RUSSELL LATAPY has thrown his hat into the ring for the Falkirk job.
The 44-year-old spent six years with the Bairns at the end of his playing career and would love to replace Steven Pressley as gaffer.
Pressley quit the Scottish Cup semi-finalists last Friday to sign a three-and-half-year deal with League One side Coventry City.
Technical director Alex Smith and coach Stevie Crawford have been put in temporary charge of the team but the possible return of Latapy is sure to excite the Falkirk faithful.
The former fans’ favourite has managerial experience after bossing Trinidad and Tobago’s national side and is currently taking his European pro coaching licence.
After coaching stints with former clubs Porto and Boavista, Latapy is now eyeing a return to Scotland.
He said: “I enjoyed six great years at Falkirk and formed a bond with them. My rapport with the fans remains as strong as ever.
“Falkirk are a club I hold dear to my heart and if there is the slightest chance I could possibly return then that would make me so happy.
“I enjoyed a highly successful career and played for the likes of Hibernian, Rangers and Dundee United.
“But Falkirk are the team I stayed with longest during my stay in Scotland.
“I’d love the chance to be Falkirk manager. It’s a project that interests and excites me. I have extensive contacts in football, having worked in Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal and Spain.
“I have learned so much as both a manager and coach since hanging up my boots.
“I could offer something different to Falkirk and bring a brand of football that would excite the fans.
“I don’t know what kind of manager the Falkirk board are looking for but I feel I have a lot to offer.”
The Bairns lost 2-0 away to Morton on Saturday under veteran former St Mirren and Aberdeen boss Smith.
They face a massive game next month against Hibs in the Scottish Cup semis but chairman Martin Ritchie insists the board won’t rush into appointing a new man.
Pressley helped bring through a batch of talented kids and Ritchie is adamant the next boss will need to have the same beliefs.
He said: “It’s a big decision and one we need to get right.
“One of the fortunate things of having Alex and Stevie here is we don’t need to rush and make another appointment.
“That doesn’t mean we are going to drag our heels – we are already getting calls and emails about candidates.
“We have established a way of working. The academy is integrated into the club’s thinking, as is the pathway from Under-20s to first team.
“We will need to appoint somebody who has the same sort of beliefs and philosophy that Steven had.”