St Mirren are on the hunt for a new manager with Jim Goodwin taking up the reins at Aberdeen.
The outgoing Buddies boss is now tasked with turning around at dismal campaign at Pittodrie, but leaves the Paisley side in a good position in the league.
He leaves behind a legacy at St Mirren Park having led the club to their highest ever Premiership finish, and the next man in charge has big shoes to full.
The Buddies sit in sixth place and are unbeaten in their last seven games, and the job will appeal to plenty of managers.
Record Sport takes a look at the runners and riders to come in at the Simple Digital Arena.
Jack Ross
Ross took St Mirren from the brink of League One to the Championship title in two years at the helm between 2016 and 2018 playing an attractive brand of football before moving onto Sunderland.
He failed in his mission to get The Black Cats promoted from League One and was sacked during his second season, but rebounded with a successful stint at Easter Road.
He guided Hibs to a third place finish last term an came close to cup glory on several occasions. The Easter Road club sacked him 10 days before this campaign’s League Cup Final, but could he be back in the Paisley dugout soon? It would surely be a popular choice.
Paul Lambert
The 62-year-old has been out of the dugout for almost a year since leaving Ipswich Town.
But the former Saints midfielder, who also won the 1987 Scottish Cup with the club, has extensive managerial experience including in the English Premier League with the likes of Aston Villa and Norwich City.
Despite now setting up home in England he could be a decent contender.
Allan McManus
The current Head of Youth Development with St Mirren, McManus is likely to take temporary charge of St Mirren as they head to Livingston on Saturday.
He stepped in as caretaker when Alex Rae was dismissed in 2016.
Could it now be time for the former Hearts defender to take the reigns for good? Extending a seven game unbeaten run against the Lions would help his case.
Derek Adams
Former Ross County boss Adams was linked with the recent Dundee vacancy after being sacked by Bradford City.
However, that job quickly went to Mark McGhee.
Adams has the obvious advantage of being a free agent with experience and knowledge of Scottish football and could be a quick fire appointment?
Kevin Thomson
Thomson has cut his managerial teeth with Kelty Hearts this season and they’re flying high at the top of League Two.
That comes after his coaching apprenticeship at Rangers which earned him rave reviews behind the scenes at Ibrox.
The Buddies have a track record of poaching the top talent from the lower leagues after landing both Goodwin and Ross from Alloa.
John Potter
Another former St Mirren defender and has coached under Jack Ross at both Sunderland and Hibs, as well as Dunfermline.
Goodwin and Ross have proven the success a former Buddie can have with their former club, and the boards desire to give former players a chance.
He has spoken of his desire to be a boss in his own right one day, and this could be the opportunity.
Massimo Donati
The Italian has a working knowledge of St Mirren having a player/coach role at the club during the Championship winning campaign, and also coached at Kilmarnock.
His only management post so far has come at Italian minnows Sambenedettese, while the club were in the midst of financial chaos following demotion from Serie C to Serie D.
His lack of experience in the number one role would be a cause for concern, but Donati wouldn't be coming in as a complete outsider.
Scott Brown
Record Sport revealed on Friday night that Saints had asked Aberdeen permission to speak to their captain over replacing Goodwin.
Brown has been occupying a player-coach role with the Dons having left Celtic last summer and this would be first outright role in management.
The Dons have permitted Saints to open talks and it could well end up being a case of 'one in, one out' at Pittodrie if Brown decides to grasp the opportunity.
