Lee McCulloch has left his post as Kilmarnock manager following Saturday’s dire 2-0 defeat to Ross County at Rugby Park.

Time was called on McCulloch’s short spell in charge of the struggling club yesterday, 24 hours after his team had turned in another woeful performance in that dispiriting home reverse.

Academy director Paul McDonald has been placed in temporary charge of the first team until a new manager is appointed, which they hope to finalise before a crunch meeting with Partick Thistle after the international break.

First-half goals from Craig Curran and Kenny van der Weg were enough to see off Killie, who had no response in the second period.

The former Rangers captain was only appointed on a permanent basis in the summer, having taken over from Lee Clark in February on an interim basis and steering the club to an eighth-place finish in the Premiership table.

He had failed to replicate that success so far this term though, and with his side rooted to the bottom of the table and without a win so far this campaign, a statement released on the club website yesterday afternoon declared that McCulloch and assistant Peter Leven had left their posts by mutual consent.

“Lee and Peter would like to thank the Directors, players, staff and supporters for their assistance during their time at the Club,” the statement when on to say.

“Everyone at Kilmarnock FC thanks Lee and Peter for their hard work and dedication during their time with the club and we wish both all the best for the future.”

Speaking after the game, and before his fate was known, McCulloch had said: "I've told the players I feel really let down by their application in the first half.

“I don’t [feel under pressure]. I am feeling alright just now. I have just told the players my honest opinion. Of course we are [going to bounce back].

“The truth has been told in the dressing room. The fans are entitled [to boo]. With that first-half performance, the fans were pretty kind, to be honest.

"In the second half we gave it a go - a couple of crosses, a couple of half-chances - but the game was won and lost in a 30-minute period in the first half when we didn't get close to anybody.

"The performance really worried me in the first half. In the second half we decided to go longer and brought Kris Boyd in and we were better than the first half but that wouldn't have been hard.

"At 2-0 it didn't look as if we had that spark to get it back."

Former Ross County boss and Kilmarnock player Jim McIntyre has emerged as an early favourite to land the post at his old club, ironically just days after he was sacked as manager of the side whose victory sealed McCulloch’s fate.

McIntyre steered County clear of relegation trouble when he took over in Dingwall in 2014, and went on to lift the League Cup in 2016, the club’s only major honour in their history.

With his side sitting in tenth position after seven games this term though and being without a league win since their opening day triumph over Dundee, the 45-year-old was sacked on Thursday of last week and replaced by Owen Coyle.

McIntyre is still regarded as a legend at Kilmarnock, where he was part of the 1997 Scottish Cup-winning side, scoring the winner against Dundee United in the semi-final replay.