Matty Kennedy first game for "Killie" in a 2–1 win over St Mirren at Rugby Park on 2 January 2012. He ended the 2011–12 campaign with 11 Scottish Premier League appearances. He played three games at the start of the 2012–13 season before leaving the club; manager Kenny Shiels expressed his concern that Kennedy had left Kilmarnock too soon and he had missed out on seeing Kennedy's "proper development" at the club. On 31 August 2012, the final day of the summer transfer window, Kennedy signed for English Premier League side Everton for a "nominal fee". The fee was later revealed to
Kenny Shiels lost consecutive matches to Limavady United in the Gold Cup and Linfield in the league, causing Shiels to tender his resignation. According to the official club website Shiels was manager of Moyola Park from January 1999 to December 2000, although these dates overlap in part with his time at Coleraine. Nonetheless Shiels was in charge of the club and even signed a youthful Ivan Sproule for them. Shiels next appointment was at Ballymena United, where he was confirmed in the managerial chair on 2 January 2001. The club were battling relegation and ultimately Shiels was unable to prevent the club