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RAB DOUGLAS: Callum Davidson’s St Johnstone legacy will never be tainted and Steven MacLean can prove he’s the man to replace him

The Courier columnist assesses the St Johnstone managerial landscape and predicts a Dunfermline play-off challenge in the Championship next season under James McPake.

Callum Davidson and Steven MacLean.
Callum Davidson and Steven MacLean. Image: SNS.

I’ve got a lot of time for Callum Davidson.

Having met him at the very start of his career when he trained at Meadowbank, he’s always been one of the good guys in our game.

He’ll have been hurting last week and at the weekend after his time as St Johnstone manager came to an end but if ever there’s someone who can hold their head up high after doing an amazing job, it’s Callum.

We all know that the cup double is a special, special achievement which will never be repeated.

The Browns have also done a great job running St Johnstone and sometimes a fresh voice is needed.

Callum Davidson walks away at full-time on Saturday. Image: SNS.

Although Steven MacLean has been on the coaching staff, that doesn’t mean he can’t be that man.

Just look at Barry Robson.

There’s a big difference between being an assistant and the boss.

Steven came in to train at Dens before he signed for Saints and he’s another guy I’ve got a lot of time for.

We’ll always have a chat when we play a closed-doors game up in Perth.

Being a manager takes a certain type of mentality and presence and Steven ticks those boxes.

Hopefully it works out for him when Saints play Hibs on Saturday and he shows he’s the man to get the job permanently.


I sent a message to James McPake to congratulate him on winning the League One title.

It’s not a division a club of Dunfermline’s size should ever find themselves in but it can be a hard one to get out of, as Falkirk have found out.

To be 13 points ahead with a game in hand when they crossed the line is more emphatic than anyone would have predicted.

There are some clubs who you know have the potential to go on a roll.

Dunfermline are definitely in that category.

They’ve got the infrastructure, the fanbase and the nucleus of a squad to set their sights higher than just establishing themselves back in the second tier.

Dunfermline manager James McPake celebrates the title win. Image: SNS.

Whoever wins the Championship this season will do it with one of the lowest totals in recent times.

The gap between a side which has won League One by a distance and the top half of the table teams in the league above won’t be as big as some people might think.

And you can be sure Dunfermline will strengthen in the summer.

It wouldn’t be a shock at all if this time next year they’re in the play-off places.


It’s shaping up to be a huge day at Gayfield.

We’ve put ourselves into a position where staying in the Championship and finishing out of the play-off place with three games left to play is in our own hands.

That’s always the aim at the start of the season and it was certainly the aim at Christmas when everybody was writing us off.

You can be assured we won’t be getting caught up in possible permutations involving Hamilton, though.

We’re just focused on beating Cove Rangers, who need a win themselves.

I’m sure we’ll have a big and noisy Arbroath support behind us.

Them sticking by the team has been a huge part of our improvement.

Let’s hope we’ll have something to celebrate soon but it’s certainly not job done yet.

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