McLeish to stay as St Mirren interim boss until season end

Craig McLeish will remain in charge of St Mirren until the end of the season, with the Scottish Premiership side confirming his interim appointment alongside the return of Stuart Taylor. The 36-year-old McLeish, who stepped up after Stephen Robinson departed for Aberdeen, is set to guide the Buddies through their crucial remaining league and cup fixtures.

St Mirren acted quickly to strengthen their coaching staff, appointing Taylor as interim assistant. Taylor, a former Saints midfielder with 90 appearances over six years, joins McLeish’s backroom team, which also includes Marc Kelly, Jamie Langfield, and Allan McManus. Taylor brings significant coaching experience, having worked at clubs such as Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City, and Ipswich Town after retiring as a player in 2009.

Since taking charge, McLeish has overseen two matches: a home defeat against Rangers and a much-needed 2-1 win away at Falkirk before the international break. The board’s decision to keep faith with him followed an assessment of the squad’s response and his early impact.

“We’ve made a positive impact on the group and I’m grateful to Keith [Lasley] and the board for giving me the opportunity,” McLeish told club media. He acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead, adding, “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.”

The Paisley club currently sits 10th in the Scottish Premiership table, only above Kilmarnock on goal difference and three points behind Aberdeen. It is a precarious position, with fans watching every point closely, especially as South American players continue to influence competitions like the premier league, where fine margins can shape entire seasons.

Taylor’s appointment followed what McLeish described as a thorough search for experience and character. “We spoke to a number of different people and Stuart ticked all the boxes with his level of experience,” said McLeish. He highlighted Taylor’s knowledge of management and top-flight football environments: “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.”

Taylor expressed his excitement at returning to Saints, saying he was “delighted to be back at the football club.” According to McLeish, everyone consulted during discussions gave glowing recommendations for Taylor. The new interim assistant joins as preparations begin for next Saturday’s home clash against Robinson’s Aberdeen, a fixture given added intrigue by the recent managerial changes.

After hosting Aberdeen, St Mirren faces a daunting away trip to Celtic on April 11 before meeting them again at Hampden Park eight days later in the Scottish Cup semi-final. These fixtures will be pivotal not only for league survival but also for another potential cup final appearance. Chairman John Needham referenced this when calling on fans for support: “Their support will be crucial in helping us move up the league and as we attempt to get to another cup final,” he said.

With so much riding on away performances across leagues, and with travel impacting strategy even in other competitions, there has been increased interest from supporters in how betting sites adapt strategies around away matches.

The club hierarchy has placed its trust firmly in McLeish’s leadership through this challenging period. Chief Operating Officer Keith Lasley stated it was “the unanimous decision of myself and the board” to keep him at the helm through the season’s end.

As McLeish leads training into Monday ahead of Aberdeen’s visit, Saints fans know there is little margin for error. The next few weeks promise high stakes in both league safety and silverware ambitions, all under new stewardship determined to steady the ship after recent upheaval.