Ellis delighted to be reunited with McKinnon at Hampden

Former Dundee United caretaker manager Laurie Ellis is delighted to be back in the game as number two to Ray McKinnon at Queen’s Park as he is now developing young talent in the country in two places.

Ellis, who stood in after McKinnon and then Csaba Laszlo lost their jobs at Tannadice, left his position as assistant manager at Queen of the South last May following the sacking of Gary Naysmith.

His spell out of the game ended last week when McKinnon brought him in to help the transformation at Queen’s Park.

Ellis said: “I am delighted to be back in senior football.

“I have been fortunate to be working alongside Keith Wright at a Scottish FA Performance School in Edinburgh since leaving Queens and thankfully I can now combine both jobs.”

“I have enjoyed developing some of Scotland’s best young talent at the Performance School and now I will also be doing that at a club that is famous for giving young players a chance.”

Ellis did not need much persuading to work with McKinnon after the pair combined at both Raith Rovers and United.

“Queen’s Park are a club steeped in history and tradition as well as having very ambitious plans for the future after agreeing to turn professional,” he said.

“Having worked with Ray in the past I was keen to work with him again and it is terrific that we have the opportunity to build something special at Queen’s Park.

“I have missed being involved with a first team on match days so to have that again as well as helping young players towards a good career in football is terrific.”

Ellis made his name with Rovers, making more than 185 league appearances for the Kirkcaldy club, and also had spells with Cowdenbeath and Stirling Albion before moving to Tannadice in 2016.

Laurie Ellis has teamed up with Ray McKinnon at Queen’s Park.