Gary Naysmith believes his old Huddersfield Town boss Lee Clark would be a great choice to take over in the Kilmarnock hot seat.
The 43-year-old, out of the game since resigning his post at Blackpool in May, has been strongly linked with the Scottish Premiership strugglers.
Gary Locke resigned as manager of second-bottom Killie last month.
And Clark, who watched Town’s last home game, the 3-2 defeat by Cardiff City on January 30, could be in charge by the time they go to Motherwell on Saturday.
The Geordie, who has also managed Birmingham City, brought Naysmith to Town from Sheffield United in 2010 for a two-year stint.
Now manager of East Fife, Naysmith said of his old gaffer in the Scottish Sun: “I’ve never played for anybody as animated, passionate and vocal as Lee is on the touchline.
“He may have quietened down since his time at Huddersfield. But he kicked every ball back then and would shout at the players, the referee, the linesmen, everybody.
“He would just get fully involved to the point where you would see him after games and think he’d been playing. He’d look knackered!
“Lee also sets unbelievably high standards.
“That’s what you want in a manager, though, because he demands the very best and that’s what leads to success.”
Former England Under 21 midfielder Clark played for Newcastle, Sunderland and Fulham during his playing career.
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He had a spell coaching at Norwich City before moving into management with Town in December 2008.
Clark was sacked in February 2012 after a Football League record 43-game unbeaten run over two seasons.
He has been less successful since, with a 28% win record at Birmingham City, and just three wins in 33 games when in charge of Blackpool.
Naysmith added: “People may look at how things didn’t work out for him at Birmingham or Blackpool, but they need to look into the reasons why that happened.
“I just know him from my time working with him as a player at Huddersfield and I don’t have a single bad word to say.
“He didn’t win promotion and that was the aim, but he did a very good job and recruited very well.
“Lee has unbelievable contacts in the game, like you wouldn’t believe.
“He could get in touch with anybody at any club in England, and probably most clubs abroad as well.
“That just comes from his experience of being in the game. Remember, there was a time when he was in and around the England squad.
“I definitely think after the disappointment of the last two jobs he’s had, Kilmarnock couldn’t be getting anyone hungrier right now.
“Lee would want to build something at Kilmarnock and really get the club going again.”
