Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Rae falls out with Buddies
A new addition to the betting markets in recent years has been the sack race.
In other words, a chance to put a few quid on the manager you think will be first out the door.
The list offered at the start of a campaign is usually extensive and features bosses at all levels in the SPFL.
Alex Rae was a 12/1 shot with McBookie.com and punters who fancied a bit of that might have treated themselves to a Sunday night pint as news of his departure from Greenhill Road was confirmed.
A short statement made it crystal clear that the Buddies board had wielded the axe – there was no pretending that a decision was reached by ‘mutual consent’.
Just six games into the Championship season and St Mirren are already changing course. Harsh? Not really. Your correspondent watched as the Buddies made hard work of getting past Albion Rovers in the IRN-BRU Cup at the beginning of this month.
A 4-3 win was recorded but only after extra-time was needed. Had Rovers been able to defend, they would have caused a shock and Rae might have been sent packing sooner.
Three draws and three defeats from six outings was enough for the fairly new chairman Gordon Scott.
St Mirren are in danger of being marooned in the Championship and, if they don’t get it together, face a battle to avoid the drop into League One.
The most concerning aspect of St Mirren’s current plight for me is that they aren’t even quoted when it comes to going through the runners and riders for the Championship title.
Neil Lennon’s Hibernian are rightly installed as the favourites with Dundee United expected to push them all the way.
After that, last season’s Premiership play-off losers Falkirk are fancied with St Mirren among a pack of teams including Raith Rovers who are seen as outside bets.
The Buddies have only been out of the top-flight for 16 months but how far they have fallen.
Rae was recruited to replace Ian Murray nine months ago with Saints in deep trouble.
He was just what the club needed and safety was secured.
In the summer, he recruited well, on paper. But things just haven’t worked out.
In 32 games, he won as many as he lost (13) and posted six draws.
The relationship with the fans was breaking down, had it not already done so, and pressure was mounting ahead of the 1-1 draw with Dumbarton on Saturday at The Rock.
A win there might have bought some more time but a parting of the ways at some point appeared to be inevitable.
That St Mirren are on the hunt for a fifth boss in less than three years says a lot about the decisions which have been taken at boardroom level since Danny Lennon’s contract was allowed to expire.
Whoever checks into the dugout will find that expectations are high while time to do the job is in short supply.