Former Hibs boss Jack Ross tipped to be next Dundee United manager

Courts has been recently linked with a move to Croatian side Rijeka, while reports from The Courier suggest that Hungarian outfit Honved Budapest and some English clubs are also keen on the 41-year-old.

Former Hibs and Sunderland manager Ross is expected to be appointed as Dundee United’s new manager, with the Terrors having already identified “a preferred candidate”.

His name name was linked with the Dundee United position last week when Rijeka’s interest in Courts was first reported and the 46-year-old is the red-hot favourite to be the next manager.

A former Dundee trainee, Ross has been out of football management since being sacked by Hibs in December last year. He has been in the frame for many jobs since, including Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, St Mirren and most recently the Dees, but has been waiting patiently until the right opportunity arises.

Ross guided Hibs to a third-placed finish in the cinch Premiership and the Scottish Cup final during the 2020/21 campaign. He also has experience of managing in Europe, with Hibs’ run in the Europa Conference League being ended, ironically, by Rijeka last season.

Courts led United to their highest-placed finish in nine years and secured European football for the first time in a decade.

He also gave 16 academy graduates first-team experience, with Archie Meekison, Kieran Freeman and Ross Graham earning Scotland Under-21 call-ups.

He told the club's official website: "I'm immensely grateful to everyone at Dundee United for the opportunity they gave me to manage such a prestigious club.”

Courts, who took over United last season after a spell in the club's academy, added, "Without their support and the backing of the fans, we wouldn't have achieved our fourth-placed finish and