LEE McCulloch will open discussions with the Kilmarnock board this week regarding becoming manager on a permanent basis – and if the players had their way they’d urge the directors to make him an offer he can’t refuse.

McCulloch has been noncommittal about whether he wants the position but having ensured a 25th consecutive season in the top flight for Kilmarnock by accumulating 16 points from his 12 games in charge, he has surely validated his credentials.

But McCulloch will want to know the conditions he will be asked to work under and this aspect will be the key to successful negotiations.

The former Rangers captain would be the unanimous choice of the dressing room, according to full back Luke Hendrie who is due to return to Burnley this summer after a loan spell.

Hendrie said: “He has a great appetite for the job and he will be a success at it in the future. It is not my decision but I can only talk from the experience that I have had with him.

“His man-management is great. He’s also got that winner’s instinct after a great career, and it rubs off on us. We’ve looked a lot more solid since he has taken charge.

“He gets players to express themselves and it is ridiculous how young our squad is. I am only 22 and I am classed as one of the older ones.

“He is fresh from playing, he’s got fresh ideas, and he knows how the modern player works. 

“But we’ve got some really talented players here and some of the senior boys really pull us along.”

It was Killie’s young attackers – Jordan Jones, Adam Frizzell and Greg Kiltie – who were the outstanding performers in a win that looks like 
condemning Caley Thistle to the Championship. 

Sean Longstaff gave them the lead with a 17th minute strike following Ryan Esson’s blunder. Then Jones raced from halfway to score a wonderful solo goal 12 minutes into the second half.

Alex Fisher tried to inspire a fightback with a good strike after being set up by Iain Vigurs 19 minutes from time but it was in vain and the irony is Inverness are now relying on Highland rivals Ross County for a stay of execution.

If Hamilton win in Dingwall tomorrow, seven years of top-tier football will end but Vigurs, who spent four good years with County, hopes his old club will do Caley Thistle a major favour.

Even then, Inverness would still need to beat Dundee on Wednesday to keep things alive for the final day of the season. Vigurs said: “We need two favours from Ross County and Dundee in the last two games, and we obviously need to do our own business. 

“Getting two wins is all we can do but it’s out of our hands.

“I might go to the County v Hamilton game. 

“My wife is from Dingwall and I live two minutes from the stadium.

“I am treated really well when I go back to Ross County. Everyone is really good with me.

“I’d rather be there watching it, than listening to the radio or watching updates on TV.

“Ross County are safe and you don’t know how they’ll be in the game. They could down tools.

“I’ve never really been in the situation before and it’s difficult, because you can’t influence anything.”