Steve Clarke says moving back to Scotland to take over at Kilmarnock has been a refreshing change from working in the "more cynical" English game.

Clarke had spent the previous three decades playing and coaching south of the border before returning to his native Ayrshire to take over Killie on October 14 last year.

The former defender starred on the park at Chelsea before moving into coaching with spells as assistant manager at Stamford Bridge and Newcastle, West Ham and Liverpool as well as a hugely successful spell in outright charge at West Brom.

His appointment as Lee McCulloch's successor at Rugby Park last season was seen as a coup. And after leading the club who were rooted to the bottom of the table to a fifth place finish and remaining unbeaten against all-conquering Celtic, with two wins and two draws in four matches, the 55-year-old has won acclaim.

Speaking to the club's official website on the first anniversary of his appointment at Killie, Clarke revealed what makes the Scottish game a refreshing change after his lengthy spell in England.

Asked how enjoyable he has found the last 12 months, Clarke said: "I enjoyed working with all the players throughout my career, I enjoy coaching.

"It might be in Scottish football and not just at Kilmarnock that there's an honesty in the game that's quite refreshing.

"Having worked with some more cynical players and more cynical staff down south where it tends to be the more money that's in the game the more cynical people can be.

"Up here it's been more refreshing, an honest group of lads.

"It's not great rocket science in football. It's hard work and if you have a good group of players you have a chance."

Clarke paid tribute to the Killie faithful and pointed to their reaction after a home drubbing to Hibs early in his reign as a key moment in his side's recovery.

He said: "It was important we put out the together we are stronger mantra - one of the reasons I did that was when I felt and heard the reaction from the fans after the Hibs defeat.

"It was really important. When we fell behind to Hibs you could tell the crowd were quite agitated and wanted to get on the back of the players but because they had a new manager in the building they didn't quite do that.

"Then the whole of the second half they saw the effort of the team and I came off the pitch thinking 'we've been gubbed 3-0 at home yet the fans have had a really positive reaction' and I think that was a big step in the evolution of the club and the team."

Clarke accepts improving on last season is a huge task but said so long as the club continue to take steps forward he will be happy.

He said: "Just to build slowly on what we have done. I feel as though we have come a,long way in a very short space of time last season.

"When you come to a club who are bottom of the table with three points from eight games you don't really expect to finish with 59 points.

"So that was a big step forward. Stability is key. No big dramas. Our idea was to get players on longer term contracts to keep them here and give the dressing room some stability."