Mcdonald ‘will sneak back into shadows’

PARTICK THISTLE

V KILMARNOCK

Kilmarnock caretaker Paul Mcdonald admits he cannot wait to return to the Rugby Park shadows.

The Ayrshire club’s academy director has been put in charge of the team for today’s Premiership trip to Partick Thistle. But he has no desire to become Lee Mcculloch’s per- manent successor and is looking forward to returning to his day job after the game.

Mcdonald said: “How far do I see this going? Until tomorrow. After that, who knows what happens? That will be a decision for the board. But management has never been something that is top of my list, to be honest. I enjoy working with the youngsters in the academy. I’ll be sneaking back into the shadows once the new manager has been named.”

Partick defender Danny Devine believes stability will be crucial in getting away from the bottom of the table.

Thistle have not won any of their eight Premiership matches and host bottom club Killie with just goals scoredseparatingtheteams.

Both Killie and Ross County have made managerial changes already but Thistle were rewarded for showing patience with Alan Archibald after a similar start last year, and Devine said: “The board trust the manager here, the manager trusts his players, and we trust the manager and his staff. It definitely helps us players when the manager’s position is stable and the board have confidence in him.”