St Johnstone are reportedly working hard to appoint a new head coach by the weekend following their crushing 6-0 defeat to Celtic.
It may still be September, but two managers have already lost their jobs in the Scottish Premiership this season. St Johnstone were the first to act, parting ways with Craig Levein, while Hearts followed soon after, sacking Steven Naismith in the wake of a poor start to the campaign.
However, St Johnstone appear to be edging closer to naming a replacement, and it’s a move that could excite not only their supporters but also Scottish football fans more broadly.
According to a report from the Belfast Telegraph, St Johnstone are ‘aiming to finalise a deal’ with Larne head coach Tiernan Lynch, possibly as early as today. The Perth club are said to have agreed on compensation with the Northern Irish champions, leaving the decision in Lynch’s hands.
Other names had been in the running for the McDiarmid Park role. Celtic legend Scott Brown was among those considered before the former Hoops captain signed a new deal with Ayr United.
Aberdeen coach Peter Leven, who had previously served as interim manager at Pittodrie, was also given permission to discuss the job but reportedly decided to remain with Aberdeen.
If Lynch is appointed, it would be seen as something of a coup for St Johnstone. The 44-year-old has transformed Larne during his time in charge, guiding them from the second division of Northern Irish football to back-to-back NIFL Premiership titles.
He also made history by leading Larne to the group stages of a UEFA competition for the first time, with the club competing in the Europa Conference League this season.
Larne have enjoyed a solid start to their NIFL campaign, currently sitting fourth in the table with four wins, two draws, and just one defeat.
Although they are six points behind leaders Linfield, Larne have two games in hand and remain well-positioned in their bid for a third consecutive league title.
The Courier also reports that further discussions between St Johnstone and Lynch are planned for today. Barring any last-minute changes, it is expected that Lynch will be unveiled as the new St Johnstone head coach in the coming days. His appointment could mark a fresh start for the Perth Saints as they look to recover from their difficult start to the season.