STEVEN SMITH admits the sacking of Lee McCulloch at Kilmarnock has made him question whether he will make the move into the dugout in the future.

The 39-year-old left Rugby Park on Sunday having failed to win any of Killie’s eight Premiership outings so far this term.

McCulloch was appointed as Lee Clark’s successor in February but has now paid the price for a poor start to the campaign.

And Killie captain Smith knows he would be entering choppy waters if he decided to pursue a career in management.

"I think every football club needs stability but as I've said before that's football," he said.

"There's managers losing their jobs after four games, which is incredible, but that's the mad world that we live in. I'm coming to the point in my career where I'm starting to think about what do you do next.

"But when you see managers losing their jobs after four games you think there's no point in going down that route - or you start to wonder is that the right route to go down because of the circumstances they find themselves in.

"Every club needs stability but I don't think any manager is given times these days."

Killie have taken just three points so far this term and are bottom of the Premiership standings after a poor start to the season.

A trip to fellow strugglers Partick Thistle is next on the agenda after the international break as the Ayrshire side look to kick-start their campaign.

And Smith reckons it could be time for an experienced boss to be handed the Rugby Park reins.

"I think all fingers would point in that direction," he told STV. "We're in a difficult position and we need some stability.

“Experience would help but we have experience in the dressing room as well who need to do more. We feel responsible, we've let people down."