Chance of losing Derek McInnes to Burnley FC diminishes

The chances of St Johnstone losing their manager, Derek McInnes, to Burnley appear to have receded.

McInnes was believed to have been on the Turf Moor club’s original six-man shortlist to replace Brian Laws.

With several of the candidates thought to be among that half dozen either ruling themselves out or being blocked from speaking to the Clarets by their chairmen, the likelihood grew of the Perth boss following the same route to the English Championship as his McDiarmid Park predecessor, Owen Coyle.

The word from Lancashire is that confirmation of the next Burnley manager is expected either today or tomorrow morning.

As of Wednesday night, neither Saints chairman, Geoff Brown, nor McInnes himself had been approached, which would suggest that Burnley FC are looking elsewhere for their new boss.