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Kenny Shiels: Wants new Kilmarnock deal
Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels is determined to build on a momentous season for the Scottish Communities League Cup winners by extending his stay at Rugby Park.
The Killie boss' deal ends this summer and, in the wake of the Hampden win over Celtic last month, chairman Michael Johnston said contract talks would begin in earnest.
Shiels, who on Sunday saw son Dean score a penalty in a 1-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League win at relegation-threatened Hibernian, is keen to plan for next season by securing extended deals for defenders Manuel Pascali, James Fowler and Garry Hay - and himself.
Shiels told www.kicktalk.co.uk: "I have to prioritise because I'm looking at Fowler, Hay and Pascali, because I want to get them tied up - and I want to get myself tied up.
"I want to, because I really love the place and I want to be here.
"Hopefully the chairman sees that and can say to me 'yes, I'll give you a 10-year contract'."
The win at Easter Road came despite Killie lining up without a recognised striker and Shiels is seeking to recruit forward players this summer.
"Next season I'm going to push the chairman to get four strikers, because other clubs have got four strikers," he added.
Another who could have a key role to play next term is defender Ryan O'Leary, who on Sunday featured for the first time since August following a cruciate knee ligament injury.
The 24-year-old performed well to stifle Hibs' attack of Garry O'Connor and Leigh Griffiths.
O'Leary told www.kicktalk.co.uk: "I was just delighted to be back playing. It's been a long eight months.
"I tired towards the end, with a bit of cramp, but I feel good for it. A clean sheet in your comeback game is ideal.
"There's only four games to go, but I'd love to end the season on a high.
"It would be brilliant to go into the summer with a few games under my belt."
The victory saw Killie return above Aberdeen into seventh place ahead of next week's clash with Inverness.
Shiels senior said: "What an achievement that would be if we could finish seventh. I would be absolutely delighted.
"But we've a long way to go. We have three home games now.
"We're going to give everything we have to try to get there."
For Hibs the defeat - a 10th of the season at Easter Road, where they have one SPL win - means their relegation duel with Dunfermline continues.
The capital club began the weekend seven points clear, but now have a six-point advantage with four games to go ahead of next week's trip to St Mirren, who drew 4-4 with the Pars on Saturday.
"It's a disappointment but we can't dwell on it," defender Paul Hanlon told Hibernian TV.
"We just need to get the results in the next few weeks to be safe.
"I was so disappointed to lose the game. They didn't have a shot on goal, apart from the penalty, Mark Brown's not had a save to make.
"But we've got to do our bit at the other end. We lacked a wee bit of quality in the second half to break them down.
"The gaffer's trying to keep our spirits high. If we play that well, create chances like that, we'll win games in the future."
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