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
James Ward (football manager) James Ward (football manager) James Ward (born 25 April 1972) is a football manager. Ward was a coach at Clyde, Hamilton Academical and Alloa Athletic, working for Allan Maitland. He was then assistant manager under Todd Lumsden at Albion Rovers. In May 2013, Ward was promoted to the position of manager at Albion Rovers. He guided the club to the quarter-finals of the 2013–14 Scottish Cup, where they took Rangers to a replay. Ward signed a contract with Albion Rovers in April 2014, but then left the club in June. Albion Rovers had finished seventh in the 2013–14 Scottish League