CELTIC will face a rookie boss when they play St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday April 19.
The Paisley side confirmed today Craig McLeish will remain in interim charge for the remainder of the season.
Former player Stuart Taylor has joined as a stand-in assistant and the club will continue with the remainder of the interim staff, including Allan McManus, Jamie Langfield and Marc Kelly.
Earlier in the week, ex-Dundee boss Tony Docherty knocked back the opportunity to add his experience as a caretaker No.2 to 35-year-old McLeish who took over earlier this month when Stephen Robinson quit for Aberdeen.
PAISLEY DOUBLE-ACT…Craig McLeish and Stuart Taylor will face Celtic at Hampden.
He has only be in control for two games – a home 1-0 loss to Rangers and a 2-1 win at Falkirk – but has been given the nod to stay in position until June.
In a statement on X, the club said: “St Mirren Football Club can today announce that Craig McLeish will continue to lead the club as interim manager until the end of the season.
“Craig, alongside Jamie Langfield, Allan McManus and Marc Kelly, has impressed since taking on the interim position earlier this month and led us to a 2-1 victory away to Falkirk prior to the international break.
“We are pleased to confirm that former St Mirren player Stuart Taylor has joined the club to strengthen the interim group. Stuart will support Craig, Jamie, Allan and Marc as part of our coaching team until the end of the season.”
FINAL INSULT…Wilfried Nancy on the bawl during League Cup Hampden flop.
McLeish added: “We’ve got a lot of big games to look forward to, including the Cup semi-final and I can’t wait to take part in that opportunity.”
Robinson was the Buddies’ gaffer when they beat Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic in the Premier Sports League Cup Final at Hampden in mid-December.
It was the Frenchman’s third consecutive defeat after his shock appointment and he was sacked following three more defeats in a total of eight games in a disastrous 33 days.
Now 74-year-old Martin O’Neill will be in charge when the clubs lock horns again at the national stadium for the right to play either Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline or Falkirk in the showpiece on Saturday May 23.
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