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Caley Thistle assistant manager Russell Latapy has emerged as a candidate for the vacant manager’s position at Scottish Championship side Alloa.

The job is available after Barry Smith resigned at the weekend in the wake of the 1-0 defeat by Dumbarton that saw the Wasps slip to second bottom and Latapy is a frontrunner.

The 46-year-old moved to the Highlands in January of last year to be reunited with John Hughes, who he was assistant to when the duo worked at Falkirk.

The 81-times capped Trinidad and Tobago international is believed to be keen to become a manager in his own right again after a two-year spell as the national manager of his home nation was ended in 2011.

Alloa have placed assistant manager Paddy Connolly in interim charge as they begin their search for a new manager after Smith’s surprise move and Latapy is one of the names under consideration as they look to draw up a shortlist of candidates.

Port of Spain-born Latapy, who was coaching with Portuguese side Boavista before joining Caley Thistle, had a long playing career in Portugal and Scotland where he turned out for Hibs, Rangers, Dundee United and the Bairns where he started coaching in 2006.

Latapy’s link with Alloa comes as the Highlanders prepare for their rescheduled Scottish Cup quarter-final against Raith Rovers at Caledonian Stadium tonight.

Saturday’s game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and Hughes is eager to get back to winning ways after a defeat at Motherwell in his side’s last outing.

He said: “They are not a bad side. They are going well in the league and if there is any complacency whatsoever you just have to look at what they did in the last round.

“I have had the opportunity to work with four or five of the players at Raith Rovers, so I know what they are going to bring. It could be one of our hardest matches of the season because of what is at stake.

“I have emphasised to the players we have to be at our best and if we are then it is game on. I expect Raith to be organised and take the game to us.”