Patrick Kluivert among Ross County applicants

ROSS County have confirmed that Patrick Kluivert has applied for the vacant manager’s job in Dingwall.

Patrick Kluivert, right, in his playing days fending off Scotland's Don Hutchison. Picture: AP

The one-time Dutch striker, who lists Ajax, Barcelona and AC Milan amongst his former clubs, was assistant to Louis van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup as the Netherlands reached the semi-final.

Roy MacGregor, Ross County’s chairman, said he had been overwhelmed by the quality of applicants. In an interview with Radio Scotland, he was asked if Kluivert had applied for the post. MacGregor answered “yes”, before then going on to talk up Terry Butcher’s suitability for the job made vacant by the departure of Derek Adams. The manager left the club last week, along with his father George, County’s director of football.

“I cannot believe the quality of applicants,” MacGregor said.

“We have had a really good response. That response five years ago would never have happened and it wouldn’t have happened two years ago.

“The credit for putting Ross County on the map is back to George and Derek and I’d like to thank them for that.

“The calibre of applicant has been really good.”

Butcher is out of work following his sacking by Hibs in the close season after they were relegated from the Premiership. He previously had a highly successful spell in charge of Inverness Caledonian Thistle and MacGregor believes Butcher’s affinity with the Highlands could tempt him back to the area.

“I believe Terry is under garden leave with Hibs,” MacGregor added. “He certainly was a motivator [at Inverness], he did a wonderful job there. He has an affiliation with the Highlands.

“I think an affiliation with the Highlands is really important and that they understand what our area is about.”

An affiliation with the Highlands is not something Kluivert can boast of but he has played and coached at a rarefied level. However, he has yet to manage a club in his own right.

The former Barcelona youth coach Sergio Lobera has also been linked with the County job, while former St Mirren manager Danny Lennon has declared an interest in the post.