Kilmarnock lose their manager to national service with Finland as his former assistant puts himself forward as the perfect replacement

KENNY SHIELS, the Kilmarnock assistant coach, has made a bold play for the club’s vacant managerial post following Mixu Paatelainen’s decision to leave in order to take charge of the Finland national team.

Shiels, who was recruited by Paatelainen from a post as head of youth development at Tranmere Rovers last June, has previously managed in the Irish League with Coleraine and Ballymena.

Speaking after Kilmarnock confirmed the departure of Paatelainen, the former Finland internationalist who has taken last season’s relegation contenders to the top six, Shiels said: “I would like the job because it’s a good opportunity for me to consolidate my career. I genuinely feel it would also be a good option for the club to sustain the continuity we’ve built. I’m sure they don’t want to revert back to a relegation battle, so my thinking is that if it’s not broke then don’t fix it.”

An official statement from Michael Johnston, the Kilmarnock chairman, read: “Following careful consideration, Mixu has decided that the honour of managing his national team is one which he cannot refuse. He leaves with the club’s first team squad in good health, in all respects.

“Assistant first-team coach Kenny Shiels will take charge of the club’s preparations for its forthcoming matches.”

Shiels praised his predecessor as he put forward his case for promotion .

“I had met Mixu on a few coaching courses and also at Hibernian when he was there,” said the 44-year-old. “I found him a very genuine guy and warmed to him quickly.

“His utopia would have been to finish the season with us, get a European spot and then take the Finland job but it just didn’t work out like that.

“The exact terminology the chairman used was that I’m to come in on a caretaker basis until such times as we take stock of where we are.”

Shiels also led the Northern Ireland Under-17 team to a European semi-final in 2006.

“I’ve been in management for 14 years and my achievements have been good,” he added. “I’ve taken two provincial clubs to Europe and an international youth team to a semi-final, which meant their coefficient ranking went from 43rd to ninth.

“The fact that I have experience in management and a clear philosophy about how my teams should play stands me in good stead. I see this as a challenge – one I can meet – but I’m also realistic enough to know that football can often change and so only time will tell.”

St Johnstone are Kilmarnock’s next opponents, and when asked whether a positive result could help improve his credentials, Shiels said: “I don’t think it’s about me using anything as a springboard.

“The most important people at the club remain the players and the supporters, so the priority is simply for the team to continue doing well. It’s not about Kenny Shiels, it’s all about Kilmarnock.”

Paatelainen described his move as a “dream come true” after he was confirmed as the successor to Stuart Baxter, with a contract that runs through the Euro 2016 campaign.

The 44-year-old played for Finland 70 times, scoring 18 goals before a management career that started at Cowdenbeath before spells at TPS in his homeland and Hibs, where he was sacked after 18 months. He turned down an offer from Scunthorpe United before agreeing a return to Finland.

Paatelainen said: “This is a dream come true and I have been working towards it for a long time.”

Sauli Niinisto, head of the Finnish FA, insisted Paatelainen was first choice for the job and that he can take the team forward.

He said: “We are very glad we could get the top name on our shortlist.

“We trust Mixu to start the next step in the process of developing the team.”

Finland lie fifth in Euro 2012 qualifying Group E, with just three points from four games. Their next qualifier is on June 3, against San Marino, against whom Paatelainen once scored four goals, which remains a national team record.