Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson has resigned and is expected to join Scottish premier league rivals Hibernian, Kilmarnock chairman John Orr said today.
Williamson's assistant coach Gerry McCabe has also left his position, the club said.
Orr said he had rejected an offer of compensation from Hibernian and was planning to take legal action against Williamson and Orr for breach of contract.
"At no time did we want him (Williamson) to leave and despite our strenuous efforts in this regard he was determined to leave us to take up the appointment as manager of Hibernian football club," Orr said in a statement released on Kilmarnock's official website.
Orr said that he had rejected offers of compensation by Hibernian out of duty to the club's fans and shareholders.
"As a consequence the only option left to us is to now regrettably pursue this issue through a legal process involving both individuals who have now resigned in breach of their contracts," he added.
Williamson was linked with a move to Hibernian after the Edinburgh club sacked Frenchman Franck Sauzee, who spent just two months in the post, on Thursday.
Hibernian failed to win any of their 11 games under Sauzee and are currently second bottom of the table. Kilmarnock are in fifth position. -Reuters