Steven MacLean: St Johnstone sack manager after poor start to Scottish Premiership season

St Johnstone have sacked manager Steven MacLean following their poor start to the Scottish Premier League season.

The Perth club is at the bottom of the table with only four points from nine games and without a league win.

St Johnstone released a statement saying: “St Johnstone Football Club can announce that it has parted ways with Steven MacLean and Liam Craig.

“In the meantime, Alex Cleland will take responsibility for first-team matters.”

St Johnstone also lost to Stenhousemuir, Stirling Albion and Ayr in the Viaplay Cup earlier this season.

Former Saints striker MacLean, who was first-team coach under former boss Callum Davidson, was scathing after his side’s 4-0 defeat to St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday and warned that some of his players could be playing their last game under him have played.

He said: “The goals we lost are unacceptable. It’s the basics of football. In the second half we just imploded and it looked like a few players threw it away.”

“It’s my responsibility and some of these players will be lucky if they play for me again. It doesn’t happen under my supervision and I may have to play against young boys. I thought it was really bad.”

“You have to show courage in those situations and you need people to lead. I thought we lacked all that.”

St Johnstone play Kilmarnock at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday evening.