• Craig McLeish signs three-year contract to become St Mirren’s permanent manager
• At 36, he is now the youngest head coach in the Scottish Premiership
• The Buddies point to data and English clubs like Brighton as models for their decision
• History shows mixed results for young bosses, with Steven Gerrard thriving but others failing
• Supporters remain split on whether this signals ambition or a cost-cutting risk

St Mirren have confirmed Craig McLeish as their full-time manager, handing the 36-year-old a three-year contract that makes him the youngest boss currently operating in the Scottish top flight.

The Paisley club moved quickly to secure McLeish after he guided the team through the final dozen matches of the recent campaign as caretaker. The former academy coach now steps up to the role permanently, beating other candidates despite his limited senior experience.

McLeish takes over from Stephen Robinson, who departed for Aberdeen. The new manager arrives with a mandate to develop youth talent, with chief operating officer Keith Lasley stating the club aims to become Scotland’s finest development outfit.

The appointment places McLeish at the forefront of a growing trend of young managers in the division. Rangers’ Danny Rohl is only slightly older at 37, while Hibernian’s David Gray is 38. By contrast, Celtic continue under veteran leadership with 74-year-old Martin O’Neill at the helm.

History offers cautionary tales for youthful bosses in Scotland. Ian Cathro was just 30 when he took charge at Heart of Midlothian four years ago, managing only eight wins from 30 fixtures before his exit. Shaun Maloney, 38 when he joined Hibernian, secured just six victories from 19 matches and departed after a Scottish Cup semi-final loss.

Yet success stories exist. Gray has achieved a 40% win rate across more than 100 matches with Hibernian, leading them to European qualification last term. Rohl finished third with Rangers this season, though this represented a drop from the previous year’s runners-up spot.

Steven Gerrard remains the benchmark, having captured the league title with Rangers in 2021 at age 38, ending a decade-long drought. The former Liverpool captain left with a win percentage approaching 65%.

St Mirren defend their choice by referencing English models. They highlight Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler, who at 33 guided the Seagulls to Conference League qualification, and Brentford’s Keith Andrews, who enjoyed a solid first season at 45. Lasley insists McLeish represents ‘identifying talent and letting it fly’ rather than a cheap option.

The decision carries risk. McLeish’s playing career peaked in Scotland’s lower leagues, and his only prior role involved academy coaching. He kept the club up via play-off victory over Partick Thistle, though critics note the side sat just one place above the danger zone when Robinson left.

Fan opinion divides sharply. Some supporters praise the continuity and potential for long-term growth, urging patience with the new regime. Others dismiss the move as underwhelming, arguing that avoiding relegation required luck rather than tactical skill, and demanding a more experienced hand to push the club up the table.

The coming season will reveal whether St Mirren’s faith in youth reaps rewards or adds McLeish to the list of promising coaches who found Scottish football’s top tier a step too soon.

• Celtic moved level on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table following a 3-1 win over Falkirk.
• Japan striker Daizen Maeda scored two goals and set up Kieran Tierney during an impressive display of high pressing.
• Aberdeen held on for a vital 1-0 victory against relegation rivals Kilmarnock, while Livingston earned only their second league win of the season by beating St Mirren 2-0.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has praised striker Daizen Maeda for his hard work after the Japan international led the team to a 3-1 victory against Falkirk. The result moves the Glasgow club level on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Maeda scored twice and provided an assist for defender Kieran Tierney during the match. His first two goals came from closing down opponents quickly. The forward also showed great skill to score his third after Falkirk substitute Kyrell Wilson had reduced the deficit.

The performance follows Maeda’s crucial goal in the Scottish Cup final the previous weekend, where he scored by charging down a clearance from the St Mirren goalkeeper.

O’Neill praised the 28-year-old for his effort levels. “Last week he gets a goal out of nothing from closing down. His closing down is amazing. Even in the 85th minute, he closes someone down. I thought he was brilliant,” the manager said.

The Celtic boss joked about a missed chance, saying he would have been upset if it had not been ruled offside. “I was pleased the one that he missed was actually offside, otherwise I’d have killed him. No, you couldn’t have done that today to him,” O’Neill added.

Maeda has struggled to play as well as he did last season, when he scored 33 goals and won Scotland’s player of the year awards. Before last weekend’s goal at Hampden, he had only scored eight times this season and had not found the net since 10 January.

A summer move to German club Wolfsburg did not go through, and O’Neill believes this may have affected the player’s mindset. The manager thinks Maeda may have felt disappointed when the transfer failed at the last minute after believing he had earned a move to the Bundesliga.

“I’m only putting that out – it may not be that at all – but he’s come roaring back. He deserves any praise that has been given to him over the past few weeks,” O’Neill stated.

In other matches, Aberdeen secured a nervous 1-0 home win against relegation rivals Kilmarnock. Afeez Aremu scored in the first minute, but the visitors hit the crossbar three times during the match. Aaron Tshibola headed against the woodwork twice, while Jack Milne nearly scored an own goal when he headed against his own crossbar.

The victory extends Aberdeen’s cushion over Kilmarnock, who occupy the relegation playoff position, to five points.

Meanwhile, bottom club Livingston kept their survival hopes alive with a 2-0 win away at St Mirren. The hosts dominated the first half but could not beat visiting goalkeeper Jerome Prior. An own goal from Alex Gogic gave Livingston the lead after 67 minutes, before substitute Scott Pittman sealed the points ten minutes from time. This was only Livingston’s second league victory since August.

Elsewhere, Rangers will host Motherwell on Sunday, while league leaders Hearts travel to face Hibernian. Dundee United will play Dundee in an early kick-off on Sunday.

• Interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill says his side are “not good enough” to look past the semi-final.
• Celtic face St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday, hoping to avenge December’s League Cup final loss.
• With Liam Scales banned, teenager Dane Murray or Benjamin Arthur will partner Auston Trusty in central defence.

Martin O’Neill has warned Celtic supporters not to dream of a trophy farewell as his team prepare for a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren this weekend.

The 74-year-old, back in interim charge after a chaotic campaign, ruled out talk of a romantic cup ending. “We are not at the level where we can look that far ahead,” he said. “Our only focus is the next 90 minutes.”

Celtic meet the Paisley club at Hampden on Sunday, six months after St Mirren shocked them in the League Cup show-piece. O’Neill, who lifted this trophy three times during his first stint at the club, admits the memory still stings. “They beat us once; we must make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he added.

The champions sit third in the Premiership, three points adrift of leaders Hearts and two behind Rangers with five matches left. A cup win, O’Neill believes, could lift the whole squad. “Victory would give us fresh energy for the league run-in,” he explained. “Defeat could do the opposite.”

Defensive changes are forced. Liam Scales is suspended, so 19-year-old Dane Murray or academy graduate Benjamin Arthur will join Auston Trusty at centre-half. Anthony Ralston keeps the right-back slot because Alistair Johnston is still short after a hamstring lay-off and Colby Donovan is injured.

Despite the problems, O’Neill wants a reaction. “The boys know what’s at stake,” he said. “We have a chance to fix the December hurt. Let’s take it.”