Jim Jefferies Leaves Kilmarnock

So farewell then, Jim Jefferies who has left the managerial post at Kilmarnock 'by mutual consent'. It would appear the former Berwick Rangers, Falkirk, Hearts and Bradford City manager had reached an impasse with Killie chairman Michael Johnston and a parting of the ways was inevitable. Jefferies assistant and managerial right hand man Billy Brown has also departed Rugby Park.

It seems Killie fans are split about the news. When Johnston announced the news at a supporters meeting on Monday evening some reacted with applause, others remained silent. I've heard the phrase 'he'd taken the club as far as he could' mentioned and there seems certain similarities between Jefferies departure from Ayrshire and his leaving Hearts a decade ago.

As a Hearts player in the 1970s. Jefferies had somewhat limited ability although his commitment to the club he supported as well as captained was never in doubt. When his managerial career inevitably took him to Tynecastle in 1995 he instigated a five year period that brought much yearned success for the maroons. Throughout season 1997-98, Hearts played the best football I've ever seen at Tynecastle and were very close to snatching the league title from Celtic and Rangers. There were some stunning displays that season and perhaps only a lack of strength in depth in the squad as the campaign reached its crucial phase denied Hearts the ultimate glory.

They did, however, win the Scottish Cup in 1998 defeating Rangers 2-1 in the final to end thirty-six years of hurt. I shall never forget that season or the weekend of the cup final when thousands of Hearts fans dreams came true.

Ironically, it was when Jefferies was given some money to spend on players thanks to the ill-fated SMG 'investment' in Hearts a year later that doubts were raised. Jefferies paid £400k for goalkeeper Antti Neimi - a great piece of business - but also paid over-priced fees on players such as Gordan Petric, Lee Makel and Leigh Jenkinson. A year after Hearts won the Scottish Cup they flirted dangerously with relegation - they went three months without a win and several games without even scoring - before the return of injury stricken Colin Cameron and the signing of Darren Jackson turned things around.

I hope Jim Jefferies finds another managerial post soon. It won't be easy as former Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has discovered. But Jefferies is too decent a manager to be out of the game for long. I wish him and Billy Brown all the very best.