Neil McCann has revealed that his time coaching Rangers last season revived his passion for management and says his media work doesn’t compare to being in the dugout.
The former Dundee and Inverness boss has been working as a television pundit, but answered the call from Barry Ferguson to join the backroom team at Rangers towards the end of last season.
He returned to broadcasting work in the summer but said that he had the itch to get back into management and was delighted to have been given the opportunity at Rugby Park.
McCann replaced Stuart Kettlewell, who was sacked after a run of results that left the Ayrshire club in relegation trouble, but the new boss, who will be assisted by Billy Dodds, is confident things can be turned around.
“I’m very proud to be given the opportunity,” he said. “I know this would have been a highly coveted job, and a lot of people would have expressed an interest in it to take it, and I know the position that we find ourselves in is a difficult one right now.
“You look at the form we’ve been on, I’m very aware that we’ve not won in 14, but I didn’t have any hesitation.
“I think when I left the Rangers job, it really ignited the fire to get back involved in football at the sharp end.
“I love the media stuff that I do. I do it in a way that it’s always from a football perspective in terms of I try to be constructive, I look at the game tactically, and I’ve got a very big ambition of coming to Kilmarnock to turn things around with Billy.”
McCann said that he had other opportunities that hadn’t felt right before taking the Kilmarnock post, but feels he’s joined a club where there is positivity and ambition despite the current points total.
“I believe that Kilmarnock have got a bright future,” he said. “Billy (Bowie) and the board are putting a lot of money into the club to secure a future with a new training ground.
“We’re going back to grass, which is brilliant. And we’ve got to deal with that, but the good news is one of the best pitches that I’ve ever played on was always Rugby Park back in the day.
“So, looking ahead for the club, it’s so important that we stay in the Premiership. That’s up to me, Billy, the rest of the staff and the group of players in there to make sure that we start making that look more positive.”
The new manager will start with a huge game against the bottom side, Livingston, but says every game will be vital as he looks to turn things around. McCann also revealed that he has spoken to some former Kilmarnock managers about the responsibilities he has taken on.
“Jim Jefferies has been in touch,” he said. “Steve Clarke, Derek McInnes, guys that I feel that I can completely relate to in terms of their personalities, what they can offer.
“They’ve done great things here at the club.
“So the view is right now it has to be completely laser-focused. And that’s on Livingston at the weekend.”
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