Saints cancel friendly with Coleraine as Kearney nears exit

Talks between manager and chairman continue ahead of Northern Ireland trip

St Mirren have confirmed they have cancelled Saturday’s friendly clash with Coleraine as divorce talks with boss Oran Kearney continue.

The Northern Irishman was due to take the Buddies back to his homeland to face his old side this weekend.

But the game has been scrapped in the wake of a row with chairman Gordon Scott over his plans to continue commuting to Paisley from his home in Ballymoney.

Kearney was nowhere to be seen as the Saints first team returned to preseason training on Monday amid reports he had been ordered to stay away.

The Saints faithful are now waiting on a statement clarifying the situation but Kearney’s reign is understood to be over.

Coleraine’s managerial position is currently vacant and Bannsiders chairman Colin McKendry indicated to the BBC that Kearney would be their “number one target” to take over.

St Mirren announced on Twitter: “We would like to confirm that the planned fixture with Coleraine has been cancelled.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Friday night’s friendly with Belfast amateurs Rosario Seniors will go ahead as planned.

Coleraine say the decision to cancel the clash at their Showgrounds home was “taken by St Mirren and was without consultation with ourselves”.

In a statement, McKendry added: “I am very disappointed in the cancellation of this fixture which I had agreed with St Mirren when we facilitated Oran’s move to them as their manager last year.

“We were looking forward to hosting St Mirren and had already had a number of their fans in contact regarding travel arrangements etc.”

Kearney, 40, signed a three-year deal when he replaced Alan Stubbs in September.

He successfully saved the club from relegation as he guided Saints clear of bottom club Dundee and then to a penalty shoot-out victory against Dundee United in the play-off final last month.

But his insistence on travelling to and from Northern Ireland each week has frustrated Scott.

PIctures: SNS. St Mirren boss Oran Kearney was absent as his team returned to pre-season training.

Gordon Scott: The St Mirren chairman is reportedly unhappy that Oran Kearney wants to continue commuting to Paisley from his home in Ballymoney.