Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes unconcerned by Hibernian links

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes will not allow Hibernian speculation to disrupt his plans for the Rugby Park club.

The former Aberdeen manager’s name has been bandied around following the Easter Road club’s sacking of Lee Johnson on Sunday with one former Hibs player and current pundit, Tam McManus, telling the Daily Record that, “if you narrowed me down to just one name, I’d say Derek.”

McInnes has already enjoyed wins over Rangers and Celtic this season and the Ayrshire club revealed on Friday that 30-year high season ticket sales have been recorded, with 5,112 campaign passes sold ahead of Saturday’s cinch Premiership game against Ross County.

McInnes said: “Nothing changes. I have committed to Kilmarnock and they have committed to me.

“I am really enjoying what we are doing here.

“We have only scratched the surface at this club and we are looking to drive it on.

“Any distractions either way, good or bad, I think it is important that we just concentrate on the job and that is exactly what we are doing.”

After wins over Rangers in the league and Celtic in the Viaplay Cup, Killie lost 2-1 at Motherwell last week.

It was the first defeat over 90 minutes in eight games this season and McInnes said: “We are annoyed with ourselves that we have not taken a point from the game.

“Motherwell were the better team in the second half but we should we have got out of there with at least a point.

“It was no more than we deserved with the level of performance.

“The players are annoyed with themselves that they allowed at least point to slip from their grasp in the last seconds of the game and hopefully we bounce back tomorrow.”