing to be a step-down on paper, he says by this time next year he wants to be challenging for the top six of the Scottish Premiership.
And after penning an 18-month deal in Ayrshire, he is raring to go as Killie head to Queen of the South on Saturday for his first match.
McInnes said: “People might be surprised but that doesn’t bother me. I feel as if I can help Kilmarnock. Put it this way, I don’t want to be in the Championship any more than they do and I feel, with a lot of hard work, we can achieve what we want to achieve together.
“I’ve had a really good break over these last few months but, ultimately, I’m built to work. So when this opportunity came up I realised straight away that I’m ready to go again.
“I feel better than ever in terms of the experience I’ve picked up. But I’ve also got bags of energy and enthusiasm and believe there is still so much for me to do.
“So I chose Killie because I want to get going again and this is a club with massive potential."
He added: "When Steve Clarke was here, Kilmarnock became an established top-six club and the fans connected with the team just the way they did when Tommy Burns was manager here during my own playing days.
‘“So, yes, in a year from now I want us to be heading into the winter break involved in the fight for a place in the top six of the Premiership.
“But obviously there is work to do. That’s why they are where they are in the league right now.
“The first aim is to get this club promoted and back into the top flight as quickly as possible. That’s my intention.
"But we have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the squad and making improvements – and there is no time to waste.
“It’s now my responsibility to make sure we get out of this league and it’s a responsibility I’m only too pleased to take on.”
McInnes will team up again with long-term right-hand man Tony Docherty as he attempts to put an immediate stamp on a side languishing in fourth place and in danger of missing out on a return to the top flight at the first attempt.
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