ALEX RAE has been officially named as the new St Mirren manager.
The former Rangers midfielder has been among the front runners to land the vacant post ever since Ian Murray handed in his resignation last Saturday following the 1-0 defeat away to Dumbarton.
Several other candidates for the job were also linked, including Billy Stark and current caretaker Alex Miller.
However, 46-year-old Rae has been chosen to be the man to try and get St Mirren out of Ladbrokes Championship trouble.
The Saints are currently four points off the foot of the table in the season that many expected them to be challenging at the other end to secure an immediate return to the Scottish top flight.
It is understood Rae was only interviewed by the St Mirren board this morning to ascertain his suitability for the role.
It didn’t take long for the ex-Dundee manager to impress, with it emerging earlier this afternoon that he had landed the job.
A club statement said: "It has been confirmed this afternoon that St Mirren have appointed Alex Rae as team manager. The new manger has signed a deal that will see him take charge until at least the summer of 2017."
As well as having taking charge at Dens Park, Rae also worked as Paul Ince’s assistant at Notts County and Blackpool. He was also Alex McLeish’s No.2 at Genk.
Speaking about the prospect of becoming the new St Mirren manager yesterday, Rae said: “I haven’t been approached and I haven’t spoken to anyone at St Mirren, but if that changes, of course I would be interested in having a discussion.
“St Mirren are a big club and the infrastructure is there to make it a success. There’s a new stadium and I believe they have a very good training ground.
“Those are a couple of important fundamentals.
“But it’s hard to say anything else, because nobody from the club has spoken to me.”
St Mirren travel to face bottom-placed Alloa tomorrow who will be managed for the first time by Jack Ross.
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