By John Barnes

Kean was the assistant manager to Chris Coleman at three clubs

Blackburn Rovers insist that Steve Kean has ruled out a move to the Scottish Premier League to become the next manager of Kilmarnock.

Rugby Park chairman Michael Johnston had made 42-year-old coach Kean his number one target after the departure of Jimmy Calderwood.

But it now looks as though he will have to look elsewhere.

A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers told BBC Scotland: "Steve's made it clear that he is not interested in that job."

Cumbernauld-born Kean has been first-team coach under manager Sam Allardyce at Blackburn since August.

He began his career with Celtic but moved to Swansea City after failing to break into the Glasgow club's first-team.

Kean ended his playing career with Academica Coimbra in Portugal before working as assistant manager to long-time friend Chris Coleman at Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry City.

Calderwood left Kilmarnock at the end of the season, saying he was unhappy about the playing budget and the prospect of losing coach Sandy Clark to cut costs at the debt-struck club.

The former Aberdeen manager had joined the Ayrshire club in January after Jim Jefferies' return to Hearts.

Kilmarnock escaped relegation on the final day of the season, a 0-0 draw away to Falkirk sending the Bairns down to Division One.

Scotland striker Kevin Kyle on Thursday followed Jefferies to Hearts, signing a two-year contract after rejecting a new contract at Rugby Park.

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