Kilmarnock open discussions on new deals to tie down Shiels and Nicholl

Tuesday 20 March 2012

KILMARNOCK have opened discussions with Kenny Shiels about extending the manager's stay at the club.

Michael Johnston is delighted Kilmarnock have now won 'treble'

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HeraldScotland staff

Shiels, who led Kilmarnock to a 1-0 win over Celtic in Sunday's Scottish Communities League Cup final, is out of contract in the summer and chairman Michael Johnston is hopeful the Northern Irishman and his assistant, Jimmy Nicholl, will agree an extension.

"I spoke to Kenny a few weeks ago about extending his contract until next season at least," Johnston said. "Kenny said he would speak to Jimmy about that so we had open discussions on that. I'm delighted Kenny has gained this well-deserved success."Johnston praised Shiels' efforts for delivering Kilmarnock's first League Cup success at the sixth attempt, the club having finished runners-up on five previous occasions. "It's a fantastic achievement for Kilmarnock and now we've got our own treble as we've won the League, the Scottish Cup, and now the League Cup. I can't emphasise enough how well the team played on Sunday – it was a well-deserved win."Meanwhile, Dunfermline Athletic hope to have a new manager in place by tomorrow as they continue their search for a successor to Jim McIntyre, who was sacked on Friday night with the East End Park club side languishing at the foot of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, four points from safety. Chairman John Yorkston revealed he had spoken to several candidates but that nothing had yet been agreed. "I'm hoping there will be an announcement by Wednesday but these things can move at a fast speed," he said.Jim Jefferies is still the favourite to land the job and talks between the former Hearts and Kilmarnock manager are expected to continue later this week. It is thought an agreement is not far away following talks between Jefferies and members of the Dunfermline board on Sunday afternoon. although the club want to make an appointment only until the end of the season and Jefferies would prefer a long-term deal. Jefferies is also thought to be still negotiating a severance package from Hearts after being sacked by the Tynecastle club early in the season. Gerry McCabe, McIntyre's former assistant, has been put in charge of training and will take the team on Saturday against St Mirren if no appointment is made before then. "I think the idea is to get someone in for this weekend because it is a huge game," said Jim Leishman, Dunfermline's director of football. "But Gerry's under contract here just now and he's a professional and a great football person. Gerry will do his job and get on with it and he'll lift these guys for Saturday."

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Kilmarnock open discussions on new deals to tie down Shiels and Nicholl

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