St Mirren survive relegation — will interim boss McLeish land permanent role?

Craig McLeish has guided St Mirren to Scottish Premiership survival as interim manager. His achievement has raised questions about whether the club will offer him the permanent position. McLeish was not previously considered a frontrunner for the job.

Craig McLeish has steered St Mirren through one of the most turbulent seasons in recent memory, securing the Scottish Premiership club's top-flight status as interim manager. The result has inevitably sparked debate about whether the club's hierarchy will now consider handing him the role on a permanent basis.

McLeish was not widely tipped for the permanent position when he took over in a caretaker capacity. Clubs often bring in interim managers as a short-term fix while conducting a broader search for a permanent appointment, and St Mirren appeared to be following that familiar pattern.

However, survival changes things. Keeping a club in the top flight — particularly after a difficult and unpredictable campaign — is no small feat, and McLeish's achievement will almost certainly force decision-makers at St Mirren to reassess their options. Whether sentiment translates into a formal offer remains to be seen, but the pressure to reward the man who delivered survival will be difficult to ignore.