ST Mirren chairman Gordon Scott has given fans an update on the recruitment of the club's new manager.

Scott confirmed that he hopes to have a new manager in place at the Paisley 2021 Stadium next week.

In a statement on the club’s website he said the club had aimed high during the process having spoken to former Nottingham Forrest and Derby County manager Billy Davies.

With Davies and other previously mentioned candidates John Hughes and Neil Warnock out of the running, the Saints board have narrows down their shortlist and will finish interviews this week.

The statement read: “It has been nearly two weeks since we made the decision to change our manager. The process of appointing a new manager can be a lengthy one and we have spent those near two weeks reviewing the 50 plus applications. Tony’s [Fitzpatrick] experience has been invaluable and a couple of our existing board members have past experience when it comes to this so, as a board, we are not entirely new to it all.

“We started the process by aiming high and approached a couple of ex-English Premier League managers. It was always going to be a long shot but I believed, after meeting them, that one of them might have paid off but it wasn’t to be. With the breaking news in England regarding the managerial scandal, I feel it’s no coincidence that one of them may be waiting it out to see if anything becomes available down south.

"However, it was worth a try and we thank him for coming in to speak to us. We had a few productive chats and I gained valuable insight into what it takes to be a top manager.

“After that we then looked closer to home and had another worthwhile conversation with one of the leading agents in Scottish football. One of his clients was high on our list to interview but unfortunately, as it stands, he wants another crack at trying to be a success in England and we wish him will.

“We have now whittled down our list and hope to finish the interviewing process early next week with the aim of having someone in place prior to next Saturday’s trip to Easter Road to face Hibernian in the IRN-BRU Cup.”