So what now for St Johnstone? In the past week, Scott Brown, Peter Leven and Larne boss Tiernan Lynch have all been closely linked to become the next manager in the door at McDiarmid Park, and have all turned the position down. This after the surprise sacking of Craig Levein over two weeks ago.
All three had valid credentials for the post. Indeed Lynch had been identified by the new American owner Adam Webb as one he had thought had the right profile to take the club forward.
What it may tell us is the prospect of managing a Scottish Premiership club may not be the lure it once was.
Or is it just St Johnstone’s new owners and the way they want the club to move forward?
A few years ago it would have been unthinkable for a manager from the Northern Ireland Premier League to turn down the opportunity to manage in Scotland.
But Lynch this week will be preparing Larne for their first venture into the proper stages of the Conference League.
A history-making week for football in Northern Ireland and one he simply couldn’t turn down.
Webb is back in the United States undergoing treatment for cancer and we wish him well in his recovery. Meanwhile there are good football people at St Johnstone with Gus McPherson and Roddy Grant helping with the day-to-day running of the club.
It has been a difficult introduction to the role of chief executive for Francis Smith. The 42-year-old knows St Johnstone well having made the move into the new role from the club’s community foundation where he was a success.
Meanwhile Andy Kirk, who only last week said he feels he is ready for the job should he be given the opportunity, has to pick up the pieces after a mauling by Celtic on Saturday. Coming up is a trip to Ibrox this weekend.
The upcoming international break can’t come quick enough for Saints.
This will give all at McDiarmid Park time to draw breath and with reports that Riga boss Simo Valakari is now the front runner for the job, it may not be too long before Saints fans will have clarity on who will lead the club moving forward.
