Lee Clark has admitted that he regrets leaving Kilmarnock when he did.
The English manager was appointed in the Rugby Park hotseat in February 2016, securing the club’s Premiership status in a play-off with Falkirk at the end of that season.
But the former Newcastle player left the club just one year later to join League One club Bury.
Clark was sacked eight months later with the club sitting second-bottom of the league.
Now managing at National League North side Blyth Spartans, Clark said in an interview this week that he should have stayed at Rugby Park.
In an interview with Si Ferry for his Open Goal podcast, Clark was asked what his first impressions of Scottish football were: “Loved it.
“We kept them [Kilmarnock] up and then in the second season we rebuilt the squad and when I left, I shouldn’t have left.
“When Bury came calling I should have stayed at Kilmarnock. I only had one full calendar year there and we were sixth in a tight league and I should have stayed.
“I got treated brilliantly, the standard of the football was far higher than people make out down south.
“You manage at Celtic Park Park, Ibrox, Pittodrie, Tynecastle and Hibs weren’t in the league then but we knew they were going to come up.
“So it’s probably and area I regret and I should’ve stayed for longer.”
Asked if he still looks out for Killie results, Clark answered: “Absolutely.
“I’ve been back up a few times since to watch games. I thought it was brilliant with them getting into Europe - a club I have real fondness for.
Asked if he would ever like to return to Rugby Park as manager, Clark said: “He’s [Angelo Alessia] turned a corner. It was a tough start.
“Scottish football wouldn’t be an issue for me to go back and manage in that. Definitely.”
