St Mirren Give McLeish Until The End Of The Season After Robinson Exit
Club confirm interim boss will lead the Buddies through a crucial run-in after Robinson’s Aberdeen move
St.Mirren have confirmed that Craig McLeish will remain in charge of the Paisley side until the end of the season, with former Buddie Stuart Taylor joining as his assistant. The 36‑year‑old McLeish, who stepped up after Stephen Robinson’s swift move to Aberdeen, managed the Buddies to a narrow home defeat to Rangers and an away win against Falkirk in the Scottish Cup - which was enough to convince the club to give him the reins for the run‑in.
Taylor’s return will add a dose of experience and local connection to the cause. The ex‑midfielder played 90 times for St Mirren in the early 2000s and has since built an impressive coaching CV, racking up spells at Aston Villa, Wolves, Stoke and Ipswich. His arrival on the training ground alongside McLeish is seen as a steadying move after a turbulent period in which Robinson’s departure left a noticeable gap at the club.
Behind them, the familiar faces stay put. Marc Kelly, Jamie Langfield and Allan McManus continue in their roles, maintaining some much‑needed continuity as the Buddies aim to steer clear of relegation trouble and make something meaningful of their Cup run.
McLeish, speaking to the official club website, admitted he’s thrilled to get the chance to lead the side until the end of the season. “I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the group for the rest of the season,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of big games to come, including that Cup semi‑final at Hampden, and I can’t wait to be part of that.”
Next weekend brings a sharp twist of fate with Robinson’s Aberdeen visiting Paisley - a reminder of how quickly things change in football. St Mirren sit tenth in the Premiership, above Kilmarnock only on goal difference and three points shy of the Dons, but the coming weeks hold both threat and promise. After facing Celtic on April 11, McLeish’s side meet them again eight days later at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi‑final - a stage that offers the rookie boss a shot at writing his own early chapter in the club’s modern story.
Asked about his new right‑hand man, McLeish said the decision was an easy one. “We spoke to a number of people,” he explained, “and Stuart ticked every box, he’s worked at the top level down south, he’s managed himself, he’s excellent day‑to‑day on the grass and ultimately he’s a good person around the place. Everyone I spoke to spoke really highly of him.”
With their manager now confirmed, St Mirren can get on with the remainder of the season looking to stave off the threat of a relegation play-off and win a potential cup double.