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Kilmarnock: Allan Johnston relieved of duties at Rugby Park

Allan Johnston: Is leaving Rugby Park with immediate effect
Image: Allan Johnston: Is leaving Rugby Park with immediate effect

Allan Johnston has been dismissed by Kilmarnock with immediate effect, with Gary Locke appointed as interim manager.

The Scottish Premiership club took the decision less than 24 hours after the 41-year-old had held a press conference to announce he was quitting as manager at the end of the season.

Johnston said he was unhappy with the sale of teenage striker Robbie Muirhead to Dundee United earlier this week, claiming he was only made aware of the 19-year-old's departure shortly after the deadline-day window closed.

Assistant manager Locke has been put in charge of Saturday game at Hamilton Academical while Kilmarnock look for a permanent successor to former Rangers and Hearts striker Johnston.

In a statement, Kilmarnock said: "Allan will stand down as manager with immediate effect and the board has therefore appointed assistant manager Gary Locke as interim manager pending a permanent appointment.

"The board of directors would like to express its thanks to Allan for his diligent service over the last 18 months.

"Allan kept the club in the Premiership last season by recording crucial end of season victories and an excellent start to the current league season raised expectations.

"Unfortunately, a number of injuries to key players and a series of poor results followed and although the club sits in eighth place in the Premiership, Allan decided to announce his decision to leave the club to the media on Thursday."

Johnston told the Press on Thursday: "I never found out Robbie was away until five past 12. Stuff like that, it is not the way things are done.

"It was very disappointing. Especially when you see a lack of goals this season.

"I spoke to the chairman and told him that if Robbie left we would only have one fit striker because Michael Ngoo is out for the rest of the season and Lee Miller is a few weeks away.

"I said that we definitely needed to bring another striker in to strengthen the squad. He said that even if Robbie left then we were not in a position to do that."

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