New boss McLeish keen to change St Mirren style

Craig McLeish wants to make St Mirren "more exciting" as he embarks on his first season as permanent manager of the Buddies.

The 36 year-old has been given a three-year contract to lead the Paisley club after helping them preserve their Premiership status as interim boss at the end of the last campaign.

Chief operating officer Keith Lasley says the appointment is a "pivot moment" for St Mirren as they put more emphasis on the development of young players and having an efficient player-trading model.

However, McLeish's main focus is implementing a change of style on the pitch.

"First and foremost I want it to be enjoyable to watch," he said.

"I want it to be exciting. We did that in spells during the end of the season. The interim spell is tricky because you're trying to keep a lot of things in place from the previous regime. You can't rip it up and change it all."

McLeish revealed that Lasley broke the good news to him in a late-night phone-call and it fulfils a long-term aspiration he's had to be a manager in his own right, after nine years working in other roles at the club.

"We'll have a really good pre-season and I'm excited about the recruitment. But the best way I think we can go and win games is that change of style.

"Being more exciting. High energy. Attacking constantly. It doesn't matter where we go in the country, we'll be trying to go toe-to-toe with everyone to play our game and try and win every game that we play in."

While McLeish wants his side to play more on the front foot, he says results will be the main priority.

"I've got an ideal way which I'd love to play but that's if you've got the absolute best players in the world," he said.

"We've got to work with what we've got and be pragmatic at times as well, I think I showed that during the interim period.

"I will do thing the way I see best to win games. We'll try to do it with a positive style, on the front foot and be exciting to watch but ultimately I need to be pragmatic and win games."