St Mirren is seeking a new manager to “galvanise” the team ahead of their Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic and the ongoing fight against relegation, according to chief executive Keith Lasley.
Stephen Robinson, who led the team to a League Cup victory, departed for Aberdeen last week, resulting in a 1-0 home defeat against Rangers on Sunday. Lasley expressed the need to appoint a successor “as quickly as possible” due to the pressing nature of their situation.
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The Buddies currently sit 10th in the Scottish Premiership, only ahead of Kilmarnock on goal difference and nine points clear of last-place Livingston. The bottom-placed team faces automatic relegation, while the 11th-place team enters a playoff with a Championship side.
“The timing is challenging,” Lasley noted in an interview with the club’s media. “Ideally, you’d appoint your first choice during a natural break in the summer. However, in football, circumstances do not always align as you’d like.”
St Mirren is set to face Celtic, whom they defeated in December’s League Cup final, in the Scottish Cup semi-final on April 19, with Dunfermline Athletic facing Falkirk in the other semi on April 18.
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Lasley indicated that the club is evaluating both applicants and candidates they have actively approached. He commended the interim management team, led by Craig McLeish, for their exemplary performance during this transitional period, as St Mirren prepares to take on Falkirk this Saturday.
“We have crucial points to fight for in the league to elevate ourselves away from the bottom of the table and a significant semi-final to look forward to,” Lasley added. “We need someone who can come in, truly energise the team, and drive us forward in the short term while ensuring they are the right fit for our long-term ambitions.”