GUS IS A REAL GOOD FIT Ex-defender hails MacPherson’s return

Gus MacPherson will get behind his desk this morning as he starts his new role as St Mirren’s technical director.

And his appointment has been heralded by one of his former stalwarts, Lee Mair, who has branded his arrival as the “perfect appointment”.

The defender, who won the League Cup with the Saints in 2013, was signed by MacPherson from Aberdeen in 2009 before going on to make over 100 appearances for the Buddies over the next four years.

MacPherson confirmed on Tuesday he’d quit League Two side Queen’s Park to take up the newly-created position at the club he previously served as manager between 2003 and 2010.

He will provide support to new manager Oran Kearney and chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick.

And having seen firsthand the way that his former boss operates, Mair insists that MacPherson’s return can only be positive for the club.

Mair told Express Sport: “Gus knows football. Gus knows the club.

“He will bring that bit of stability that the club definitely needs following a tough few months and the upheaval that they have gone through.

“He will be that steady hand when the club needs it most. There has been so much chopping and changing recently and you can’t breed success with that.

“Gus is a hard worker. He is the first to admit he wasn’t the greatest footballer but he has worked his socks off in every job he has ever been at in an effort to make himself a success – his record speaks for itself.

“I personally believe it is a great appointment, a perfect appointment, and it is a great decision from the board to bring him in.

“It speaks volumes of the work that he done at the club before. He comes in at a great time and he is the perfect man for the new manager to lean on.

“Oran Kearney may not necessarily know Scottish football but Gus knows it inside out and the two of them should work well together.

“It will be interesting to see how the dynamic between them works.”

Mair reckons that having a familiar face back at the club will set Saints up well for the remainder of the season.

And having seen the success that Jack Ross had when he returned for a second spell, Mair has no qualms about MacPherson coming back for another stint.

He said: “Having people who know the club can only help.

“You need people at your football club who live and breath the club, who have a real affinity for the club and want what is best for the club.

“Look at what happened when Jack came back as manager. He also brought guys like Stephen McGinn and Craig Samson back to the club and when you have people like that, who have won cups and come through the ranks, then things are going to turn.

“That brought the success to the club that ultimately saw Jack Ross leave.”

Ross’ departure saw him replaced by Alan Stubbs in the St Mirren hotseat.

His ill-fated spell lasted just 77 days before the axe fell following a poor start to the Premiership campaign.

Mair admits that the arrival of Northern Irish boss Kearney came as a surprise to him, however he praised the board for the bold appointment.

“It was a big decision but credit to the board as it took big guts”, he said.

“They could have went with the safe option and given it to someone like Jim McIntyre and Billy Dodds, who were the bookies’ favourites.

“But they have stuck to their guns and went with who they feel is the right man for the job.

“He has already got off to a good start and I have heard nothing but good things from the guys I know.

“Alongside Gus, things really are looking up for the club.”