St Mirren Survive the Drop: Has Craig McLeish Earned the Permanent Job?

St Mirren are safe. The Paisley club have secured their Scottish Premiership status after a chaotic season, and it is interim manager Craig McLeish who guided them through the storm. Now the conversation shifts to a fascinating question: has he done enough to earn the role permanently? When McLeish stepped in mid-season, the situation was dire. Results had nosedived, confidence was shattered, and relegation looked increasingly inevitable. Yet without significant resources or transfer promises, he managed to steady the ship, instill a fighting spirit, and drag St Mirren over the survival line. In those circumstances, staying up is not merely a result — it is a testament to man-management and tactical pragmatism. Despite this, the club's hierarchy appears undecided. Names of more established coaches have been linked with the vacancy, and McLeish was never considered the frontrunner by those in the boardroom. But the argument for continuity is compelling: a manager who saves a club from the brink surely deserves an opportunity to build on foundations he understands intimately. For Scottish football watchers, St Mirren's decision will be telling. Opting for stability under McLeish or gambling on a bigger name from outside — it is a classic dilemma that will shape the club's direction next season. One thing is beyond dispute: St Mirren survived, and McLeish played a central role in making that happen.