The St Mirren board made a strategic decision to overhaul their transfer model, playing philosophy, and squad age profile approximately one year ago, a move that has paid dividends with the team's strong start to the current season under rookie manager Craig McLeish. The club, which had recently experienced European football for the first time in nearly four decades, saw an opportunity for change even as manager Stephen Robinson's stock was high following three consecutive top-six finishes in the Premiership.
Robinson's tenure, which lasted three and a half years, eventually concluded in February when he moved to Aberdeen. However, the club's directors had begun succession planning much earlier, focusing not on specific candidates but on the desired profile of a future manager. They aimed to reduce the squad's age, recruit players with greater potential sale value, and secure longer contracts.
"We felt like we were spending the same money (on transfers) but not getting the same quality," said St Mirren chairman John Needham. "The recruitment in the last couple of windows under Stephen was patchy at best... So, with all those factors in the mix, we decided we were going to try and reduce the age of the squad, get players in who were going to have much greater potential sale value and try and lengthen their contracts."
McLeish, who had been part of the club's youth academy, unexpectedly put himself forward for the first-team manager role on the day Robinson departed. Initially appointed on an interim basis, he guided St Mirren to safety through the play-offs before being given the permanent position in the summer. Despite some initial criticism, the 36-year-old's appointment has been vindicated.
The team has enjoyed an eye-catching playing style, and McLeish recently received the Manager of the Month award. Needham acknowledged that while another, more experienced candidate was considered, McLeish's alignment with the club's desired direction was a decisive factor.
"With Craig, the only thing that he didn’t have was experience," Needham explained. "He interviewed really well, presented his ideas and his approach, and that aligned with where we wanted to go as a club. Yes, we got a lot of flak for appointing him at that time. But he’s definitely stepped in and done a tremendous job. There’s a real steel to him and an inner confidence."
McLeish has also been praised for introducing a more expansive and attacking style of play, moving away from the pragmatic approach that had been in place. This shift is seen as crucial for challenging teams that St Mirren is expected to beat.
"We were looking to do something a bit more expansive," Needham stated. "We were beating Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs and giving Rangers and Celtic a good game with that pragmatic approach. But that doesn’t really work when you’re playing against teams who you really should be beating because you need to take the game to them."
The club is now optimistic about challenging for a top-six finish, a goal they consider a significant achievement as a first step. McLeish's early success suggests the board's calculated gamble on a new direction and an unproven manager has been a strategic success.