KELTY HEARTS boss Kevin Thomson could be set for job talks with Raith Rovers as the Kirkcaldy side seek a new manager.

The 37-year-old, who took over last summer for what is his first senior managerial role, is believed to be amongst the front-runners to replace John McGlynn at Stark’s Park.

Ahead of the Press going to print yesterday (Wednesday), it was reported that Thomson, who guided the New Central Park side to the SPFL League Two title, had been given permission to talk to Rovers about their vacancy.

That has now been confirmed by the club, who said in a short statement: "Kelty Hearts Football Club can confirm they have granted permission for manager, Kevin Thomson, to speak to Raith Rovers FC about their vacant managerial role.

"We will provide supporters with a further update in due course."

Raith's manager’s position became available earlier this month when 60-year-old McGlynn, whose contract was up, chose not to extend his second spell with the club, and joined Falkirk.

Thomson’s work in guiding Kelty into that division – which will also include Dunfermline, following their relegation from the Championship – has won him admirers, which national newpaper reports suggest also include English League Two outfit, Hartlepool United.

In their first SPFL season, they were unbeaten at home in League Two, losing just three times in the division, and reached the last 16 of the Scottish Cup for the first time, memorably sending holders St Johnstone out on the way.

Thomson has made no secret of his desire to eventually move into a full-time role, and was interviewed by Kilmarnock after they sacked Tommy Wright in December, before they appointed Derek McInnes.

Speaking to Press Sport ahead of the League Two season finishing, Thomson explained: “I think everybody knows where I’m at, everybody knows my ambition to get to the top. I’ve never hid that fact from Dean (McKenzie, the club’s general manager) and the club.

“I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve been fully committed – me and Geordie (Kevin McDonald, Thomson’s assistant) have never missed a training session, the whole season.

“I always arrange my schedule being at Kelty Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, midweek games, whatever it may be. I’ve never really missed a beat, me or Geordie, and I think that shows our commitment to where we want to get to.

“I don’t think it would be disrespectful, or not being honest, to say that I’ve got aspirations to be a full-time manager at a big club one day, but I’m just taking my time. I’ve done it the hard way.

“I went from the 13s to the 15s, setting up my own academy, to the 18s, to the B team, to Kelty as a part-time manager. I’d like to think that, when people see how much hard work I’ve put in over the last five or six years, that nobody would begrudge me the bit of success we’ve had this year at Kelty.

“I need to keep on getting better, I need to keep on learning, I need to keep on striving to be the best. But, when big jobs come round and my name gets mentioned with them, it’s always humbling, it’s nice.

“I’d never want to be one of those managers that’s never linked with a big job.”

He added: “The people that value who I am as a person, what I do and what I’m all about, will want to see me do well, and I don’t think they’ll ever begrudge me the success if I go on to bigger and better things.

“I’m saying one day because that day might never come. I’m fully focused on trying to put a good team together for Kelty but, I’m not naive to think, and I’ll never lie, about wanting to be a full-time manager one day.”

In a separate interview with Press Sport, Kelty’s sporting director, Andrew Barrowman, acknowledged: “Kevin’s obviously an extremely talented manager.

“He’s young, he’s ambitious; it’s safe to say that Kevin probably won’t be at Kelty Hearts for a very long time, which is fine.

“It’s part of the model we want. We want managers, we want players, we want even people within the club, to come in, make people better, and they go on to bigger and better things in their life.”