Steven MacLean, a former striker with Hearts and Sheffield Wednesday, has been appointed as the interim manager of Scottish Championship side Queen's Park until the end of the season. His ascension follows the unexpected sacking of Callum Davidson, who left the club despite his recent achievements, including leading the team to its first national cup final in over a century and securing a shocking Scottish Cup victory against Rangers.
The decision to part ways with Davidson came after the team struggled to maintain consistent form, winning only three league matches in the past four months, capped by a 4-0 home loss to Falkirk, which prompted the club to take decisive action. Davidson’s assistant Barry Nicholson was also relieved of his duties shortly after the defeat.
MacLean, stepping into the managerial role, will be supported by B team manager Sean Crighton. His footballing journey began at Rangers, where he made his mark before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored an impressive 20 goals in his debut season, including a memorable hat-trick against Doncaster Rovers. After three years at Wednesday, MacLean played for St Johnstone, winning the Scottish Cup, followed by a stint at Hearts from 2018-2020, and rounding off his playing career at Raith Rovers. Transitioning into coaching, he was appointed at Queen’s Park after previously managing St Johnstone.
In light of his new responsibilities, MacLean expressed mixed feelings regarding the circumstances under which he was given the role. Speaking just ahead of a 2-1 defeat at Greenock Morton on March 22, 2025, he revealed, “I spoke to Callum Davidson and it wasn't a problem. If Callum wasn't happy then I would have gone with him. That's the mark of the man he is. He's not only a good coach and manager; he's a good guy as well. I appreciate everything he's done for me and I'm sure we'll work together in the future hopefully.”
Despite the painful circumstances, MacLean is focused on the task at hand and determined to improve the team’s fortunes. Queen's Park currently sits six points above the relegation play-off place and 12 points behind the top four teams. Recognizing the urgent need for results, MacLean is set to guide the team into their upcoming SPFL Trust Trophy final against Livingston on March 30, 2025.
Reflecting on his interim role, MacLean said, “It's mixed emotions; your friend and colleague has lost his job, then you're asked to take over until the end of the season. But there's a job to do, and you've got to try to do it to the best of your ability. Your thoughts turn more to the weekend and the players, and now I'm looking forward to the game.” His ambition includes nurturing young talent, as he aims to align the team with the club's desire for a specific style of play.
As he gears up for his remaining eight games in charge, MacLean expressed his excitement: “It's been busy and it's back to not seeing as much of the family, but it's been really enjoyable and the staff have been excellent. We know the club wants to play a certain way, and we want to try and bring young players through, so we’ve a young squad. Hopefully, we can start with a positive result and play well. There are eight games left. There's a cup final, too, so I'm really looking forward to what's to come and hopefully we do well.”
With a challenging schedule ahead, including the critical trophy match next Sunday, the pressure is on MacLean to deliver results that might steer Queen's Park away from relegation concerns and towards potential glory in the cup final.
