James Fowler admits Kilmarnock must focus on ensuring stability – as well as restoring their top-flight status.
The Ayrshire side are searching for their fourth manager in two-and-a-half years since Steve Clarke left for Scotland.
Angelo Alessio, Alex Dyer and Tommy Wright have all been relieved of their duties since then – and now it’s time for stability according to Kilmarnock’s head of football operations.
Fowler, who was appointed into his role during Alessio’s reign, is now searching for his third manager and he is desperate to get it right.
“I think Steve Clarke was always going to be a hard man to replace in terms of his achievements at the club,” Fowler told the Kilmarnock Standard.
“It was a really tough decision this weekend, I had a really good working relationship with Tommy. As I’ve said before, we shared an office.
“I learned a lot from him so it was tough on a friendship side, and the football side too.
“But ultimately the board took that decision and we thank him for his efforts whilst he was here.
“Now the focus turns to getting back to winning ways. The way the league was going and also the recent run of results were factors in the decision.
“The board felt that there was no sign of change, that’s just football unfortunately. The lifespan of a manager these days isn’t long at times.
“We have been through three managers in recent years. It’s now about trying to find some stability and find that right person who is going to take us forward.
“For us as a club, it is important we get that stability, but the short-term aim is to get out of this league and that is the most important thing. But we have a longer term view as well.”
Fowler says the calibre of manager applying has impressed him so far – with over 20 CVs hitting his desk.
And he insists that the board are willing to be open-minded about who’s next for the gig as they are casting their net wide.
He said: “We are happy with the calibre of those applying, but it’s important that we identify ones that we want to speak to as well.
“It’s a challenge in terms of those who are in jobs, it’s a part of my role to track people who are doing well, whether that be ones who are up-and-coming, or those who are more well-known.
“When we looked to replace Alex Dyer we wanted someone who had a knowledge of the league and was going to keep us up.
“Our search is a bit more broad and open-minded in terms of how we are going to move forward.
“There is definitely a plan in place – so we will just see how that pans out.
“We are collating CVs, notes of interest, and we are identifying candidates we might like that are currently in jobs.
“I’ve had good conversations with the board already, we are speaking regularly and we are wanting this sorted ASAP.”
Fowler added: “The timing of this decision is possibly something we learned from last season.
“It’s important that you reflect on things that have happened, and I think we probably brought in Tommy too late meaning he wasn’t allowed to make an impact in terms of the transfer market.
“That’s all part of the learning, and we have taken that on board this time.
“It’s an ever-evolving situation, we continue to learn from previous situations.”
Fowler will head-up training on an interim basis until a new man is appointed.
And he is desperate for the club to restore their cinch Premiership status and get back to the successful highs of 2019 when they qualified for the Europa League.
He said: ”We have seen clubs become successful, you look at the likes of St Johnstone, that’s the level we want to be at.”
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