Bring home the cash brother

McGinn eyes sale of John

Stephen McGinn admits St Mirren would love the cash windfall that would come with the sale of brother John this summer.

But the Buddies skipper insists he isn’t holding his breath with the Hibs midfielder loving his football in the capital.

Although conceding that Saints would reap the rewards of any potential transfer, McGinn says family comes first.

St Mirren yesterday announced a cash boost after they agreed a fouryear deal to rename their stadium The Simple Digital Arena.

Chairman Gordon Scott beamed as he announced the six- figure contract with the local firm but McGinn joked that the Saints supremo is itching to see John move on from the Hibees.

He laughed: “I’ve never had a conversation with our chairman without him mentioning my brother.

“Obviously it would be massive for the club with the figures talked about for John. With everything else I put St Mirren first but with this one I put John first.

“John is really happy at Hibs. Usually with Scottish players outside the Old Firm they have to leave for England or Celtic or Rangers to establish themselves as Scotland international players.

“But John and Hibs have been so good together that he’s now an established Scotland player and playing at the top level in Scotland.

“In the season just past I thought Scott Brown and John were the two best midfielders in the country. So he’s in a good place just now.

“He really enjoyed the Scotland tour of Peru and Mexico and he’s ready to go next season with Hibs.”

The family affair doesn’t stop there, with McGinn picking the brains of his younger brother following the arrival of Alan Stubbs as Buddies boss.

It was Stubbs who took John to Hibs in the first place, and McGinn believes it is a real signal of intent from the board to persuade the Englishman to take the reins in Paisley.

He said: “Since my association with St Mirren, about 15 years ago, I can’t remember an appointment of this kind of calibre.

“When you look back at some of the names quite a lot of them were gambles or up and coming managers. Jack was an up and coming manager from Alloa with potential.

“To have attracted Alan Stubbs shows the good work that’s been going on here over the last 18 months. There’s a good feeling about the place.

“From where it was when I joined last January to sitting here now with Alan Stubbs as the manager, and so much excitement about the place, it’s such changed days.”