Hunt to land right man for hotseat
questioned their commitment and desire for the cause afterwards.
In a blistering outburst, McCulloch said: “I felt let down, especially with the first half.
“We let the fans down. I’m well aware of their frustration and they were probably kind not to be booing longer or be more hostile after that performance.
“The fans were not as bad as I thought they should have been after that performance. I had to unload. There are too many jobs at stake for players to be going through the motions.
“I can’t put my name to that first-half performance. That was embarrassing. We’re happy to walk about with a swagger with the toilet bag under the arm and look the part but not be the part by doing the ugly and nasty parts.
“We’re not ruthless enough. I can’t recall a tackle going in, we were nowhere near 50-50s and one or two were even jumping out of them.
“It could be that they’re content to be in a comfort zone but that first-half performance cannot be accepted and it won’t be.”
McCulloch made it clear he was prepared to stay and try to turn the situation around but that option has expired.
The club were also mindful they had backed their boss with a budget to make a host of new signings during the summer to try to spark the club towards better times.
However, with the mood of the fans having darkened towards the boss and a feeling he had lost his way with the disappointing opening to the campaign, Killie chiefs were left in no doubt that something had to be done and McCulloch paid the price.