Millwall manager Gary Rowett is not surprised to see assistant Callum Davidson linked with the vacant St Johnstone job as he knows he possesses the attributes to be a top boss.
But Rowett hopes Davidson stays alongside him at The Den for a while longer.
Davidson is a leading contender to replace Tommy Wright. The former Scotland international enjoyed successful spells as player and coach at McDiarmid Park and was alongside Wright when Saints won the Scottish Cup in 2014.
Rowett and Davidson have worked together at Stoke City and now Millwall and had guided the English Championship outfit to the brink of the promotion play-offs.
And Rowett believes it is only natural for his former Leicester City team-mate to be a favourite for the Perth job.
“The reason he has been mentioned in such glowing terms are the same reasons I wanted him to come and work with me at Stoke and now at Millwall,” he said.
“He is obviously someone I have known for a long time as a friend since we played together at Leicester, many moons ago. We stayed in touch and from the professional side I was aware of how good he is as a coach and how well liked and respected he is in terms of his football knowledge.
“He’s local to St Johnstone and was there for a long time, so it’s a natural link. He would be a fabulous choice.
“From my perspective I want him to work at Millwall and stay where he is and continue the good work we have started.
“But as a mate I’ll also try to push him and help him manage and fulfil his own ambitions, whether that’s as a manager, which I think it will be at some point.
“I think it all comes down to timing and at the moment I hope that timing is not right and he’ll continue doing to good work that we’ve done together.”
Davidson has had coaching posts at St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Stoke and Millwall and was also part of Gordon Strachan’s coaching team with Scotland.
Rowett added: “I knew about Callum’s ability and his character but the big one for me was him almost being headhunted to work with Gordon Strachan and the Scottish national team.
“That was another experience that showed how good as coach he is.
“He’s a very, very good coach. He’s got strong principles and is easy to work with. I think he’s both liked and respected by the players and that’s important. You can have one without the other but to have both is great.”
THE CONTENDERS: From John Robertson to David Healy, who is next for the St Johnstone job?
