Where did it all go wrong for Kettlewell at Kilmarnock?

Story byStuart Kettlewell has been sacked by Kilmarnock following a run of 10 games without a victory [SNS]Nick McPheat - BBC Sport ScotlandMon, December 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM UTC·5 min readAfter six months, 21 days and 23 games, Stuart Kettlewell's Kilmarnock tenure is over. The former Motherwell boss has been sacked from his position at Rugby Park, along with assistant coach Stevie Frail, following a 10-game winless run. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSunday's late defeat at Aberdeen proved the end for the 41-year-old, who leaves with the Ayrshire side in the Scottish Premiership's relegation play-off spot. Kettlewell felt hard done by about the nature of that loss, but the issues under the former Ross County manger run deeper than the Dons' controversial winning goal. BBC Scotland looks at where it all went wrong, and who the Kilmarnock fans want next. Kettlewell sacked as Kilmarnock say 'change required'Aberdeen heap misery on Kilmarnock in comeback winVisit our Kilmarnock page for all the latest news, analysis and fan viewsHow similar patterns emergedKettlewell resigned from his role at Motherwell in January, citing personal abuse he had received from fans during a downturn in form. In a similar vein to this campaign, he oversaw an encouraging start at Fir Park last term before standing down following a run of one win in nine. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere is also symmetry in the turnover of players he had to manage over the summer, plus injury issues, which were a regular theme during his time in Lanarkshire. Despite the alarming form he was enduring at the end of his Motherwell tenure, it was often the level of performance that attracted most of the criticism. People tend to forget his side were the third highest scorers in the Premiership in the 2023-24 season, when they finished ninth in the league. However, he opted to alter his approach in the summer of 2024 to a more passive, counter-attacking style, which only brought more scrutiny when results did not come. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe same sort of questions that were being asked of the manager last year were being repeated by a different fan base 12 months on. Although the same outcome has been reached, with Kettlewell departing, the process to get there has changed as this time his bosses have triggered his exit. What do the numbers say?[SNS]Having picked up just two points from the past 30 available to them, Kilmarnock are in relegation form. In fact, in Kettlewell's past 25 Premiership matches as a manager, he has won just three of them. Kilmarnock have been in freefall since a 3-0 home defeat to Hearts in October. That loss started a wretched run of eight defeats and two draws in 10 games. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith bottom-side Livingston - who have a game in hand - just three points behind, the threat is clear. But what do the underlying numbers say about Kilmarnock?No team in the league has a lower average possession (38%) than the Ayrshire side, which tells you they struggle to control games. Of course, possession isn't everything, but if you are going to need to defend for more than 60% of the time in your matches, you had best not have the worst defensive record in the division. No side has shipped more goals than Kilmarnock's tally of 32, while going the other way their scoring rate of one per game is verging on a league low. That is a recipe for relegation. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThree clean sheets from 17 matches is also troubling, as is the fact their expected goals conceded tally is the highest in the league. Kettlewell was frustrated after Sunday's defeat to Aberdeen as Killie had a penalty taken off them by VAR following a hand ball and then one awarded against them for hand ball."Everyone will point to the bad run, but people have no idea how much these huge decisions have a bearing on people's careers, their jobs," he said post match. In the previous game he lamented "big decisions" going against th.