St Mirren have appointed Craig McLeish as their new permanent boss after guiding the club to Scottish Premiership survival. McLeish, 36, took interim charge in March following Stephen Robinson's move to Aberdeen. He won three of his nine league matches in charge but was unable to prevent the Buddies finishing second bottom. However, they beat Partick Thistle in the play-off final to secure their place in the top flight for another season. McLeish has signed a deal until the summer of 2029 and will be assisted by Stuart Taylor. He will also be supported by head of goalkeeping Jamie Langfield, who will take on the added role of set-piece coach. In a statement, the club said McLeish was the 'outstanding candidate' for the job following a thorough, data-driven recruitment process. On his appointment, McLeish said: 'I want to thank the board for giving me this opportunity and I'm ready to grasp it. I'm delighted that my vision aligned with the club's, and they feel I'm the best person to take us forward.' McLeish has been at the club for eight years and has a deep understanding of the players and the fans. He plans to develop the club's young players and give them more opportunities. He also wants to put a product on the pitch that the fans can be proud of and develop good relationships with the fans. St Mirren Chief Operating Officer Keith Lasley added: 'It was always the plan to get to the end of the season, have a short period of reflection on what had taken place in that period and also conclude the thorough process that was already running in the background. That's what we've taken the time to do. Ultimately, we feel as a football club, that Craig very much aligns with the club's real ambition and needs moving forward.'