Peter Leven given permission to talk to St Johnstone as Jimmy Thelin reveals Aberdeen stance on exit

The search for Craig Levein's successor is ramping up

Jimmy Thelin has confirmed that Peter Leven has held talks with St Johnstone but he wants him to remain at Aberdeen.

The Perth club have been given permission to speak to the Dons’ first-team coach over their vacant managerial position. Leven, who recently turned down the Raith Rovers job, steadied the ship at Aberdeen last season and started the unbeaten run that Thelin has continued and it is now over six months since the Pittodrie outfit lost a league game. Saints are also interviewing a number of other candidates including Larne manager Tiernan Lynch as they look to appoint a successor to Craig Levein.

Thelin confirmed: “Peter has permission to talk to them. He is a good coach and it’s good that our staff have eyes on them. After that, it will be up to Peter what he wants to do. Always if you lose staff and players you would miss them, of course, and you’d have to find solutions for the future. But when good people do good things they get eyes on them.

“So far so good, he is focusing here and helping us prepare for our game tomorrow. We want him to stay here but it is good he is getting this recognition from another club.”

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