ALAN Stubbs has a new job as St Mirren manager but never one to pull his punches, he admits to a catastrophic error in his old one at Hibernian when he left just 10 days after winning the Scottish Cup in 2016.
He now realises he was far too hasty, with Rotherham the wrong destination and the wrong people, he says.
Stubbs’ assumption that life in the dugout was destined to be an upward trajectory was punctured within four months when he was sacked after 14 games and one win at Rotherham.
The former Celtic and Everton defender has analysed his failures and, as he embarks on life as St Mirren boss, he is adamant there will be no repeat of past errors.
“I’ve had 20 months to reflect on things,’ Stubbs said. “I remember one quote from Brendan [Rodgers] who was asked what advice he would give to young managers and it was: ‘don’t be in a rush’. When I look back, that was me. I was in a rush.
“When you have a taste of success early, you think it is just going to be an upward spiral and I didn’t think enough about the move. I jumped in too quickly, I didn’t do enough due diligence about it. I am surprised at myself that I didn’t, but I didn’t.
“I am not saying the people at Rotherham were bad people.
They were just different to
what I had worked with at Hibs. Different to [chief executive] Leeann Dempster and [director of football] George Craig.
“When you don’t have, that it makes you appreciate what you had.
“Sometimes adversity can make you a better and stronger person and I certainly think that this time around I won’t make the same mistakes. I can’t make the same mistakes again.
“I have had four offers and two interviews so it is not as if I have been twiddling my thumbs. I have been wanting to get back in but, as a result of my last experience, I have said no. Speaking to the people at St Mirren they seem good people who are going to be very supportive.”
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