Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Buddies boss targets return to Scottish top tier
JACK Ross hopes St Mirren’s survival joy can sweep the Paisley outfit to promotion to the Ladbrokes Premiership next term.
The Buddies looked doomed as recently as February after dropping to eight points adrift at the bottom of the Championship table.
But Ross’ decision to dispense with virtually an entire team of players and bring in 10 replacements paid off as they grabbed a point to clinch safety on the final day of the season with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Hibs.
His side appeared in trouble after Grant Holt’s opener but Rory Loy’s equaliser sent the 1,800 Saints supporters who made the journey to Easter Road into delirium.
Now the Buddies boss hopes to ride that wave of optimism into next season.
He said: “I want to emphasise we’re not celebrating finishing seventh in the Championship. As a club we have far grander ambitions than that.
“However, given the circumstances and the way the season panned out, where we found ourselves at the turn of the year, it’s a fantastic achievement by this group of players and everyone associated with this club, supporters included, because they have been absolutely outstanding.
“I’m immensely proud of everyone. The players are the guys who go out on the park, the supporters have stayed loyal to us by continuing to turn out in their numbers.
“We’ve shown how strong we can be when that comes together.
“It’s now about building on this momentum and the feel-good factor around the club and carrying into next season so we can challenge at the right end of the table.
“I hope the fans feel we have given them their club back.”