biggest sporting news of the summer

[METALMAN]

Mixu Paatelainen has joined Kilmarnock as their new manager, agreeing a two-year deal with an option for a third.

The 43-year-old former Finland international has been out of football for over a year, having left his post at Hibernian in May 2009.

"I was desperate to get back and I look forward to being at Kilmarnock," said Paatelainen. "I missed the training ground and the adrenaline.

"There is scope to improve the squad. Not too much, just a little bit."

The Ayrshire club narrowly avoided relegation last season and have lost several players under freedom of contract, including top scorer Kevin Kyle, Simon Ford, David Fernandez and Gavin Skelton.

Jimmy Calderwood decided against continuing in the Killie dugout since he was not happy with the proposed player budget and the prospect of losing first team coach Sandy Clark to further financial cuts.

And Paatelainen is well aware he will be dealing with limited funds as the club struggle with debts in the region of £11m.

"I hope to bring in a couple of players," he added. "I haven't spoken to any of the players and I don't intend to until 5 July.

"I know it's a big task and difficult. The SPL is very tight but I believe with hard work you can create a little luck."

Prior to his 16-month spell in charge at Easter Road, Paatelainen had managed TPS in his homeland and Cowdenbeath.

As a player, Paatelainen turned out for a host of clubs, including Dundee United, Aberdeen, Bolton and Wolves.

Kilmarnock have yet to reveal who will assist their new manager in his backroom team.

Rugby Park chairman Michael Johnston cast his net wide in the search for a successor to Calderwood, who announced his decision not to return at the end of May.

German World Cup winner Thomas Haessler withdrew his application on family grounds, while compensation ruled out a move for first target Blackburn coach Steve Kean.

Ex-St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson had been spoken to, along with Alex Rae, Lawrie McKinna and former Hearts bosses John Robertson and Csaba Laszlo.

Paatelainen, who had two spells as a player with Hibs, replaced John Collins at Easter Road and led the Edinburgh side to two sixth-placed finishes in the Scottish Premier League.

He began coaching at youth level during his second stint at Hibs and moved on to first-team duties with St Johnstone and St Mirren, while still playing.

His first taste of management came with Cowdenbeath in August 2005 and he went on to win the Division Three title at the first time of asking.

In October 2006 he resigned his post at Central Park to take over at TPS Turku and steered the Finnish side to a third place finish before moving again to Edinburgh.

He might be okay I suppose but I would rather have had Gus MacPherson. Or Jim Jefferies again.

[brenchill]

Groundbreaking. Truly groundbreaking. That news has shook the footballing world all the way down to its rotten core. One of those "You had to have been there" watershed moments. I don't know about you, but I will ALWAYS remember where I was when Mixu Paatelainen was given the Kilmarnock job.

[therockbox]

I'm afraid your club has burned down...

[Marcos]

Groundbreaking. Truly groundbreaking. That news has shook the footballing world all the way down to its rotten core. One of those "You had to have been there" watershed moments. I don't know about you, but I will ALWAYS remember where I was when Mixu Paatelainen was given the Kilmarnock job.

You might have got away with this horrible sarcasm, were it not for the fact that one of the moderating staff is also a Kilmarnock fan, and does not take kindly to sarcasm about his club!

See you in a week !

[Farmer Reil]

Mixu Paatelainen! Bolton legend!

Right up there with John Jensen, Oyvind Leonhardsen and Egil Ostenstad in the list of "crap Scandinavian Premiership Footballers of the Mid Nineties"!

[METALMAN]

I know it's a bit silly to post here after so long, but this caught my attention.

Mixu Paatelainen has joined Kilmarnock as their new manager, agreeing a two-year deal with an option for a third.

The 43-year-old former Finland international has been out of football for over a year, having left his post at Hibernian in May 2009.

"I was desperate to get back and I look forward to being at Kilmarnock," said Paatelainen. "I missed the training ground and the adrenaline.

"There is scope to improve the squad. Not too much, just a little bit."

The Ayrshire club narrowly avoided relegation last season and have lost several players under freedom of contract, including top scorer Kevin Kyle, Simon Ford, David Fernandez and Gavin Skelton.

Jimmy Calderwood decided against continuing in the Killie dugout since he was not happy with the proposed player budget and the prospect of losing first team coach Sandy Clark to further financial cuts.

And Paatelainen is well aware he will be dealing with limited funds as the club struggle with debts in the region of £11m.

"I hope to bring in a couple of players," he added. "I haven't spoken to any of the players and I don't intend to until 5 July.

"I know it's a big task and difficult. The SPL is very tight but I believe with hard work you can create a little luck."

Prior to his 16-month spell in charge at Easter Road, Paatelainen had managed TPS in his homeland and Cowdenbeath.

As a player, Paatelainen turned out for a host of clubs, including Dundee United, Aberdeen, Bolton and Wolves.

Kilmarnock have yet to reveal who will assist their new manager in his backroom team.

Rugby Park chairman Michael Johnston cast his net wide in the search for a successor to Calderwood, who announced his decision not to return at the end of May.

German World Cup winner Thomas Haessler withdrew his application on family grounds, while compensation ruled out a move for first target Blackburn coach Steve Kean.

Ex-St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson had been spoken to, along with Alex Rae, Lawrie McKinna and former Hearts bosses John Robertson and Csaba Laszlo.

Paatelainen, who had two spells as a player with Hibs, replaced John Collins at Easter Road and led the Edinburgh side to two sixth-placed finishes in the Scottish Premier League.

He began coaching at youth level during his second stint at Hibs and moved on to first-team duties with St Johnstone and St Mirren, while still playing.

His first taste of management came with Cowdenbeath in August 2005 and he went on to win the Division Three title at the first time of asking.

In October 2006 he resigned his post at Central Park to take over at TPS Turku and steered the Finnish side to a third place finish before moving again to Edinburgh.

He might be okay I suppose but I would rather have had Gus MacPherson. Or Jim Jefferies again.

We got lucky there! Sometimes having no money can be a good thing.

[Plubby]

How in the name of friggity-frig did that thread "catch your attention"?

[Adam]

That is actually awesome. He should have taken it! Would've saved himself a lot of hassle.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I just assumed it would be that Cher Lloyd was playing at the Olympics opening ceremony or something. :/

[METALMAN]

It would be no less than she deserves. :/

Oh and it just did, Plubby, it just did. I have my methods!

[Plubby]

What would she be playing? "Lip-syncing into a guitar hero mic" is an instrument now?

[Colly]

I just assumed it would be that Cher Lloyd was playing at the Olympics opening ceremony or something. :/

I'd already taken that as a given, hardly big news.

[METALMAN]

What would she be playing? "Lip-syncing into a guitar hero mic" is an instrument now?

she doesn't lip sync :/