Dundee United make a move for Ray McKinnon
A club statement read: "Dundee United have made an official approach to Raith Rovers to seek permission to speak to their manager Ray McKinnon about the vacant managerial position at Tannadice Park."
Dundee United have made their move for Ray McKinnon.
United wasted no time in approaching Raith Rovers over their number-one target for their managerial vacancy, hours after the Fife club's promotion hopes ended.
A club statement read: "Dundee United have made an official approach to Raith Rovers to seek permission to speak to their manager Ray McKinnon about the vacant managerial position at Tannadice Park.''
McKinnon's Rovers side saw their Premiership play-off campaign end at Easter Road with a 2-0 defeat by Hibernian.
The former Dundee United midfielder is the odds-on favourite to take over from Mixu Paatelainen, who was sacked on Wednesday following their relegation.
Dundee-born McKinnon failed to dampen expectations that he would go to Tannadice when quizzed on the subject this week and revealed his children were United fans.
And he was coy when quizzed on his future at Easter Road after his side's 2-1 aggregate defeat.
"As it stands I am the Raith Rovers manager," the 45-year-old former Brechin manager said.
"I have another year at Raith.
"Nothing has changed. I can't foresee the future, I would rather speak about how good my players were today."
The Kirkcaldy club quickly announced they had rebuffed the approach from United, who will be their Championship rivals next season.
A Rovers statement read: "Dundee United FC has this evening published a statement on its website to the effect that an official approach has been made for permission to speak to Ray McKinnon about a position at Tannadice.
"Permission has not been granted.''