Gus gets the go-ahead in new role for Paisley side
GUS MacPherson was yesterday confirmed as St Mirren’s first ever technical director more than eight years after he left the post as manager with the Paisley club.
This is the third role for the 49-year-old at St Mirren having joined in 2003 as player/assistant manager before taking over the top job following the departure of John Coughlin.
He led the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2006.
Gordon Scott, the St Mirren chairman, admitted that losing Jack Ross to Sunderland in the summer had been a bigger blow than first anticipated and had the technical director role in mind before the sacking of Alan Stubbs after just seven weeks to be replaced this month by Oran Kearney.
The addition of MacPherson, whose four-and-a-half -year stint with Queen’s Park made him Scottish football’s fourth longest serving manager, looks a solid move for St Mirren.
Scott said: “Over the past few months we have learned lessons regarding the structure we have in place and decided that we want to have someone within the football department who will be a constant presence going forward. The board have a vision of how they want the club to develop. At present we have a plan but not the man power to define and execute it.
“Gus is someone I worked with closely when I was on the board previously and he has the experience and knowledge we are looking for in the newly created role.
“Gus, in his role of technical director, will support both Tony Fitzpatrick and Oran Kearney in whatever manner they require for the club to progress and evolve.”
Queen’s Park paid a warm tribute to MacPherson, where he won a promotion to League Once. The Glasgow club said: “For the past four and a half years Gus has served the club well and we would like to offer our sincere thanks and wish him well in his new endeavours.”
The Hampden club’s general manager Christine Wright said: “I am sure that everyone involved at Queen’s Park would agree that Gus has been a very valued person to have at our club for the past few years.
“He is steeped in football and we hope that he has enjoyed being at Queen’s Park as much as Queen’s Park have enjoyed him being here.
“We enjoyed a promotion and some famous Cup wins during his time here and we wish him well at St Mirren.”
The latest era at St Mirren began well with a deserved home draw with Celtic last Friday giving Kearney an almost perfect start to his time in Paisley.
The Irishman has impressed both directors and players since arriving from part-time Coleraine in the Irish league.
“Oran has been a breath of fresh air around the place since he arrived and I sense positivity beginning to grow around the club again,” said Scott in a message to the supporters.
“It’s been a very difficult start to the season, and difficult decisions had to be made, but my fellow directors and I will never shirk away from our responsibilities.
“You can trust that every decision we make will always be taken with the best interests of the club at heart.”