Lee Clark quits Kilmarnock after just one year in charge

Kilmarnock have today been rocked by the news Lee Clark has quit – on the day of his first anniversary at Rugby Park.

The Englishman has been released from his contract so he can join Bury, who are in the relegation zone of League One.

Clark, 44, led Kilmarnock to survival last season after beating Falkirk in the playoffs and promised to bring greater successes to the club.

But he watched as star striker Souleymane Coulibaly was sold in the January window for upwards of £1million – with the manager seeing little of the cash to reinvest.

However, Clark was involved in a staggering 45 player transactions as the revolving door at Rugby Park kept whirling. Conor Sammon and Josh Umerah arrived on deadline day to boost the league's lowest scoring attack with Killie finding the net just 21 times this term.

Clark, whose appointment has now been confirmed by Bury, told the club's website: "I have had a wonderful year as Kilmarnock manager.

"The club and fans have treated myself and my family fantastically- we are in a good position with a strong and loyal squad and staff.

"The directors have given me their full support in rebuilding the squad and the fans will always have a special place in my heart but I still have huge ambition to one day manage at the highest level in England, which is obviously the Premier League, and I feel that the fresh challenge of managing a club in England's League One could provide me with the platform to build towards this goal."