Kris Doolan faces a familiar scenario as he prepares to lead Kilmarnock for the first time this weekend, stepping into the precarious yet potentially career-defining role of caretaker manager. The 39-year-old's immediate task is to halt the Ayrshire club's alarming slide, starting with a home fixture against Falkirk.
The Caretaker's Curious Position
Appointed on an interim basis following Stuart Kettlewell's sacking on Monday, Doolan finds himself in a classic football paradox. His primary duty is a selfless one: to provide stability for a club left rudderless after just six months under their previous boss. Yet, it simultaneously presents a golden opportunity to showcase his talents, enhance his reputation, and possibly secure the job on a full-time basis.
The club's decision to dismiss Kettlewell came after a disastrous run of form. Kilmarnock have taken just two points from their last ten Premiership games, a sequence that has left them second-bottom of the table without a victory since early October.
A Familiar Script for Doolan
For Doolan, this week has brought a powerful sense of déjà vu. He was only recently installed as Kilmarnock's head of youth development before being asked to fill the void at Rugby Park. In 2023, a remarkably similar situation unfolded at Partick Thistle. Having joined as an academy coach, he was thrust into interim first-team charge within a month. After just three matches in temporary command, he was handed the job permanently, going on to lead Thistle to the promotion playoffs in both subsequent seasons.
His early record makes him a compelling short-term option, and he features prominently in the early betting for the permanent role. However, he is far from alone. The list of potential successors includes former Killie striker and current Scotland coach Steven Naismith, Aberdeen first-team coach Peter Leven, and Livingston manager David Martindale—whose appointment would deliver a double blow to their relegation rivals.
The Perils of the 'New Manager Bounce'
Doolan's immediate focus is the visit of Falkirk, followed by league matches against St Mirren and Dundee. This run presents a genuine, if challenging, opportunity to make an instant impression. Football history is littered with caretakers who engineer an immediate upturn, a phenomenon often fuelled by a fresh voice and a temporary surge in player motivation.
Should Doolan secure a rare victory, the narrative will quickly shift. Supporters would rally behind him, questions about his long-term ambitions would surface, and he would inevitably become a convenient candidate for the board. Yet, Kilmarnock's own recent history serves as a cautionary tale. Gary Locke, Lee McCulloch, and Alex Dyer all enjoyed spells as temporary bosses before ultimately struggling when appointed permanently.
The core risk for any club is mistaking a short-term managerial 'bounce' for long-term suitability. A handful of positive results cannot reveal a coach's aptitude for crucial longer-term duties like strategic planning, recruitment, and squad building. In an ideal process, the board would run a rigorous interview procedure, selecting a candidate based on a proven body of work.
However, the reality of football often intrudes. It requires a strong-willed board to overlook an interim manager delivering wins and capturing the fans' imagination right under their noses. For now, Doolan maintains the caretaker's traditional mantra: he is there only for stability, not looking beyond the next game. But a win against Falkirk would not only bring a desperately needed smile back to Rugby Park; it would also intensify the spotlight on his own future and complicate Kilmarnock's search for their next permanent leader.
