Why are St Mirren putting faith in McLeish?

Is Craig McLeish's "adaptability" the key factor in his retention as St Mirren boss?

The Buddies have opted to stick with the 36-year-old after he guided the club to Premiership safety during his interim tenure in the final months of last season.

After initially implementing a more expansive style, McLeish showed "pragmatism" to alter his tactics, according to Scottish coach and analyst John Walker.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, Walker said: "I think it's very deserved. His average points tally was higher than Stephen Robinson's per game, considering he walked into a team that were very much sliding down the league.

"For him to come in in his first job, he showed a lot of pragmatism which is probably outwith his approach to the game.

"I think he tried to play football, had a couple of good performances then a few bad results and went back to Robinson's style.

"He went back to what suited the players, which is something that's always levied at philosophy coaches, young coaches, that they don't do. They don't look at the squad and go, right, I need to be more pragmatic, I need to be safer.

"He did that. He got the results. And I think that's probably what's earned him the job because anyone that has ever watched a St Mirren youth team since McLeish and Allan McManus have been in charge there, they are a very good footballing side throughout their age groups.

"They play a specific way, 4-3-3, very attacking, possession-based, press high, all really good young footballers.

"So I think his adaptability and handling that pressure is probably what's given Keith Lasley and the board the confidence to be like, why would we change it?"