Ryan wants proven manager

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson wants to sign Gillingham midfielder Jack Payne on a permanent basis.

Payne impressed during the second half of the season after arriving at London Road on loan in January.

The 21-year-old is still under contract at Gillingham, who will play in League One next season along with Posh.

Ferguson told the Peterborough Telegraph: "I will try and sort something out with Jack and Gillingham but it's up to Gillingham, who I don't think have sorted their retained list yet.

"To be honest, apart from Jack, I'm not really bothered about signing anyone else. He is an exceptional footballer who suits the way I like to play."

The Staggies' 2-0 defeat at Motherwell ended their Europa League hopes, with Caley and St Johnstone vying for Scotland's last spot in the competition ahead of the visit of Terry Butcher's side to Dingwall.

The 24-year-old is looking for County to record their first win over Inverness this season and with it help possibly deliver a knockout blow to the European hopes of his former club, who lead Saints by one point.

"We definitely need a win against them to finish the season strong," said Vigurs.

"So we will be doing all we can to win that match and I would be absolutely delighted with that (shattering Inverness' European dream).

"The County supporters would love it.

"We are not going to lie down and let Inverness win this last derby match of the season just because we can't make it into Europe.

"County have not beaten Inverness all season and there would be no finer time to do that than on the last weekend of the season."

Vigurs was "gutted" that County's first season in the SPL ended in a Europa League "whimper" in Lanarkshire.

"We would love to have won the game but it was not to be," he said.

"We were not clinical in front of goal and gave away two cheap goals and if you do that then that's what happens.

"It has been a great season and the boys have been terrific as there is real quality in the County dressing room.

"We have to give credit where credit is due and qualifying for Europe would have topped a magnificent season."

Vigurs is hoping to extend his stay in Dingwall when his current contract finishes at the end of the season.

He was in joking mood as he addressed the issue, saying said: "The manager has spoken to a few players but not to me so he clearly does not rate me as a player.

"I would love to stay at County.

"Everything is up in the air at the moment and there are no plans yet.

"I'm sure there will be a chance that we will sit down and talk soon."

Ryan and his fellow board members have drawn up a shortlist of candidates to replace Brian Flynn and the interview process will begin this week.

"It has served us well in the past, and it's time to put that selection 'matrix' of ours to good use again," wrote Ryan in his column in the Doncaster Free Press.

"Applications are currently coming in and this last week has seen the club linked with the likes of Paul Dickov, Terry Butcher, Neil Warnock and, following his dismissal from Wolves, our former manager Dean Saunders.

"Rest assured we will be looking to continue the success we have had with managers since we appointed Dave Penney and Sean O'Driscoll.

"Terry Bramall, Dick Watson and myself have discussed the criteria at length and we came up with 18 salient points that will eventually decide the man for us.

"A handful of these include: good at buying and selling, good communicator, good contacts in the game and works well in the community. But above all he will be a proven professional, possess his coaching badges and have a proven track record."

Doncaster are looking for a successor to Flynn, who guided Rovers to the npower League One title this season after taking over from Saunders in January following his departure to Molineux.

Flynn was handed the reins on a caretaker basis before being given a contract until the end of the campaign and the former scout will now revert back to that role under the new manager.