Ex-Cardiff City boss Dave Jones throws hat in ring for Kilmarnock job
DAVE JONES has revealed moving to Scotland to become Kilmarnock boss would be an exciting prospect - years after watching his key Cardiff players leave for Scottish football.
The former Bluebirds manager would jump at the chance to become Steve Clarke’s successor as he has a respect for the quality of football.
Jones, 62, was Cardiff gaffer for six years between 2005-2011 and was helpless to stop the likes of Joe Ledley and Adam Matthews packing up and heading to Parkhead.
Now the ex-Wolves man in charge has told how he’d happily follow in their footsteps to head north.
He said: “I’ve had a lot of dealings with Scottish football all through my career.
“Whether it’s players I’ve brought from Scotland or players I’ve lost to Scotland.
“I’ve always really had a respect for Scottish football because there are a lot of good players from Scotland.
“And these types of players don’t go and play in leagues where there isn’t top quality.
“I remember at one point losing three players to Celtic and there have been many players who have gone on to have big careers from Scottish football.
“So of course I’d be interested in the Kilmarnock job.
“It’s a club that has done well, not just over the last few years, but over many years.
“Over the years it used to be Celtic or Rangers but now you’ve got the likes of Kilmarnock and Aberdeen competing.”
Jones made pals in Scotland back in his days in the English Championship - including former Killie manager Jim Jefferies.
And he recalled the times he’d travel to Rugby Park with his clubs to play and scout.
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He added: “I’ve been good friends with Jim Jefferies when he was manager there and I’ve been up many pre-seasons to play them.
“You’d never consider going to Scotland because it’s the end of your career or anything like that at all.
“It’s a good stepping stone for managers or it’s a good place to move forward as a manager, whatever way you want to look at it.
“Even when Jim was there I enjoyed going up, I enjoyed the football.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven up and back down on the same day to watch games and players.
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“A lot of clubs now in Scotland are catching Celtic and Rangers and that’s often down to people going in to coach and doing so in a professional manner.
“There’s a reason there’s a guy who cost £90million for Liverpool or whatever it is has played up in Scotland.”
Jones also counts Stockport and Sheffield Wednesday among his former clubs and has a 40.3 per cent win rate as boss from 842 collective games.
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