SIMO VALAKARI is the new favorite for the position of manager of St. Johnstone after a deal to bring in Tiernan Lynch collapsed at the 11th hour.

The Larne manager looked set to succeed Craig Levein at McDiarmid Park one time Saints owner Adam Webb agreed to a compensation package with the Northern Irish side.

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However, Lynch, 44, could not negotiate with the Americans on personal terms for himself, his brother and coach Gary Haveron.

This movement now seems dead in waterand Saints have switched targets to former Motherwell and Derby County midfielder Valakari.

The 51-year-old Finn was the foreign candidate Webb interviewed last Wednesday, the same afternoon Scott Brown interviewed for post.

Valakari impressed Saints owners, as did the man who loomed in the back of their minds if there was a problem with the Lynch contract.

The former manager of Tromso, KuPS, SJK and Audy is currently working in Latvia, where he and Riga FC are second in the table.

Valakari has been a manager for fourteen years and has amassed an impressive CV in Scandinavia, twice winning the Finnish title with peerless SJK.

He also won the Finnish Cup three times with two different clubs and has since won more trophies in Riga.

Valakari was close to returning to Scotland football earlier, after an interview for his former club Motherwell for your manager post in the past.

He has also been linked with moves to Kilmarnock and Hearts over the years.

Now it looks like he will finally get a chance to return Scotland 28 years after first arriving on these shores as a competitor.

Saints, who were beaten 6-0 by Celtic on Sunday, are in great form with only one team in the Premiership win on their name throughout the season.

They’re leaking goals so the new gaffer is first position will support them defensively, although they face a trip to Ibrox this weekend in what will be a daunting debut on the bench.

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