Next Kilmarnock Manager Odds: Neilson Frontrunner To Replace Kettlewell
Scottish Premiership strugglers Kilmarnock are set to appoint a new manager next week following the dismissal of Stuart Kettlewell, who is already back in work on a short-term contract at Ross County.
Killie are without a win in three months, a run which has left them second from bottom and five points adrift of 10th-placed St Mirren ahead of this weekend’s clash with Hibernian.
Former Dundee United and Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is the new favourite on betting sites, but he is not the only man on the shortlist to fill the vacancy at Rugby Park.
Here, we take a fresh look at some of the potential candidates and the latest next Kilmarnock manager betting odds.
Neilson Heads Killie Field
Kilmarnock are planning to speak to a small number of candidates over the next few days, including Neilson, who is now assistant head coach under Lee Johnson at Belgian side Lommel.
As a manager, Neilson twice led Hearts to the Scottish Premiership and once at Dundee United, so he has experience of coaching in this division.
It remains to be seen whether the Kilmarnock board can persuade Neilson to move back to Scotland and they may need to give assurances about future investment to seal the deal.
As things stand, Neilson is the Evens favourite with betting apps to make the move to Ayrshire.
The Club would like to share the following update to supporters on the process of appointing a new manager.
— Kilmarnock FC (@KilmarnockFC) December 31, 2025
➡️ https://t.co/QlhlBbqZfv pic.twitter.com/wTOyo2pKRa
Bruce In The Frame
Steve Bruce has managed 12 clubs in England, including Wigan twice, but has never ventured north of the border.
Bruce’s last managerial role was at Blackpool which ended in October after a 2-0 defeat at Wimbledon left the club second from bottom in the League One table.
There have been rumours that Kilmarnock have already spoken to Bruce about the vacancy, so he is at least potentially on the shortlist.
The former Sunderland, Aston Villa and Newcastle boss is 11/4 in the next Kilmarnock manager odds.
Leven Next In Line To Fill Killie Vacancy
Leven spent three years as a player at Kilmarnock and was also an assistant manager between 2015-17, so he has an association with the club.
Now a first-team coach at Aberdeen, Leven was also twice caretaker of the Dons early last year when Barry Robson was sacked and later when Neil Warnock's short-lived spell ended at Pittodrie.
Leven enjoyed a decent run of results after Warnock left and was a penalty shoot-out away from leading the Dons to the Scottish FA Cup final at the expense of Celtic.
He returned to his coaching duties with the arrival of Jimmy Thelin and has since turned down opportunities at Raith and St Johnstone.
The former MK Dons and Oxford midfielder is highly regarded by the Killie hierarchy and is 2/1 to get the job.
Next Kilmarnock Manager Odds
Manager | Odds | Probability |
Robbie Neilson | Evens | 50% |
Peter Leven | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Steve Bruce | 11/4 | 26.7% |
David Martindale | 3/1 | 20% |
Kris Doolan | 4/1 | 25% |
Scott Brown | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Alan Archibald | 5/1 | 16.7% |
John Carver | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Steven Naismith | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Neil Critchley | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Steven Davis | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Russell Martin | 14/1 | 6.7% |
New Challenge For Martindale?
Kilmarnock could do a lot worse than consider David Martindale, who is 3/1 fourth favourite, having spent five relatively successful years as Livingston manager.
After spending four years in prison, Martindale turned his life around and eventually ended up as Livi boss despite never having played the game as a professional.
He led the club to a top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup final in his debut season as manager, keeping the club in the top flight for the next two seasons until they were relegated at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
However, last season was a success, winning the Scottish Challenge Cup in March and later making an immediate return to the Premiership via the play-off final.
Livi, though, have struggled this season and Martindale may want to consider a new challenge.
Doolan Down And Out?
Kris Doolan remains in temporary charge at Rugby Park, but he is struggling to get a tune out of a squad the board believes has "plenty of quality".
Doolan took charge of the three final games of 2025 - all against teams in the bottom six - but only managed to pick up one point from a goalless draw at St Mirren.
He spent a couple of years as manager of Partick Thistle, twice leading the team to the Scottish Championship play-offs, but was sacked in February after a poor run of results.
Doolan was 2/1 to be named permanent manager of Kilmarnock, but those odds have since doubled to 4/1.
Brown Could Make Leap
Scott Brown won 22 domestic trophies during a decorated spell with Celtic, but is now cutting his teeth as a manager.
The former Scotland midfielder's first managerial role came at English League One side Fleetwood, who finished 13th in his debut season, but also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
After a poor start to the 2023/24 season, Brown was sacked, but soon returned to work after being appointed manager of Scottish Championship side Ayr in January.
The Honest Men made it to the Premiership play-offs with a third-place finish only to fall at the first hurdle to Partick, but they remain on course for another crack at the top flight.
Brown is 9/2 to help rescue Kilmarnock's season.
Archibald And Carver In The Frame
Alan Archibald joined Kilmarnock as a first-team coach in July 2023, but followed Derek McInnes to Hearts earlier this year.
Although Archibald spent almost six years as Partick manager between 2013-18, he has yet to land another managerial role, but is 5/1 for the Killie post.
John Carver was mentioned as a potential candidate for the job in May only for Kettlewell to fill the vacancy left by McInnes' move to Tynecastle.
The veteran coach has spent most of his career as an assistant, but last year was named boss of Polish side Lechia Gdansk.
Carver is 6/1 to return to the United Kingdom as Kilmarnock head coach.
Naismith An Outsider
Elsewhere, former Hearts managers Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley are available at 8/1 and 10/1 respectively.
Ex-Rangers and Northern Ireland midfielder Steven Davis, whose sole managerial role came as caretaker boss at Ibrox in 2023, is 12/1.
Russell Martin's last Scottish experience did not go well following his dismissal by the Light Blues at the start of the season, but he is 14/1 to get back on the managerial merry-go-round at Rugby Park.
Calling all Kilmarnock fans! Who would you like to see in charge at Rugby Park? Let us know your thoughts below or vote in the poll above!
