Andy Kirk has stepped into the breach after the dismissal of Craig Levein, saying he feels ready to take the job permanently.
However, facing so-far flawless league leaders and reigning champions in only your second game as caretaker is hardly ideal when you are trying to impress.
It could work the other way, of course. As it would be some achievement if the 45-year-old former Heart of Midlothian, Dunfermline Athletic and Northern Ireland striker was to eke even a draw out of Saturday’s visit by Celtic.
Kirk has already ended the run of four defeats endured under Levein, with only a late two-goal fightback by Ross County denying him more than that 3-3 draw in Dingwall last weekend.
Celtic, though, arrive having won 14 successive games, including all eight of their fixtures this season, and have won 13 in a row at McDiarmid Park since a 2-1 defeat in May 2016 – scoring 49 goals for the loss of only nine.
Indeed, having won and kept a clean sheet in all five of their games so far means Brendan Rodgers’ side are one short of matching Celtic’s best-ever start to a league season – way back in 1906-07.
Saints, in contrast, have not won in 11 home league games and have lost their latest two meetings with Celtic 3-1, home and away.
Kirk’s experience before becoming Levein’s assistant was limited to being interim boss with Hearts, a year in charge of their women’s team, then leading Brechin City to the Highland League title before losing to Spartans in the Pyramid Play-offs.
New Saints owner Adam Webb might want more of a statement appointment with his first choice of manager.
However, if Kirk was to lead his team to a first win over Celtic in 30 meetings since that 2016 victory, or even match the 0-0 draw at Celtic Park last August, he could make his candidacy difficult to ignore.
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Publish date : 2024-09-27 06:51:00
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