St Johnstone caretaker Alec Cleland expects lot of interest in vacant manager’s job after Steven MacLean’s departure

Alex Cleland is confident the St Johnstone job will be attractive to a range of highly regarded candidates as he holds the fort on an interim basis.

Livingston boss David Martindale and former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson are the two early frontrunners to succeed Steven MacLean, who was sacked on Saturday after his 4-0 defeat to St Mirren.

Saints are five points behind at the foot of the Scottish Premiership, having won none of their opening nine league games.

Despite their struggles this season and in each of their last two campaigns since winning a historic cup double in 2021, Cleland – who has been with the Perth club for more than a decade – believes no one should be discouraged from taking charge at McDiarmid Park.

“It’s a good club to come and work for,” he says. “We have been playing in the top flight for years, we have won cups, we have been to Europe, we have had players who have come through the youth ranks and moved on to bigger clubs.

“It’s still a good club to go to, even though we’re in the position we’re in. There’s still plenty of games to go.

“Whether it’s a British manager or a foreign manager, there are plenty of good managers who want this job.

“I am sure that after MacLean’s resignation was announced, the chairman’s phone would have been buzzing with applicants for the job. It is a good job for a manager to do, despite the position we are in. “

Cleland – who is unlikely to be considered for the role on a permanent basis – is busy boosting the Saints squad for Wednesday’s match at home to Kilmarnock, having lost 4-4 in MacLean’s final game against St Mirren on Saturday. suffered 0 defeats. attack.

Assistant Liam Craig was also relieved of his position and Cleland hopes that his two old colleagues can return to work soon.

“We are all absolutely devastated by the loss of two members of staff in Steven and Liam,” he said. “For what they have done for the club as coaches and as players, I think the fans really respect that and hold them in high regard, as do the players.

“I spoke to Steven (Sunday) and he said, ‘Come back to me anytime if I need advice’ and I’ll go back to him if I need to.

“I said: ‘Don’t let this disappointment hinder you in any way’. I know he is a good coach. He is a young manager and in your first managerial role things don’t always go as smoothly as you would like.”

“We have to remember that he kept us informed last season with the results he achieved (as interim). That was a tough task. That’s a big measure of Steven’s career as a manager, so I just hope that it doesn’t bother him.” I’m sure that won’t be the case because he has great character.”

Captain Liam Gordon, who played alongside MacLean and Craig, said: “They are two good men who have lost their jobs so we are disappointed as players because we played a big part in letting them down.

“We have to look ourselves in the mirror, as individuals and as a group, in terms of what we can do better. They are two guys I played with growing up and I also had them as coaches, so I” good relations with them.

“It’s terrible to see. It’s not just your colleagues or your bosses or your coaches, it’s also your friends who have lost their jobs and they have families. It’s not fun at all. It’s not easy, but it’s supposed to be and a bit of football.”