GREGG WYLDE, the St Mirren winger, has warned the club's board they cannot afford to make the wrong appointment when choosing their next manager.
This season has turned into a nightmare as both Tommy Craig and then Gary Teale were powerless in stopping the Paisley side end their nine-year spell in the Scottish top flight.
In a statement released by the board of directors on Monday, the St Mirren hierarchy admitted that they had made mistakes in decisions over the last campaign, with many fans still upset that Craig was appointed Danny Lennon's replacement a year ago and prized asset Kenny McLean was sold to Aberdeen in January.
Now the club are exploring different avenues to find their new manager, Wylde has urged the board not to wander down the wrong road.
"It's important we make the right appointment," he said. "We probably need a manager who knows that league [the Championship], maybe someone who has already won it and knows the ins and the outs. That's the board's decision to choose.
"It will be a tough league next season. Rangers or Hibs could be in it and Morton are there already, so there's a derby there. I would have no qualms about playing in that league."
Wylde added: "We don't know when the managerial situation will be resolved. We can only take it one day at a time and there are only two weeks of the season left.
"I think the boys want to know who's in place before contracts are given out, and we need to know who's going and who's staying."
Out of contract this summer, it is understandable the former Rangers man is eager for both his future and that of the new St Mirren manager to be resolved quickly.
"I would be happy to stay - it just depends on what manager comes in," explained Wylde. "If the manager likes me and I'll wait as long as possible, so long as the club picks the right person, whether it's before the end of the season or just after it finishes.
"Some boys might not find out until they're away on their holidays. Last year we found out Tommy Craig had got the job after we finished up."
Looking to today's game with Motherwell, Wylde is keen to give the St Mirren supporters a good send off in their last home game of the season, given they have only witnessed two SPFL Premiership wins all season.
He said: "Our home form hasn't been good enough, so it would be great to sign off with a win in Paisley and show we're still fighting for our places."
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