Jim Jefferies has claimed that he simply felt it was time to move on following his departure from Kilmarnock. The 59-year-old had been at the Rugby Park helm since 2002 but left following a shaky first half of the season that has left the club second from bottom in the Scottish Premier League.

"Both Billy and I had a chat with the chairman and the board and just felt that this was the time to move on," he told Sky Sports News.

"It may be a wee fresh start for everybody and it doesn't matter what the reasons are, it's something that we agreed to do and I wish Kilmarnock all the best.

"It was a great time there and I know they're going to be OK."

Jefferies did concede that it was hard to progress up the table with the limited budget at Killie.

"I suppose there was an element of something in that. I think it was difficult to take them far because of the way things are, not just at Kilmarnock but football in general," he said.

"Clubs are feeling the pinch, we know that, that's part and parcel of running a club like Kilmarnock.

He added: " A time comes when, basically, you feel for the benefit of both parties, it was maybe the right time to move on.

"A fresh voice coming in, a wee change of routine, different idea - eight years at a club is a major achievement in itself so I think we'll look back on the good times.

"I know sometimes we're not always happy with certain things, that's life. We'll get on with it and we'll concentrate on the great times we had there."