Image source, SNSImage caption, Craig McLeish will oversee St Mirren's remaining league and cup fixtures this term
- Published59 minutes ago
Craig McLeish will continue as St Mirren interim manager until the end of the season, the Scottish Premiership club have confirmed.
McLeish, 36, has taken charge of the Buddies' past two fixtures - a loss at home to Rangers and win at Falkirk - following Stephen Robinson's departure for Aberdeen.
And Stuart Taylor is joining St Mirren as interim assistant, with Marc Kelly, Jamie Langfield and Allan McManus continuing as part of McLeish's backroom team.
Taylor made 90 Buddies appearances as a player and has coached at Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City and Ipswich Town.
League Cup winners and Scottish Cup semi-finalists St Mirren host Robinson's Aberdeen next Saturday.
The Paisley side are 10th in the Scottish Premiership, above Kilmarnock on goal difference and three points below the Dons.
After the league trip to Celtic on 11 April, McLeish's side will face the same opponents in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on 19 April.
"I'm delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the group for the rest of the season," McLeish told club media.
"We've got a lot of big games to look forward to, including the cup semi-final, and I can't wait to take part in that opportunity as well.
"We spoke to a number of different people and Stuart ticked all the boxes with his level of experience. He's been down in the English Premier League, has managed himself, is very good on the grass and on the coaching pitch, and is ultimately a really good person and good about the place. Everyone I spoke to spoke really highly of him."
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'Unanimous decision'
St Mirren chairman John Needham said the board and chief operating officer Keith Lasley had "looked at how the players have reacted in the past two games and how Craig has impressed as interim manager".
"I'd ask our fans to get right behind the interim management team and the players for the remaining games of the season," added Needham.
"Their support will be crucial in helping us move up the league and as we attempt to get to another cup final."
And Lasley commented: "It was the unanimous decision of myself and the board to appoint Craig to lead the team through to the end of the season.
"Craig has shown real leadership in recent weeks."
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