Cook emerges as St Johnstone target

ST Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown is closing in on Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook as the shock successor to Derek McInnes.

And Saints are lining-up a deal which allows the 44-year-old to lead Sligo into a 6 November glamour cup final before officially moving to Scotland.

It’s understood he has been given a vote of confidence by former Saints manager Derek McInnes and a compensation package has been agreed in principle with the Irish outfit.

Cook, who played with new Bristol City manager McInnes at Stockport County when he was on loan from Rangers, is set to take the reins for St Johnstone’s Monday night clash with Aberdeen on 7 November.

The one-time Wolves midfielder has worked wonders with the cash-strapped League of Ireland club, steering them into the Uefa Cup three years ago with a fourth-place finish.

And last autumn he led unfancied Sligo to League Cup and FAI Cup wins, taking the scalps of Monaghan United and Shamrock Rovers.

Now he is preparing his side for another glamour final against Shelbourne at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium early next month. In the meantime, Brown is prepared to let youth coach Alec Cleland and skipper Jody Morris handle team affairs, with a home game looming with St Mirren this weekend.