They want the focus to be on tonight’s Bell’s Cup clash with Airdrie United and, while they are unlikely to get their way, are determined to do nothing to fuel the speculation.

The next day or so, though, will see developments and Kernaghan, currently working with the reserves at Falkirk, could even be in place by tomorrow.

It has to be stressed he still has to clinch the job and much will depend on the face-to-face with owner Peter Marr and other directors. If he does impress, they are likely to move swiftly to secure his services.

And Kernaghan’s arrival could be followed quickly by that of Allan Preston. Team-mates together at St Johnstone, Kernaghan was his assistant at Livingston for a few fateful months last season and the roles could be reversed at Dens.

Meanwhile, Dundee have fixed up Celtic goalkeeper Michael McGovern to stand in for Caribbean-bound Trinidad No. 1 Kelvin Jack in tonight’s Bell’s Cup clash with Airdrie United.

Attempts to persuade Trinidad to allow Jack to fly out tomorrow for the World Cup qualifier against Guatemala failed and that left teenager Scott Murray as the only fit and available goalkeeper on the books at Dens.

That changed this afternoon with McGovern set to sign on a loan deal and he is expected to be between the sticks tonight.

Tam McManus returned to training yesterday after missing out at the weekend because of a thigh strain and could be included in the starting line-up this evening.

Meanwhile, promising kid Scott Robertson is delighted games are coming think and fast right now — because it keeps his mind off the managerial uncertainty at Dens Park.

Having started full-time at Dundee under Jim Duffy, and been handed a first-team chance by him, Robertson admits the team boss’s departure last week hit him hard.

What it hasn’t done, though, is stop him concentrating on business and tonight’s Bell’s Challenge Cup tie against Airdrie United at Dens Park.

“My first season at Dundee was Jim Duffy’s first season back and, in three years working with him, I learned a lot and have a lot to thank him for,” said Robertson.

“I appreciate what he’s done for me and it was not nice seeing him go, so the games on Saturday and tonight have helped take my mind off what’s happened. I am paid to play football and that’s what I like doing, so it has been good to be able to concentrate on games and not think about anything else.”

Injury and illness meant Robertson missed what turned out to be the last game of the Duffy era, the 3-1 CIS Cup defeat at Stranraer a week ago. He still felt sluggish during Saturday’s draw at Hamilton, but feels he is now 100% fit again and ready for tonight’s tie.

And, even if Gordon does not get the man he wants before this window shuts, his search for talent will continue in preparation for the next in January.

There is a chance that, by then, Lee Mair will at last be ready to kick-start his interrupted career at Tannadice. Earlier this month, he had an operation on the knee he damaged in training back in February, and surgeons are happy with the outcome.

He still has several months of rehabilitation work to undertake, but the former Dundee and Stockport man could be back in action around Christmas.

United are hopeful Collin Samuel’s absence with the hamstring injury that forced him off against Inverness Caley Thistle on Sunday will be considerably shorter.

Samuel was quickly withdrawn from the Trinidad squad for this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, but could make his club’s trip to Edinburgh to face Hibs on Saturday week.

“We got Collin off quickly and, hopefully, that has limited the damage. The extent of the problem is being assessed and we will have to see how he progresses,” explained Gordon.

Despite being sent off in Saturday’s 1-0 First Division defeat at St Mirren, Grant Johnson is eligible to play for Brechin.

And although City are a league higher than Morton, the Greenock side have won on cup business in recent years at Glebe Park and will be looking to triumph again. But Brechin want to keep their terrific record going in this event.

They haven’t enjoyed the best of fortune in the league, but a win tonight could springboard a change in First Division form as well as keeping their good record in this event intact.

ST JOHNSTONE are hoping the same applies to them when they go to face Partick.

They’ve lost three on the trot, in the First Division and CIS Insurance Cup to St Mirren and in the league to Airdrie United, and player-team boss Owen Coyle will make changes this evening.

One is forced upon him as defender Simon Mensing is suspended and, although Owen intimated “there might be a couple of changes”, he stressed there wouldn’t be “too many.”

Darren Sheridan has been one of Saints’ star performers so far this season.

And, despite being 37, the little midfield man gets about the park OK, stating emphaticaly that “I feel all right”.

Amazingly, he was once out of football for four years after Leeds released him when he was 18.

“I was 22 before I started playing again, re-starting my career with non-league Winsford United,” he added.

“I was four years there, then six at Barnsley, before going on to Wigan, Oldham, Clyde and now St Johnstone,” said the younger brother of ex-Leeds United and Republic of Ireland international player John Sheridan.

Darren is enjoying his spell with Saints and, despite their recent blips, is confident they will have a successful season which he wants to be part of.

Meanwhile, Owen said there have been “a couple of tentative inquiries” for Saints players from other clubs, but no business has yet been done.

He also intimated it was unlikely that Saints will be adding to their squad prior to the transfer deadline.

In tonight’s only tie featuring a Fife outfit, RAITH ROVERS are at home to Dumbarton.

After two successive away wins, Raith are looking to keep their winning form going at home. They’re likely to show little change from the starting line-up on duty in Saturday’s win over Partick at Firhill.

Brian Fairbairn did well after coming on as a substitute and may be handed a starting berth. But Scott Wilson and Derek Ferguson still miss out due to injuries.