Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook is on the verge of becoming the new boss of St Johnstone.
The 44-year-old Liverpool-born coach has been granted permission to speak to the Perth club and was last night understood to be in Scotland discussing personal terms.
This season, Cook has led Sligo into second spot in the Republic of Ireland’s Airtricity Premier Division behind Shamrock Rovers and into the FAI Cup final.
That final on November 6 is set to be Cook’s last game before he switches to the SPL if he and Saints can agree personal terms.
He would then take charge of the McDiarmid men for the Monday night clash with Aberdeen 24 hours later.
Cook started out with English non-league side Marine before joining Wigan, Burnley, Wolves, Coventry, Norwich and Tranmere in a wide-ranging playing career.
He played with what looks likely to be his predecessor at Saints, Derek McInnes, at Stockport County when the new Bristol City gaffer was on loan from Rangers.
He then kicked off his managerial career with Southport but lasted less than a year before crossing the Irish Sea in 2007.
Cook led Sligo into the UEFA Cup a year later and, despite massive financial constraints, followed up that success with a win in the Irish League Cup in 2010.
This season they have mounted a title challenge to Shamrock Rovers, led by former Saint Michael O’Neill, and although they look set to miss out on the title by a few points, dumped the Europa League participants out of the FAI Cup en route to the final.
With Cook committed to taking charge of Sligo until their appearance at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium next month it is likely that caretaker Alec Cleland and skipper Jody Morris will remain in charge until the new man takes the reins.
On Monday, Saints chairman Geoff Brown confirmed that club skipper Morris had formally ruled himself out of the running. As expected, the 32-year-old former Chelsea midfielder has instead opted to extend his playing career.