Craig Levein set for St. Johnstone manager job as he lines up former Hearts striker for assistant role

Former Scotland manager Craig Levein has reportedly agreed in principle to become the next manager of Scottish Premiership strugglers St. Johnstone - while he is also set to sound out current Brechin City manager Andy Kirk about becoming his assistant at McDiarmid Park.

Levein has been out of managerial work since his last stint as Hearts boss ended in October 2019 and he has recently served as an advisor to the Brechin board. Former Hearts striker Kirk, who played under Levein at the Tynecastle club, looks set to join him in Perth as they look to help St. Johnstone out of the relegation zone.

Alec Cleland has led the Saints on an interim basis since Steven MacLean's sacking and it remains to be seen if the former Rangers defender will still have a role to play in first-team matters.

Livingston manager Davie Martindale had been on the shortlist, but the Saints were given no encouragement to pursue talks from neither the club nor Martindale himself and have thus turned to the former Dundee United manager.

Levein was spotted in attendance at McDiarmid Park for the midweek win over Kilmarnock and the fight and desire shown by the home side in that match was reportedly the final factor in convincing the 59-year-old to take up the challenge.

Levein has also recently worked as a pundit for BBC Scotland and co-hosted the Sacked in the Morning podcast on the network with Amy Irons, but now looks set for a return to the dugout as he looks to turn around St. Johnstone's woeful start to the season.