Mackay and Stubbs top Spiders’ list

MALKY Mackay and Alan Stubbs are the frontrunners for the manager’s job at Queen’s Park. Ray McKinnon is leaving the Spiders just weeks after guiding them to the League Two title. And, in a statement, the club announced plans for a ‘restructuring’ of their operations. Backed by the financial clout of businessman Lord Willie Haughey, ambitious Queen’s recently turned professional and defied the savage impact of coronavirus to go full-time as well as attract former Hibs chief Leeann Dempster as their CEO. Now Scotland’s oldest senior club are aiming high in the search for a new manager. Former Cardiff boss Mackay stepped down from his role as SFA performance director last November after four years in the role. The former Scotland defender started his career at Queen’s Park, with his father Malky senior a former president of the club. Stubbs, meanwhile, is well known to Dempster after the pair worked together at Hibs. The Englishman’s last management role at St Mirren ended after three months in 2018. A statement on the Queen’s Park website confirmed the departure of McKinnon saying: ‘While the decision will surprise many after gaining promotion to League 1 next season, the action had been agreed jointly to allow the club to begin the long-term task of restructuring once the initial aim of promotion had been secured. ‘This will be aimed at delivering a new and innovative model in the Scottish game, rooted in our community and participation for all.’ Meanwhile, the Spiders’ plans to move to an upgraded home at Lesser Hampden have been delayed by building problems. Their League One games are now likely to take place at Hamilton next season.