TONY FITZPATRICK believes the appointment of the new St Mirren managerial team of Tommy Craig, Jim Goodwin and Gary Teale allows for soem crucial continuity which can help take the Paisley club forward.

The trio were unveiled as the surprise successors to Danny Lennon, who was not offered a new managerial contract on Monday after the Saints' board decided to call time on his four years in charge.

But while Scottish Cup winning Buddies hero Fitzpatrick admits he is still struggling to comprehend why Lennon was snubbed, he can see the positives in the decision to hand the managerial reins to his number two.

Fitzy said: "I think it had become increasingly apparent that the board were not going to give Danny a new deal. Although I am still a bit shocked that they did not, I can see that there are a lot of positives with the new managerial team.

"Danny had done such a great job in bringing kids like John McGinn, Kenny McLean and Jason Naismith through, I just didn't want that to fall away.

"But Tommy Craig has a great relationship with David Longwell, the Head of Youth. They all really value the work he does and the three of [Craig, Teale and Goodwin] them know the club inside out.

"They are all acutely aware who is going out-of-contract with the first team and who they want to stay on."

Despite the fact that new gaffer Craig has spent his career almost completely as a number two, excepting caretaker roles and a five-month spell in charge of Belgian outfit Charleroi, Fitzpatrick reckons the 63-year-old will come into his own as main man.

Fitzpatrick said: "Tommy Craig has a world of experience to draw on and with Gary Teale having his coaching badges under his belt and Jim Goodwin also on that path, I think there is a nice ­combination of experience and youthful drive there.

"But right now the priority will be to get the playing squad sorted out and from that point of view it is a big plus that the new managerial team has been put in place so quickly."