TIERNAN LYNCH has been backed for the St Johnstone job – by one of his rival bosses in Northern Ireland.
The Larne boss ducked media duties in his NIFL Premiership clash with Cliftonville on Friday night, and is set to be offered the job by Saints chairman Adam Webb.
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Compensation talks are believed to be underway between the clubs but Larne will fight to keep their man and could even improve his deal.
The same scenario saw Scott Brown pull out of the running then sign a contract extension at Ayr.
Aberdeen coach Peter Leven has also been considered for the re-build job in Perth – after Celtic knocked them for six on Saturday night.
But Lynch is firmly in the frame and a worthy candidate says ex-Rangers striker David Healy – who was heavily linked with his own SPFL move earlier this season.
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Under his watch the port town side have landed two consecutive league titles and are on the brink of a Conference League campaign kicking off this week.
And both titles have come at the expense of Healy and his Linfield side – runners-up on both occasions.
They lead the way after nine games this season and Healy would love the boss to make the step across the water – and potentially make his life a little easier.
Healy joked: “I hope Tiernan goes to St Johnstone! I have great respect for him. Larne have built a structure in his time there and had success.
“Tiernan is his own man, a talented young coach and manager. If he goes he will do well at St Johnstone.”
Healy may be urging his fellow countryman to make the move – but he didn’t practise what he now preaches.
The former Rangers, Sunderland and Man Utd striker was a target for Raith Rovers after they sacked Ian Murray on the opening weekend of the season.
But Healy rebuffed their bids to stay at Windsor Park and the Fife side – who ended Falkirk‘s 43-game invincible run – turned to Neil Collins instead.
St Johnstone have been rocked by Craig Levein‘s dismissal and then chairman Webb’s cancer diagnosis this month.
While he searches for a new boss Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland have been in charge of first-team duties.
But they were helpless as Celtic smashed six goals at McDiarmid Park in a crushing defeat which leaves the Perth side 10th in the William Hill Premiership.
Larne won 3-1 away at Cliftonville on Firday night, and begin their European campaign against Molde on Thursday.
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