Manager Profile

Alex Wright arrived at Love Street in December 1966 from Partick Thistle, where he was coach. This followed a playing career which saw him spend fourteen seasons at Firhill and a season at East Fife before injury forced him into retirement and his first coaching post at Clyde for season 1964-65.

 He arrived at Saints to take over a struggling and demoralised team languishing near the foot of the first division and he was unable to stop the inevitable relegation.

 The following season, 1967-68, was to be one of Saints greatest seasons, and showed Alex’s managerial skills to the full when, under his guidance, Saints took the second division by storm, and won the title at the first time of asking creating several club records which still remain today!:-

Most league wins-27
Most points(2Pts for win)-62*
Most consecutive victories-16
Fewest defeats-1
Undefeated at home
Best goal differance-+77
Most shut-outs-17

*- This was equalled in 1976-77, but after having played three matches more!

This form was to continue into the following season, when after the first eleven matches, Saints were still undefeated, creating another record of longest undefeated league run with 34 matches. Unfortunately this run was ended and Saints finished in eleventh place in the first division.
Alex remained at Love Street until October 1970, when he was approached by Jock Stein acting for Dunfermline Athletic, and offered the managers job there. Alex was to take up this post, very disappointed that the St.Mirren board made no attempt to retain his services. His legacy to Saints was the introduction of Gordon McQueen, Ian Munro, Jim Blair, Alistair McLeod, Bobby McKean and Archie Knox to the first team.
After leaving Love Street, Alex spent eighteen months at East End Park before moving onto Dumbarton where he remained in the hotseat for eighteen years.

He died on 11/01/00, but his name will live on in the history of St.Mirren Football Club. 

Thanks to Alex Wright’s son, Brian for information supplied.