After barely ten months in command, St Johnstone fired Craig Levein due to a lacklustre start to the season.
The Perth team is wallowing in tenth position in the William Hill Premiership after dropping four of their first five league games. Their lone triumph came on matchday two at Rugby Park, where they defeated 10-man Kilmarnock 3-0.
After a lacklustre 2-0 loss to Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday, Saints have now lost four straight games across all competitions. This is the third time this season that a player has been sent off for the team.
Less than two hours had passed since Levein’s Tuesday afternoon media conference, during which he provided an update on his future intentions but gave no hint as to what would come next.
During the summer, long-time owner Geoff Brown sold the club to American billionaire Adam Webb, who appointed Francis Smith as his new CEO.
Levein, who turns 60 next month, was chosen in November of last year when St Johnstone was three points from the bottom of the league. At the time, Levein was selected by the former owners of the club. With a final-day victory at Motherwell, the former Hearts and Scotland manager ensured that Saints finished above Ross County on goal differential and avoided a relegation play-off. This preserved the team in the top division.
But after a dismal start to the current season, which included a 3-2 loss to League One team Alloa Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup group stages, the new administration has determined that a change is necessary.
“The board of directors can announce that St Johnstone Football Club has parted ways with manager Craig Levein today,” the club said in a statement.
“Craig deserves special recognition from the football team for all of his hard work when he was at McDiarmid Park. In due course, there will be another update.”
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