Kyle threw his jersey into the Rugby Park crowd

Helping Kilmarnock avoid relegation has given Kevin Kyle a thirst for staying at the club despite his long-predicted departure this summer.

A 0-0 draw with Falkirk on Saturday saved Killie and relegated the Bairns.

"I said during the week it might be my last game for the club, but the chairman Michael Johnston might phone me tonight," Kyle told BBC Scotland.

"I will still sit down and listen to what Kilmarnock have to say, because after today, this is brilliant."

Kyle joined the Ayrshire club in January 2009 and was hailed as the vital component as the side then led by Jim Jefferies moved clear of relegation trouble last term.

His contract runs out in the summer and the 28-year-old has already held talks with Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee but is expected to receive more lucrative offers from English clubs.

Individually, everybody stood up and was a man Kilmarnock striker Kevin Kyle

"I had talks, but I have not heard anything from Mark McGhee for a while," he said

"I will listen to everything that comes my way and I'll sit down with my family at the end of the week and see what is happening."

Kyle said his priority had been helping Kilmarnock, now led by Jimmy Calderwood, avoid relegation.

"It means a lot," he said. "I have taken my fair share of stick recently, but to stay in the SPL and be a part of that and see what it does to everybody round here, it is special.

"It has been an absolutely unbelievable year and a half I have been here. Some highs, some lows, but mainly highs.

"The support today, you just see what it means for them to stay in the SPL and I was glad I was a part of that.

"I did my bit last year and I feel maybe not as well this year, but I feel I chipped in with some crucial goals and it is just great that they are still in the SPL for next season."

Kyle thinks Kilmarnock had the quality in their squad to have finished well clear of relegation trouble.

"It is crazy. If you look at the first day of the season, we beat Hamilton 3-0 comfortably and we thought we could finish in the top six.

"But things did not work out. Lack of confidence, players getting injured and a lack of consistency and we were in the bottom two and in the bottom two for a reason.

"But we have dug deep and got an important win during the week and today we just had to make sure we did not lose the game.

"Individually, everybody stood up and was a man and we got the point we needed to stay in the league."

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