As soon as the full-time whistle blew in Paisley on Monday, amidst the celebrations of St Mirren, attention shifted to the future of a club that has navigated significant highs and lows this season.
In December, they celebrated a stunning League Cup triumph over Celtic at Hampden, marking another successful chapter for manager Stephen Robinson, who had already guided the team to three consecutive top-six finishes in the Scottish Premiership.
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However, the steady league performance that defined Robinson’s time at the club faded this season, even with their cup success.
They found themselves in a relegation struggle, and following Robinson’s departure to Aberdeen in March, former youth coach Craig McLeish was appointed as interim manager with a singular goal: survival.
And they managed to survive, barely, with Marcus Fraser‘s goal securing a 2-1 aggregate win over Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off final, capped off by a 1-0 home victory on Monday.
McLeish has expressed his eagerness to remain in the role, reiterating his ambitions following the match.
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“I imagine [chief operating officer] Keith [Lasley] will begin discussions about that in the coming days,” McLeish mentioned when queried by BBC Scotland regarding his future.
“We talked about managing everything, and whatever happens, the club will map out its future from there.
“I’m honored that the club trusted me to take charge. If granted the chance to lead this group, my primary goal is to ensure we never find ourselves in such a position again.
“I believe I’m equipped to do the job fully, and I’ve felt that way since day one. This has been my aspiration all along.”
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“While I can’t dictate when I might receive this opportunity, I’ve tried to prove my readiness, and I hope I’ve demonstrated that.”
Did McLeish do enough to secure the job?
The performance against Thistle was far from convincing, which was hardly surprising given the stakes involved, and the relief among players and fans post-match was palpable.
“We wanted to ensure the players would be remembered as legends at this club after winning the League Cup,” McLeish stated.
“We didn’t want a tarnish on our record.
“The first half was tense, cautious, and filled with errors. It wasn’t tactical as much as it was about managing our emotions. We improved in the second half.”
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McLeish achieved three wins from his nine league matches following Robinson’s exit, but he couldn’t prevent St Mirren from slipping into the play-off position as Kilmarnock excelled post-split.
A change in approach initially brought an improvement in performances, but results eventually declined, culminating in a streak of four consecutive defeats without scoring.
The 36-year-old interim manager faced challenges in addressing the team’s ongoing scoring issues.
Defensive stalwart Alex Gogic believes that McLeish could excel with more time, expressing his support for him to continue.
“Absolutely, whatever the club decides,” Gogic stated.
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“If he gets a pre-season, I think it would be beneficial. If the club chooses to go with him, we’ll support that decision.”
Former Dundee United and Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall believes McLeish has bolstered his chances by steering St Mirren to safety.
“I don’t believe he would have had a chance at the job if St Mirren had been relegated,” McCall remarked.
“However, he has handled himself well and has positioned himself favorably for the role.
“The decision-makers took a significant risk appointing someone so young, but McLeish has managed it impressively and communicated effectively.
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“He overcame a challenging moment when Kilmarnock defeated them 3-0 here, but he responded strongly. The team’s downturn began under Stephen Robinson after the cup final, not McLeish’s tenure. He certainly has a shot at the position.”
What do fans think?
Neil: Give McLeish a break – he fulfilled the board’s expectations.
Iain: What a relief, Saints have survived! Now let’s find a solid manager—please, not McLeish, who seems overly confident.
Sean: This match was a prime example of a team winning against the odds. St Mirren needs significant changes or they’ll risk automatic relegation next season.
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Alan: That was nerve-wracking; the first half was disappointing again. It felt like one goal would decide it, and thankfully it went our way. A major overhaul is needed, and we need a more experienced manager, as McLeish isn’t the answer.