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
Marko Nikolić (football manager) before being promoted to the senior squad in 2008. He served as assistant manager to both Mihailo Ivanović and Aleksandar Janjić, eventually replacing the latter one on 26 October 2008, after the club earned just five points from the opening nine fixtures. Three days later, Nikolić became the youngest manager ever in the top flight of Serbian football, recording a 1–0 win over Vojvodina. He ultimately managed to save the club from relegation that season, finishing in ninth place. On 23 May 2011, two rounds before the end of the 2010–11 season, Nikolić secured a spot in the 2011–12 UEFA