Courier Sport understands Raith Rovers will look to appoint club captain Grant Murray as player/manager to replace John McGlynn, who will leave Stark’s Park to take over in the Hearts hot seat.
Former Raith favourite Colin Cameron as well as Arbroath boss Paul Sheerin were early favourites to take over from the departing McGlynn.
However, Murray is thought to be the preferred option for the Kirkcaldy side’s board of directors.
The 36-year-old has made no secret of his desire to move into management and he has already completed some of his SFA coaching badges.
Raith are operating under tight financial constraints and Murray fits the bill as being an inexpensive as well as a popular option with the fans. His appointment would also mean there would an element of continuity, with the former Hearts defender saying he learned a lot while working under McGlynn.
There is, of course, a precedent of a successful player/manager at Rovers Jimmy Nicholl led the club to the SPL as well as into Europe in the 1990s.
John McGlynn has replaced Paulo Sergio in the Gorgie hot-seat, after failure to agree a new deal with the Edinburgh club sealed the Portuguese’s departure earlier this month.
McGlynn said leaving Raith will be a wrench but believes now is the right time for a new challenge at a club which means a lot to him.’Difficult’ to leaveHe told HeartsTV: “I’m looking forward to it and I’m delighted to be back. I’ve had five and a half good years at Raith Rovers and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I’ve got to go back to Raith Rovers tonight and say goodbye to the players and that’s going to be difficult because there are some great characters there and some great players at that particular level.
“I built up some great relationships with the board of directors, the players, my backroom staff and all the fans.”
He added: “Everyone has been so good to me, to be honest, so it is a wrench to leave Raith Rovers.
“It’s been good there and I’ve had some good times but it’s time for a move. I’m ambitious and I’m delighted to get back to the SPL with a club that’s at my heart.”
A Hearts spokesperson said: “We are delighted to announce the arrival of John McGlynn as manager of Heart of Midlothian FC.”
McGlynn joined Hearts in 1996 and had two spells as caretaker manager in 2005, before acting as assistant boss to Valdas Ivanauskas the following year when the Jambos won the Scottish Cup