St Johnstone’s new boss Simo Valakari has made clear that he wants Jason Holt to stay at McDiarmid Park after the midfielder helped the Saints clinch the Championship last season. Holt, 33, has become the club’s talisman, scoring 12 league goals and providing 20 assists in the campaign. Valakari believes the experienced playmaker will keep the squad competitive in the top flight.

The 33‑year‑old’s future, however, is tangled by his parent club’s fate. Port Vale dropped into League Two after a disastrous season, leaving Holt’s contract, with a year remaining, in a precarious position. A move back to the original club could offer stability, but Valakari is ready to negotiate terms that keep Holt on the Saints’ payroll.

Across Europe, former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati has been shortlisted to take the helm at Steaua Bucharest, the club that once lifted the European Cup. In Scotland, Ayr United’s vacancy draws interest from Mick Kennedy, Gary Naysmith, Ian McCall and caretaker John Rankin, all of whom have tasted promotion or playoff success in the lower leagues.

Meanwhile, Cove Rangers boss Paul Hartley is out of contract this summer after steering the club to League One safety. He is open to talks about his future, while Scotland’s Scott McTominay has been dismissed as “average” by Serie A legend Radja Nainggolan, despite the midfielder’s 29‑goal haul helping Napoli win the title last season.