Alex Rae, the former Rangers player, has joined the race to become the manager of Kilmarnock after meeting with directors from the club for talks about the vacancy at Rugby Park. The 40-year-old, who is on the coaching staff at MK Dons in League One, has managerial experience after two seasons in charge of Dundee before resigning in 2008.

Jimmy Calderwood resigned last month - after staving off the threat of relegation from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League - because he felt the budget imposed for 2010-11 was too severe.

Killie are £9 million in debt but that has not deterred a diverse cast list of candidates from pursuing the job as Calderwood's successor, including Thomas Hassler, the former Germany player, and Lawrie McKinna, a one-time Rugby Park striker who emigrated to Australia 24 years ago and has become a success in the A-League as coach with Central Coast Mariners.