Ray McKinnon’s first act as Morton manager could be to raid former employers Dundee United for the services of assistant boss Laurie Ellis.
Out of work since being sacked by the Tangerines in October, McKinnon has beaten off stiff competition from an impressive list of candidates to be named as Ton boss on Wednesday.
And it’s understood he wants to team up with Ellis for a third time.
The pair worked together at Raith Rovers for a season and then moved to Tannadice in 2016.
Although McKinnon was dismissed with United five points off the top of the Championship, Ellis’s services were retained and he was appointed caretaker manager.
During that period he actually led them back to the top of the league and was approached by several senior member of the team who urged him to apply for the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
He declined because at this stage of his coaching career he felt he lacked the experience to be in charge of a club the size of United and resumed his duties as No 2 when Csaba Laszlo was appointed in November.
Despite big changes to both the playing squad and backroom staff at Tannadice being planned this summer, including the expected appointment of Csaba’s long-time assistant Werner Burger, it’s understood Ellis has been told he’ll continue to have an important role working with the first team.
He may, though, find the chance to team up again with his close friend McKinnon very difficult to turn down.
United, meanwhile, have appointed a new head of finance in the shape of chartered accountant Iain Ross.
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