NEW Preston Athletic manager Stevie McLeish feels that his new side have got “a more mature coach and manager”.
The 52-year-old took charge of the county side for the first time on Saturday and helped guide them to three valuable points at Whitehill Welfare, who are managed by former Preston boss Jack Lynch.
Now, he is looking forward to becoming a regular in the dugout once again, having last managed Penicuik Athletic in February 2023.
He said: “I think it is like a comfy pair of shoes; my happy place.
“I felt very comfortable on Saturday afternoon being in the changing room and being ready to go and manage.
“Being in the game over the years, I have got a bit more composed about it.
“I am a little bit cooler and try to make things a bit more pragmatic on occasions; rather than just reacting, I try to play things a bit better.
“Preston have got a more mature coach and manager, who is going to try to bring the best out of the players with the experience I have got and to help the boys become better.”
McLeish follows in the footsteps of Paul Currie and John Daly, who stepped away from the Pennypit at the end of last month.
The East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) First Division side had set ambitions of battling it out for promotion this season.
However, they found themselves in the relegation zone with just one win from their opening five league contests.
Their successor is no stranger to East Lothian, though, having managed Haddington Athletic, Musselburgh Athletic and Tranent in the past.
He was also previously involved at Dunbar United and joked that Ormiston Primrose was now the only county side he had not coached or managed.
It has been about a year-and-a-half since McLeish left Montgomery Park but the teacher at Edinburgh’s Gracemount High School has not been twiddling his thumbs.
McLeish, who worked alongside former Finland international striker Mixu Paatelainen at Cowdenbeath and Hibernian, said: “I have been out of the game for 18 months but been working with Bonnyrigg Rose.
“I have watched hundreds of games at all different levels.
“It was just finding the right opportunity and right conditions to give it a go.
“Preston are a club with a really hard-working committee.
“They are community focused and not just existing but thriving.”
Kieran Jack scored the only goal at Ferguson Park on Saturday to get the new manager off to the best possible start.
Attention now turns to the South Challenge Cup, with Preston facing a trip south to face Vale of Leithen.
The Borders club sit third bottom in the Second Division – the tier below their visitors.
Unveiling their new manager, the club took to social media and said: “We are thrilled to announce the exciting news that Stevie McLeish has agreed to join Preston Athletic FC.
“We are delighted to welcome Stevie to the club.
“Stevie joins us with a wealth of experience, having been involved with a number of high-calibre clubs over the years.”
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