I DIDN’T PUSH TOQUITPERTH
ALI McCANN insists he was not pushing for the St Johnstone exit.
The midfielder made a £1.2million deadline-day move to Preston but is adamant he’d have been happy to stay in Perth if no suitable offer had come in.
McCann, who completed the deal while he was in Belfast on international duty with the Northern Ireland squad, said: “It wasn’t a case of me forcing my way out of St Johnstone.
“I was happy to stay if the offers weren’t there.
“But when Preston came in, I thought it was the ideal opportunity for me to come down here and challenge myself.
“Last season was the stuff of dreams at St Johnstone, you couldn’t have imagined it happening.
“It was brilliant to be a part of. Playing in Europe was a nice way for things to end for me there. We had a couple of great nights with a full house.
“We played Galatasaray and while the away leg wasn’t in their normal stadium, there were still about 10,000 fans in, which was a great experience. McDiarmid Park was packed for the home leg.
“Then we played LASK in the other competition and again we were a bit unfortunate.
“I was buzzing when we got the move over the line but then it was a bit weird because it was going to be another 10 days before I became part of it.
“I knew in 10 days I would be going into a completely different team in a different country, down the road from where all my family was.
“I’ll admit it was all a bit daunting but ever since I walked in here the lads have been brilliant with me and I’ve settled quickly.”