St Johnstone caretaker boss Alec Cleland says he hasn’t given up hope of becoming the next manager at McDiarmid Park.
The under-19s coach has taken temporary charge of the side along with skipper Jody Morris since Derek McInnes’s departure to Bristol City and Cleland has made no secret of his desire to be given the job on a permanent basis.
However, those hopes looked to have been dashed this week when Sligo Rovers boss Paul Cook emerged as a surprise front-runner to take over the Perth hot-seat. But the Liverpudlian and Saints chairman Geoff Brown could not reach an agreement on personal terms and the search for a new manager continues.
Cleland said: ”I spoke to vice-chairman Steve Brown when the talks broke down with Cookie. Hopefully we will sit down and go over what their plans are.
”I said right at the start of this I would love the job on a permanent basis. There are a lot of candidates I know that and the board have been very busy and have a lot on their plates. But I would like the chance to talk about it.
”There is always going to be speculation about a job like this one in Perth. But myself and Jody, with help from Callum Davidson for the midweek reserve game, are preparing for the St Mirren match. We are fortunate to have a lot of good pros at the club so it is business as usual.”
Cleland is fully aware that the managerial speculation will be dominating the players’ dressing-room discussions but he is certain it will not distract them from business on the park.
”The longer we take the team and the more games we win could strengthen my position. Jody has made it clear he isn’t quite ready for it yet but he will be a manager in time. He has done really well with the boys.
”But Callum made a good point that, the longer the uncertainty goes on, it might start to affect the players. That is my only worry. We don’t want anything to have a negative impact on the guys here. We know they will be talking about the management situation before and after training.”
Cleland added: ”There are many names being linked with the post but Jody and I are speaking to the guys all the time to make sure they remain focused.
”We were told we would take the team until we heard otherwise and nothing has changed. And to be fair, we are getting a good response from the lads.
”I want them to win the St Mirren game for themselves, not for me, and that will be the point we are putting across in the build-up.
”From a personal point of view, I would love them to do it for me but, from a professional perspective, they owe it to themselves to put in a performance and we have enough experienced players here to do it.”
One of those players, Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman will notch up his 50th appearance in a Saints shirt on Saturday. As he prepared to reach that milestone, he also reflected on the managerial conjecture and said: ”There is nothing we can do about it. We don’t know what is happening.
”Alec and Jody know how we prepared for games before, so nothing much has changed. They have seen what Del was doing and, at the moment, there isn’t any point in changing things.
”It is a new situation for me. I have been without a manager before but only for one game. But when you cross the white line you focus on your performance and do the best for your team. That is all anyone can ask.
”Alec and Jody are making sure we do that and if we keep winning it might strengthen his hand.
“I have been in football to know that nothing surprises you so we just get on with it. We know at some stage there will be an appointment, whether it is Alec or someone coming in.”
Meanwhile, striker Cillian Sheridan is set to return against the Buddies after chiropractic treatment to address the back problem which kept him out of the draw against Dundee United.
Midfielder Murray Davidson is also set to return to the squad after recovering from a knee knock.