Owen Coyle has quit as Queen's Park boss, just days after their play-off bid for promotion ended.
Coyle, 56, joined the club in March last year and steered them through the Championship play-off against his old club Airdrie, as a Simon Murray penalty clinched promotion.
The Spiders led the Championship for much of this season but were pipped to the title by Dundee, who won 5-3 in a dramatic final day showdown.
That dropped Queen's Park down to the play-off quarter-final, where they were soundly beaten by Partick Thistle over two legs, and Jags now go on to play Ayr United this week for the right to play the Premiership's 11th-placed team.
A statement issued by Queen's Park this afternoon said: "Owen Coyle today announced that he has decided to step down from his role as head coach of Championship side Queen’s Park FC.
"His decision follows the club’s strong season in the championship.
He said: "It’s with a heavy heart that I inform everyone that I will be leaving Queen’s Park. I informed the club of my wish to leave after what has been an outstanding last 12 months, winning promotion to the Championship, when nobody gave us a chance of doing so, and then coming so close to winning the league and reaching the SPFL playing exciting and entertaining football.
"I would like to thank my first team staff and everyone that helped make it an enjoyable year. Queen’s Park is a wonderful club with an amazing set of supporters who I want to personally thank. I wish the club continued success on its journey."
Chief executive Leanne Dempster said: "Although disappointing, we respect Owen’s decision and wish him well for the future, and we thank him for his efforts over the last twelve months.
“We now begin the task of finding a new head coach to help us in our aims of being the best club to develop talented young players and achieving success on the pitch.”
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