PLAYING PAST IS MY FUTURE FUEL

McLeish admits not hitting heights as a player is driving him to succeed as coach

- COLIN PATERSON

Craig McLeish insists his experiences as a player will shape his tenure as St Mirren manager.

The former midfielder spent his playing career in Scottish football's lower leagues.

Spells at Dumbarton, Stirling Albion, Montrose and Clyde were followed by a successful two-year stint at Queen’s Park where he won promotion to League One.

The 36-year-old then went on to play for East Kilbride and Albion Rovers before turning his attention fully to coaching.

McLeish recalls with great clarity how life as a player was for him - and the sense that his potential was unfulfilled.

He has no intention of seeing his coaching career go the same way and is determined to give his Buddies everything he longed for.

“The way I want my teams to play and how we go about setting up training is everything that I wished I got as a player,” McLeish said.

“I probably didn’t reach the potential that I feel like I could have as a player.