St Mirren Retain McLeish Following Survival Battle

St Mirren have confirmed that Craig McLeish will remain in charge of the team after the club successfully defended their Scottish Premiership status in the play-offs. The 36-year-old manager, who had been serving in an interim capacity since Stephen Robinson’s exit in March, has now secured a permanent role.

McLeish took over the reins following Robinson’s departure to Aberdeen. During his tenure, he guided the side to three victories in nine league fixtures. Despite these results, the team ultimately finished in second place from the bottom of the table, as Kilmarnock surged into form during the second half of the season. However, McLeish ensured his future at the club by leading St Mirren to a 2-1 aggregate victory over Partick Thistle in the promotion/relegation playoff final, with Marcus Fraser netting the decisive goal in the second leg played in Paisley.

The board has rewarded McLeish’s efforts with a three-year contract extension. Stuart Taylor, aged 51, is anticipated to join him as assistant manager.

This season marks a challenging period for the Paisley side, who have been back in the top flight since 2018. Prior to the current campaign, the club had achieved three consecutive top-six finishes. The previous managerial era, led by Robinson from February 2022, saw significant success, including the lifting of the League Cup in December. That victory marked the club’s first piece of silverware in twelve years, secured with a win over Celtic. Robinson departed for Pittodrie while the Buddies were positioned 10th in the standings, holding a three-point advantage over Kilmarnock.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 17:50:09 UTC