Marc McAusland: sacking St Mirren boss Danny Lennen was ‘rash’

Marc McAusland believes St Mirren’s woes show the club were too quick to get rid of Danny Lennon.

The Paisley club sacked the newly-appointed Alloa manager last summer, putting his assistant Tommy Craig in his place.

Lennon has spoken of the Saints dropping a level since, and his former defender echoes the verdict.

“Looking at it now, you have to think it could have been a bit rash,” said McAusland.

“At the very least they were a bit quick to sack Danny. There had been a lot of talk so it wasn’t a major surprise, but it was still sad to see him go.

“I got on very well with Danny, both as a person and as a manager.

“As a player, you have to say sorry because the way the boys perform on the pitch impacts on these decisions. I just wish him all the best with his new job.

“Hopefully he can get his career back on the right road, keep Alloa in the Championship and then kick on next season.”

The 26-year-old is at a critical juncture in his own career, too, with his three-year deal due to expire at the end of the season, and no certainly of an extension.

“I’m playing for myself as well as the team right now,” he acknowledged. “There are only seven boys contracted for next season, so it is going to be a totally new team.

“If the offer on the table was right, I would be up for staying but we just need to see what the final games bring.”

Lying ahead for the Saints, barring a miracle, is a seriously tough campaign in the country’s second tier next season.

McAusland said: “I’ve played in the Championship, and it’s a really hard league to get out of. I’m not sure people in the Premiership realise that.

“You don’t get a lot of time on the ball in the Premier, but that’s even more the case down there. Places like Palmerston are tough to go, especially now with the artificial pitch.

“So I would warn that if we do go down, it is nowhere near a foregone conclusion we are going to come straight back up.”