Mind your own business

Kearney tells critics his squad are only focused on Accies showdown

St Mirren manager Oran Kearney has shot down suggestions that his players have been affected by criticism coming their way.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton blasted the Buddies prior to kick-off against the Glasgow side on Friday night, singling out Stephen McGinn, Adam Eckersley and Jamie Langfield for flak.

The Paisley side are believed to have written to BT Sport and Sutton requesting an apology for his comments in the wake of sacking former boss Alan Stubbs.

Several other pundits have also had a pop at the side, claiming that a revolt from the playing staff ultimately led to Stubbs’ dismissal.

But Kearney reckons that it has had no effect on his charges as they turn their attention to Saturday’s Premiership match-up at Hamilton Accies.

He said: “It is probably unfair for me to comment in any way shape or form – and that is the same for a lot of people.

“Unless you are there or unless a part of it then the information is coming from a secondary source.

“All I can do at this moment in time is deal with how I’ve found the players and staff and to a man, at this moment in time, I have no complaints whatsoever.

“It is no distraction whatsoever. We are not here to deal with things that happen in the press – we are here to win football matches.

“The only focus has been getting ready for tomorrow.”

Kearney was joined on the training ground by new technical director Gus MacPherson yesterday morning as the pair put the team through their paces.

MacPherson returned to the club eight years after his previous stint as manager to provide support to the Northern Irishman Kearney.

And the Saints gaffer revealed that MacPherson’s primary role will be to help with recruitment ahead of the January transfer window.

He said: “It’s great to have Gus on board. I touched on this when I arrived that with me coming from Northern Ireland and having so much homework to do to start to understand teams and players, I was going to need good ears and eyes who know Scottish football well.

“The likes of Brian Rice, Allan McManus and now Gus will be vital from that point of view.

“They will save me hours of work in relation to what they know about teams, players and how we go up against them.

“It was Gus’s first morning on the pitch on Thursday and he fitted in seamlessly. He’s a real good guy.

“His role will evolve through time and probably a big part of that will be recruitment.”