East Kilbride want Darvel boss Mick Kennedy to be their new manager.
The Lowland League side are on the lookout for a new gaffer after they parted company with Kevin Rutkiewicz last month, following a disappointing campaign that saw Kilby go from the top of the table before Christmas to seventh spot.
Kilby have handed the reins to development coach and former club kitman Martin Fellowes on an interim basis until the end of the season.
But Lanarkshire Live Sport understands the K-Park club want the man who masterminded a Scottish Cup shock for the ages over Aberdeen this season to lead their charge for promotion to the SPFL next season.
Kennedy is currently leading Darvel’s bid for promotion to the Lowland League, but the Ayrshire side trail Beith Juniors by seven points as they look to defend their West of Scotland Premier Division crown.
They won the title last term but lost out to Tranent in the play-offs to reach the Lowland setup.
It is understood Kennedy could be looking to bring Simon Ferry on board as his assistant, with Open Goal podcast host Ferry departing as boss of Lowland side Broomhill at the end of the season.
Some players known to Kennedy and Ferry have also already been approached about joining the setup at K-Park next season, as Kilby make another big push for promotion.
The club have won the Lowland League title twice since the inaugural campaign in 2012/13 and have twice come up short in the play-offs to reach the fourth tier in Scottish football.
In 2017, they lost the pyramid play-offon penalties to Cowdenbeath after romping to the league title and, two years later, they were soundly beaten by Cove Rangers - a side now playing in the Scottish Championship – in the semi-finals.
Currently, 25-year-old Fellowes is taking the team during the transition period.
He guided the team to a 3-0 win over Gretna on his dugout debut on April 1, but on Saturday his Kilby team lost 3-0 at Berwick Rangers, managed by former Kilby gaffer Stuart Malcolm.
East Kilbride have just two league games remianing - this Saturday at home to Tranent and then away to Cowdenbeath on the final day of the season on April 15 – and kick-off their Lowland League Cup defence on April 29 away to Gretna.
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