Cleland keen to stake his claim for Saints post

Sligo Rovers manager Cook could not agree personal terms with Saints chairman Geoff Brown after the clubs agreed compensation earlier this week.

Cleland, who is in temporary charge along with captain Jody Morris, admitted his interest in succeeding Derek McInnes as manager on a permanent basis following Saturday’s goalless draw at Dundee United.

And the club’s under-19 coach hopes to hold talks with Brown and his son Steven, a director at McDiarmid Park, to put forward his plans should he be given a chance.

Cleland said: “I’m still interested in the job. I know the players, I’ve got good relationships with the staff. I’d be silly to rule myself out. I’d like to speak to the chairman and Steve abut the position so they can get my views on it, where I would like to take the team.”

Cleland and Morris look certain to be in charge when St Mirren visit McDiarmid Park tomorrow in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and the former Rangers full-back hopes another good result could enhance his case.

“That’s something they could look at, give Alec and Jody a couple of games and see how it goes, although Jody has obviously ruled himself out,” he said. “See what kind of reaction we get off the crowd, if they are happy with the way the boys are performing, and look at it like that.

“Or, after speaking to me, they may feel it’s for Alec or not. You never know how Geoff and the board are thinking. But their track record has been good in appointing managers and I’m sure whoever is appointed, and I would love it to be myself, it will be the right decision.”

The interest in Cook quickly emerged publicly after the Liverpudlian, a former Stockport team-mate of new Bristol City manager McInnes, became odds-on favourite with bookmakers following a string of bets in Ireland. But Cleland is keen to play down speculation among the players.

“We try and shield it from them,” the former Everton and Dundee United player said. “Players talk in the dressing room and there will be a lot of managers linked because it’s such an attractive position. I think the longer it goes on the more difficult it gets.

“You don’t want it to go on too long. Callum Davidson spoke about it in the papers on Monday and he was right, the uncertainty does creep in, players do talk. They maybe don’t say it affects them but you can read the players, and it does affect them.”

Saints have Cillian Sheridan back in their squad against St Mirren after he recovered from a hamstring problem.