Source: FOOTYMAD
Rugby Park Fine For Me. For Now: Paatelaienen
Job opportunities come and go so best to wait till you are asked before jumping ship. Mixu Paatelainen appears to be covering all bases with his general comments on the suggestion that the Finnish FA are lining him up to take over the national manager's role. He says he is staying at Kilmarnock for now, despite interest from Finland and Scunthorpe. The former Hibs manager has ruled himself out of the running for the latter opportunity after holding talks with the Championship strugglers. Kilmarnock have opened contract talks with Paatelainen over a new deal after his impressive work at Rugby Park. However, Paatelainen has refused to rule out a move to coach his native Finland as they are on the look-out for a long-term replacement for Stuart Baxter. Paatelainen said: "People are making assumptions that I'm leaving Kilmarnock because I told Scunthorpe they wouldn't be my next stop. But that's all it is. The Finnish FA will make their decision on who they want as their new coach in due course. Before they make up their mind up, I don't have anything to say about Finland. Until they make their move, I will carry on and go ahead with my job at Kilmarnock. At the moment, they haven't decided who they want to go for. I'm happy at Kilmarnock and I'll be delighted if I'm still here at the end of the season and beyond. Everything is going well. We've had a good season and I have a fantastic relationship with the chairman. Everything is spot on at the club and we're in talks about a new contract so we'll see how things develop. Of course, it's an honour to play for your country and it's an even great honour to be manager. If that was ever a possibility for me, obviously I'd have to give it serious consideration."
