By Graham Ruthven

Kilmarnock are still looking to appoint a new manager following the resignation of Gary Locke two weeks ago.

Lee McCulloch has been placed in charge on an interim basis until a permanent appointment is made.

But who will get the job for real? Simo Valakari was expected to be interviewed for the role in the Rugby Park dug-out before signing a new contract to stay with current club SJK on Wednesday.

Billy Davies is also out of the running after speaking to Killie. Here are the four contenders still standing to get the job.

Despite playing 40 times for Scotland, Graham Alexander has never actually played or coached north of the border. That might change before too long, though.

The former full-back and defensive midfielder is expected to be interviewed for the vacancy at Rugby Park and is out of work since leaving Fleetwood Town in September 2015.

But whilst Alexander might have paid the price of a poor start to the English League One season with his job, he won promotion through the play-offs in the 2013-14 season.

Alexander was also manager of Preston North End from December 2011 to January 2012. He might now be set for a foray into Scottish football management.

The former Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town manager has already been interviewed for the vacant job at Kilmarnock, and is currently out of work.

Lee Clark last held the manager's role at Blackpool, resigning at Bloomfield Road following the club's relegation from the English Championship at the end of last season.

The former Newcastle United and Fulham midfielder started his managerial career at Huddersfield, guiding the club to the play-offs in successive seasons.

Clark endured a more difficult time at Birmingham though, only saving the Blues from relegation on the final day of the 2013/14 English Championship season.

Mark Cooper is an experienced campaigner in the English lower leagues, taking charge at six different clubs since 2004.

The 47-year-old has managed Tamworth, Kettering Town (twice), Peterborough United, Darlington, Telford United and most recently Swindon Town.

Cooper guided Swindon to the League One play-offs last season but was dismissed as manager of the club after a poor start to the 2015/16 campaign - leaving them just one point above the relegation zone.

The former midfielder struggled to cope with the sale of key players at the Robins, but could now be set to take over at Kilmarnock having been interviewed for the job.

The 50-year-old was sacked as manager of Rotherham United just days ago, leaving the club in the English Championship relegation zone. Kilmarnock have reportedly been quick in lining up Neil Redfearn, though.

At Leeds United Redfearn was caretaker manager three times between 2012 and 2014 before being handed the job on a permanent basis at Elland Road for the 2014/15 season.

Recently, though, Redfearn found things tough at Rotherham, leaving the Millers are winning only five of 21 matches despite signing a two-and-a-half year deal with the club in October.

The former Barnsley midfielder is now expected to be interviewed for the Kilmarnock job this week.