THIS IS NOT A GUILT TRIP

McInnes has no concerns about going back to Rugby Park as he left Ayrshire club in great shape

- BY DARREN JOHNSTONE

DEREK McINNES insists the only thing he was guilty of at Kilmarnock was wanting to speak to Hearts.

And the Jambos gaffer feels he can walk back into Rugby Park on Saturday with his head held high after guiding Killie to the Championship title and then into Europe.

Some Kilmarnock fans might think differently as McInnes prepares to return to Ayrshire for the first time since leaving for Hearts in the summer.

But the 54-year-old, who said earlier this week he was committed to the league leaders after being linked with the vacancy at Rangers, is proud of his achievements at his old club.

He said: “The only thing I was guilty of was wanting to speak to Hearts. I don't make any apologies for that. I know supporters don't like to hear that.

“I always felt this was a club that felt a good fit. When it was indicated to me Hearts were keen to speak, I said to my agent, I said to the club, I said to (Kille owner) Billy Bowie, I'm going to make sure Kilmarnock are safe first before I even have any conversations with Hearts. That's how it was.

“I genuinely was trying to do the right thing but I feel good about that. I did the right thing by the club.

“We managed to make sure we stayed up with a couple of games to go then I had the opportunity to speak to Hearts.”

Killie were trailing Arbroath in a second tier title fight when McInnes succeeded Tommy Wright in January 2022 - 10 months after leaving Aberdeen.