We investigate a perturbatively renormalizable $S_{q}$ invariant model with $N=q-1$ scalar field components below the upper critical dimension $d_c=\frac{10}{3}$. Our results hint at the existence of multicritical generalizations of the critical models of spanning random clusters and percolations in three dimensions. We also discuss the role of our multicritical model in a conjecture that involves the separation of first and second order phases in the $(d,q)$ diagram of the Potts model.

12 pages, 5 figures; v2: improved discussion for the q=0 limit, to appear in PRD