Jack can be the lad who makes Saints winners
Ex-boss Smith praises Ross
St Mirren’s Scottish Cup-winning gaffer insists Saints are in safe hands with Jack Ross at the helm.
Alex Smith, who led the Paisley side to cup glory in 1987, is adamant that the future is bright for the Buddies with the former Falkirk defender in charge.
Smith now holds an advisory position with the Bairns, and having seen Saints before and after the arrival of Ross last season has been left impressed in the turnaround in the side’s fortunes since he took the reins.
And he believes his former club will go from strength to strength next season as Ross puts his stamp on the club.
Smith told Express Sport: “The turnaround that Jack and James managed to pull off at the end of last season was nothing short of superb, and I’m hoping that the recent upsurge at the club is something that they can carry into next season.
“They are two young men making their way in the management game and I have been impressed by the manner in which they have gone about their business going into St Mirren.
“Jack is a young manager who knows what St Mirren are all about, having been there as a player. Keeping them in the league was the first thing he had to achieve and he did very well to do that, but this is an exciting time for the club.
“They have a lot of exciting players, and one thing is for sure, if St Mirren can get off to a good start then the fans will continue to turn out.
“He has every right to be confident going into next season because they have all the pieces in place to have a good campaign.”
Having taken St Mirren to Scottish Cup glory in 87, Smith was afforded less than a year more in the dugout before resigning towards the end of the following season with the Buddies teetering on the edge of relegation.
St Mirren were then on the downward trajectory and would be relegated less than two years later.
The situation echoes that of the one St Mirren are currently facing, playing in Scotland’s second tier less than five years since lifting the League Cup at Hampden Park following a win over Heart of Midlothian.
Smith admits that the comparision is striking, but says Saints need to just stop being content with takng success as it comes.
He added: “St Mirren are a side that have always had a lot of potential, but the ambition needs to be right to take them to the next level.
“That takes time but they need to use the fact that they survived the Championship and grasp the excitement surrounding the club right now and use it in a positive manner.
“I have no doubt that the two of them will do that. St Mirren as a club needs to stop just assuming that success for them comes in cycles. They need to aim for the very top and strive to be the best they can be.”