Jimmy Calderwood has been offered the Kilmarnock manager’s job, it has been reported. The former Aberdeen boss, who has been out of work since the summer, is expected to make a decision on whether he will inherit the post later on Thursday.

Former Aberdeen and Dunfermline boss Calderwood – who left Pittodrie seven months ago after five years at the club – will be offered a short-term deal until the end of the season to replace Jim Jefferies, who quit earlier this week.

Former Hearts and Dundee United boss Tommy McLean – who currently coaches Scotland’s under 17’s side – had been lined up to take over on an interim basis. However, it is believed that McLean was only interested in becoming manager if he was kept on until the end of the season, a promise Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston wasn’t willing to offer.

Calderwood – who will bring his long-term assistant Jimmy Nicholl with him to the post if he accepts – was interviewed by the Killie board on Wednesday along with Queen of the South boss Gordon Chisholm.

Should Calderwood turn down the SPL club’s offer, the job will instead be offered to Chisholm and his assistant Billy Dodds. Chisholm – who had a short lived spell as Dundee United boss five years ago – has a growing reputation in the game having taken unfancied Queens to the Scottish Cup final in 2008 and subsequently into the Uefa Cup.

Earlier in the week, prospective boss Calderwood admitted he was desperate to get back into the game. “It has been horrible being out of the game and the longer it lasts, the worse it gets,” Calderwood said, before adding: “I am willing to talk to anybody.”

Johnston had talked up Calderwood’s chances on Wednesday, saying that he would be keen to offer him the job. “Jimmy has a lot of qualities that are attractive to us,” the Kilmarnock chairman said. “He is experienced, he knows the SPL well, and his track-record, I think, is pretty good.

“I think we need someone like Jimmy. In fact, I’ve said that what we need is another Jim Jefferies, a guy who will come in and really get the players going.”

News of Calderwood’s impending appointment will also please Queen of the South chairman David Rae, who reluctantly allowed his manager Chisholm to talk to the Rugby Park club on Wednesday.

"Gordon has done wonders for Queen of the South and in him, along with Kenny Brannigan and Billy Dodds, we have the best management team since I took over here eight years ago,” said Rae. "I would be more than happy for things to remain as they are at the moment.

"I'm just hoping that once Gordon has spoken to them [Kilmarnock], he'll remain at Queens."