LET’S TALK

I’m interested in Saints job, declares McCoist

ALLY McCOIST last night confirmed his interest in becoming the next manager of St Mirren and declared himself ready for talks later this week.

McCoist is one of several candidates set to be interviewed for the post vacated by Jack Ross following the club’s promotion to the SPFL Premiership.

Jim McIntyre, Robbie Neilson, Alan Stubbs and Gary Caldwell are also in the frame to take over as the Paisley club gears up for its return to the top flight of Scottish football.

Former Rangers boss McCoist, who yesterday participated in a charity match at Airdrie in aid of St Andrew’s Hospice, admits the post appeals to him.

He said: ‘I would definitely be interested and I would speak to them. I know the guys who are running St Mirren — it’s my local team and I’ve seen them half a dozen times, maybe more, in the last year. The

club is really well run and the move to the new stadium has benefited them.

‘It’s a good set-up and the training ground is excellent.

‘I tell you what, it’s a good job for whoever gets it.’

Former Ross County chief McIntyre and ex-Hearts and MK Dons boss Neilson are the front-runners to take over the team that won last season’s Championship at a canter.

But, with Ross taking the next step in his career at Sunderland, Buddies chairman Gordon Scott and chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick are keen to examine the case of the candidates.

McCoist has not managed since departing Rangers in December 2014 and admits it took time to work his stressful three-and-a-half-year reign in charge at Ibrox out of his system.

‘It has been well documented what happened at Rangers,’ continued the 55-year-old (below).

‘The dream job at the nightmare time is how I would describe it.

‘That said, I probably gained more experience in those three years than many managers would get in a lifetime.

‘I never for a minute said I would not go back in (to management).

‘I read somewhere that I had unfinished business — I wouldn’t go that far but if something came up that suited, then I would certainly consider it.

‘I would be very hopeful that the next job, if I’m lucky enough to get one, would be if not 100-per-cent football, then 95 per cent.

‘That would be something that would appeal to me a lot more.’

The stability of St Mirren clearly holds some allure to McCoist, but he admits he will face stiff competition for the Paisley post.

McIntyre lifted the League Cup with Ross County before being sacked early last season along with his assistant Billy Dodds, while Neilson’s Hearts were well on their way to the 2015 Championship title when McCoist stepped down from his job at Ibrox.

The former Scotland international added: ‘It’s a big job and would be very handy for me, but there have been people mentioned who are arguably more suited than I am.

‘Jack Ross did a fantastic job there, didn’t he?

‘I saw St Mirren against Morton, Dundee United and a few other teams last season and they were good, very easy on the eye, especially in that division.

‘But it’s a big jump, a step up (going into the Premiership).’