Simo Valakari can be St Johnstone's answer to Jimmy Thelin as Riga boss tipped to bring 2 key factors to table

Kevin Twaddle reckons if St Johnstone can snare Simo Valakari then he could become their very own Jimmy Thelin.

Saints are in talks with the Riga boss in a bid to try and bring him to McDiarmid Park. The 51-year-old already has a proven managerial career, winning multiple leagues and cups in Finland with SJK and KuPS. Twaddle knows the Finn has a stellar CV and could come in and really shake up his former club, like Swede Thelin has done with his 100 per cent start at Aberdeen.

Twaddle predicted: “It would be a good appointment for St Johnstone. Simo is already an experienced coach. He has had success and won leagues and cups with two teams in Finland. He has done well in Norway and is now having success in Latvia. Simo would be another in the mould of Jimmy Thelin at Aberdeen. Simo would change the philosophy at St Johnstone a wee bit.

“Simo would definitely bring St Johnstone together and I think they are a club that needs that right now. I also think he would be good for Scottish football because I don’t like to see the same names in this managerial merry-go-round, where they leave one job and walk into another.”

The Perth club has regressed in recent seasons since their cup double. Twaddle believes Valakari can help galvanise the club again and get the fans right behind the team - as he did at Motherwell. Things went stale under Craig Levein and he paid the price earlier this season.

St Johnstone then began the process to appoint his successor. Valakari was interviewed along with Larne boss Tiernan Lynch, Ayr United's Scott Brown and Aberdeen coach Peter Leven. Brown and Leven both pulled out of the running after talks. Twaddle stated: “Simo will bring his own style and brand. Given time he will do a great job.

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