Ross County are expected to confirm the return of Scott Boyd to Victoria Park in a non-playing role later this week.
Former Staggies defender Boyd has held talks with County chairman Roy MacGregor in recent weeks, having been earmarked for a behind-the-scenes position at the Dingwall club where he previously spent nine years as a player.
The 33-year-old’s imminent return is expected to mark the end of his playing career, despite Boyd having one year still to run on his contract with current club Kilmarnock.
Boyd’s planning for life after football began during his stint with the Staggies, where he enrolled in a sports management university degree which he completed following his switch to Killie.
Boyd was a favourite among Staggies supporters after making the move on loan from Partick Thistle in September 2007, before making the move permanent six months later.
The former Livingston player went on to make 306 appearances for County, and was part of the side which won the First Division title in 2012.
Having set the Staggies’ appearances record, which was later overtaken by Michael Gardyne, Boyd was handed a testimonial against a Celtic legends side in March 2017, by which time he had already moved on loan to Killie ahead of his permanent switch later that year.
County co-manager Steven Ferguson has confirmed the Staggies will be remaining in the SPFL reserve league for the new season.
St Johnstone, Hibernian and Aberdeen have pulled out of the league in recent weeks after citing concerns about the setup which was introduced 12 months ago, with the Dons’ reserves to compete in the IRN-BRU Cup, Aberdeenshire Cup and Aberdeenshire Shield, along with a number of friendlies.
Ferguson insists County’s location in the Highlands will put paid to any prospect of the Staggies following suit, and he said: “We will be staying in the reserve league because for us it’s very difficult to organise friendlies.
“Geographically, the best thing for us is to be in the reserve league.
“I get why the clubs who are in the central belt, who can organise games at the drop of a hat, would find it attractive to go down another road.
“But for us up here, we wouldn’t be able to get games at the level we need regularly enough.
“We will just have to wait and see what teams are left in it for next season.
“I don’t think colts is the route for Ross County, that’s just my opinion but it’s not for us.
“It wouldn’t work for a club of our size.”