Allan Johnston has agreed terms to become the new Kilmarnock manager after holding lengthy talks with the club's chairman and namesake, Michael.
The former Queen of the South manager will replace Kenny Shiels, who left the club by mutual agreement earlier this month.
However, as Johnston warms to his new role, a frosty reception awaits the Rugby Park chairman at Hampden on Thursday morning.
Disgruntled Kilmarnock supporters plan to continue their protests against Johnston with a demonstration ahead of the first meeting of the Scottish Professional Football League.
The fans will gather to voice their ongoing anger and frustration at the way he runs the club, and demand that he enter into meaningful talks with the group of local business owners who want to buy the club.
Johnston will be attending the inaugural meeting of the SPFL and the fans hope that their presence will emphasise the depth of feeling against the current ownership regime. The chairman is widely considered to be running the club on behalf of Jamie Moffat, who continues to be a personal guarantor for some of the £9.5m debt.
A group of local business owners, many of whom are current commercial partners of the club, want Johnston and Moffat to agree to a sale. The Ayrshire Businesses initiative involves Marie Macklin, chief executive of the Klin property and investment group, the hotelier Bill Costley, and John Gall, chairman of the bakery company that makes the famous Killie pie. Fans, though, are also boycotting season ticket sales in a bid to oust the current regime.
While Lloyds Bank are not actively considering calling in the debt, which is secured against the Park Hotel, Rugby Park and surrounding land, any critical drop in revenue from the season ticket boycott would cause significant cash flow difficulties at the club.
"The club is in a fragile state," said Sandy Armour, chairman of the Kilmarnock Supporters Association. "We would urge Michael Johnston to meet with the Ayrshire Businesses group. They want the club for the right reasons and are in it for the long-term.
"We wish him [Allan Johnston] all the best," said Armour. "It would have been preferable for the boardroom situation to be sorted before the manager's situation, but that wasn't to be. Good luck to him."
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