"What manager is going to want to take on the challenge of managing that rubbish?"

That was the question posed by Matthew, a BBC Sport Scotland audience member, during Kilmarnock's 2-1 loss against Dundee.

Perhaps a bit harsh, but what would be the appeal of taking on this current Kilmarnock side?

A side second bottom of the table, without a win since 4 October, and who have not responded to the leadership of interim manager Kris Doolan after the sacking of Stuart Kettlewell.

Missing five first-team players, with several key performers sold or released in the summer, including captain Kyle Vassell, they are plummeting down the table.

With the club announcing on Wednesday they expect to appoint a new manager next week, are there any positives on the horizon to lift the gloom at Rugby Park?

There was no doubt Kilmarnock would badly miss the likes of Danny Armstrong, Fraser Murray and Vassell after their summer departures, but few would have anticipated just how much.

They are struggling to score - only St Mirren have netted fewer - after the seemingly-promising partnership of Marcus Dackers and Djenairo Daniels was split up early in the season by an injury to the latter.

Dackers has only scored once in the league this season, while Bruce Anderson has three to his name.

Kilmarnock's total xG isn't too bad - 21.9 in the league - but with only 18 goals, they are clearly underperforming.

They're putting an average of 3.8 shots on target per match - again far from bottom - but their shot conversion rate of 8.5% is the third worst in the league.

All this means is they are making chances. Maybe not many, but more than the teams around them - Dundee, St Mirren, and Livingston.

The loss of Vassell to USL side Colorado Springs Switchbacks has been compounded by the lack of leadership in the current set-up.

Brad Lyons was named captain earlier in the season - his first time in such a role - while summer signing Jamie Brandon was previously skipper at Livingston.

Robbie Deas has stepped into the breach, but there is a distinct lack of obvious candidates with experience in the Kilmarnock squad.

Brandon is the oldest defender at 27, with only four players over 30 at the club. A youthful squad can be a benefit, but there is a crippling lack of experience throughout this side.

That is most obviously present between the sticks. Max Stryjek's absence has been keenly felt - they have not won a game since his injury lay-off began.

The Polish goalkeeper had kept five clean sheets in his 11 games as Kilmarnock number one, but there has not been a single shutout without him as youngsters Eddie Beach and Celtic loanee Tobi Oluwayemi have struggled.

Oluwayemi's save percentage of 67% ranks second bottom of the league - ahead only of Livingston's Jerome Prior - while Beach conceded 10 goals in his three games.

With interim boss Kris Doolan's audition falling flat, there's a lot on the manager's in-tray.

Sort out the goalkeeping situation, add some experience across the park, and find a striking solution to find goals. All in a day's work.