Callum Davidson named Queen's Park boss as 'impressed' ex St Johnstone gaffer gushes over Hampden future plans

The Perth Saints legend left McDiarmid Park last season having led the club to Scottish Cup and League Cup glory.

Callum Davidson says he can’t wait to get back down to work after being handed a return to management with Queen’s Park.

Record Sport revealed last week that the former St Johnstone gaffer had emerged as the frontrunner for the Spiders gig. It’s now a done deal after the 47-year-old agreed a contract running until June 2026 with the Championship strugglers. The appointment - which will see his Perth No2 Liam Craig also join him on Glasgow’s Southside - comes nine months after Saint’s cup double-winning boss was sacked following a slump in fortunes at McDiarmid.

But the time out has only served to rejuvenate the St Johnstone legend and he’s now keen to get going again at Lesser Hampden. Davidson said: “I am excited to be joining a club with such an illustrious history. I am impressed with the plans that Queen’s Park have for the future and am looking forward to getting on the training pitch and working with the players.”

Davidson, who was capped 19 times by Scotland, enjoyed a 20-year playing career that started and ended with St Johnstone and included stints at Blackburn, Leicester and Preston in-between. He started his coaching career with Saints under Tommy Wright and stepped up to replace the Northern Irishman in June 2020.

The next 12 months will go down in Perth legend, with his side leaving Scottish football stunned as they lifted both the League Cup and Scottish Cup. That success didn’t last, however, and Davidson only just steered the club away from relegation the following season via the play-offs.

But St Johnstone’s form continued to sag going into the 2022/23 campaign and Davidson was dismissed in April after a woeful run that had seen his side manage just two wins in 16. But Queen’s Park president David Hunter is backing Davidson to have better luck in Glasgow.

Former Spiders boss Robin Veldman was sacked last month, leaving fellow Dutchman Paul Nuijten in temporary command. But the former amateurs remain in big trouble, with only goal difference keeping them above Championship basement boys Arbroath.

Hunter said: “I am delighted to bring someone of Callum’s experience to Queen’s Park. He had a distinguished playing career, won two major trophies as a manager and he is the perfect choice to lead our club going forward.

“I would also like to thank Paul Nuijten and the coaching staff for the job they have carried out with the first team squad in recent weeks. Paul will also assist Callum with the first team squad and both Charley King and Tam O’Ware will return to their important roles at the club.”