Shiels wants to Thai up 3

BANGKOK BID Shiels, left, wants to sign Eremenko FORMER Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels arrived in Bangkok yesterday to take up his new job as manager of BEC Tero Sasana – then revealed he wants at least three of his former stars to follow him from Scotland.

Killie midfielder Alexei Eremenko is out of contract after Saturday’s final Premiership game against Ross County and Shiels, who was No.2 when Mixu Paatelainen first brought the Finn to Rugby Park, wants to take the 32-year-old to Thailand.

He’s also keen on Rangers winger Barrie McKay and James Dayton, who was a League Cup winner when Shiels’s Killie side shocked Celtic in the 2012 final.

Shiels said: “The three players I’m looking at are Alexei, Barrie and James.

“What I need are players who are technically gifted and good on the ball. It’s all about a passing game in this Premier League so I don’t need bruisers – what I want are players who can get the ball down and provide an end product.”

Like Eremenko, Dayton is a free agent. The 26-year-old attacker has been released by Oldham after spending the second half of the season on loan at St Mirren.

McKay is under contract at Ibrox for another two years but has spent the last two seasons on loan to Morton and Raith Rovers.

And Shiels believes a change of scenery might help kick-start his career.

He said: “I had Barrie as a youngster at Killie. He clearly has ability.

“I certainly wouldn’t rule out bringing others over from Scotland if it suited both parties.”