Published: Thursday, 14th February, 2008 09:00
McLeish quits Tranent for mate Mixu's Hibs
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TRANENT JUNIORS were left stunned after Saturday’s match at Livingston when manager Stevie McLeish announced that he was leaving the club to take up a coaching post with SPL side Hibernian.
McLeish, who had been with the Foresters Park side for just over a year, will work full-time under Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen.
He was part of Paatelainen’s backroom staff during the Finn’s successful spell managing Scottish Second Division side Cowdenbeath FC, before Paatelainen took the reins at TPS Turku in his homeland.
McLeish had previously turned down an offer to join Hibs two weeks ago, but the improved terms offered were too good to pass up.
It is also understood that Paatelainen had tried to tempt McLeish to Finland during his spell there.
Tranent chairman, Elliot Morgan, paid tribute to the work that McLeish had done at Foresters Park.
He said: “We are obviously disappointed that Stevie is leaving us.
“He did a superb job with no money and brought in some really good players.
“I think that he will use his expertise in the area of sports science in his coaching work with Hibs. He has a sports science degree.
“We understand why he is leaving and he definitely goes with our best wishes.”
Morgan confirmed that the Tranent committee had wasted no time in replacing McLeish with his assistant Davie Lees, on the ex-manager’s recommendation.
“Stevie brought him in at the start of the season and he has done a good job along with the other assistant manager Stuart Brown,” he said.
New manager Lees was delighted to be taking over.
“I would like to thank Stevie for all the work he has done at the club,” he said.
“He has left a good crop of young players and we will try to make sure that they get better.
“I am looking forward to working with Stuart Brown. Our approach for the rest of the season will be more about evolution than revolution.”
In a week of change at Foresters Park, the club has aquired the services of local physiotherapist Kerry Lauder.
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