Alex Miller joins St Mirren as assistant manager

ALEX Miller has been appointed a coaching role at St Mirren, the side he previously managed, after the exit of assistant manager Mark Spalding.

Miller will return to the club where he spent three years as manager in the mid 1980s. Picture: SNS

Miller, who spent three years managing the Buddies before a decade long tenure in charge of current Championship rivals Hibernian, is returning to aid first team manager Ian Murray.

The ex-Rangers and Morton player is credited with moulding the side that would go on to win the 1987 Scottish Cup Final, and managing them in the memorable drubbing of Slavia Prague 3-0 in 1985.

Miller said of his new position: “I agreed to come and help St Mirren as they gave me my first opportunity to manage in the Premier League, also to assist Ian Murray who is a young manager making his way in the game, I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

With a wealth of managerial experience of almost three decades behind him, having managed in China, Japan, Sweden, and Russia, Murray looks forward to working alongside the 66-year-old. He commented: “I am very happy to have someone of Alex’s knowledge and experience beside me and this will give myself and the squad a huge lift.”

Having garnered only ten points from 12 league games so far this season, Mark Spalding left the club on Monday by mutual consent.

An announcement by the club commenting on the decision stated: “On reflection of Saturday’s defeat at Falkirk it was felt that some changes were required going forward and after discussions it was agreed with Mark that he would step down from his role at the club in order for such changes to be made.”

“The club wish to thank Mark for putting the club and manager, Ian Murray first in this instance and for his hard work on and off the field during his time at the club and wish him well in the future”.