We did a top job at Saints

Gus MacPherson never sought credit when keeping St Mirren in Scotland’s top flight. But he hopes their Championship status today at least makes punters appreciate the job he did during seven years in Paisley. Along with assistant Andy Millen, MacPherson led the Buddies to a First Division and Challenge Cup double in 2006 before keeping them in the top tier. But with the club up for sale and a move away from Love Street, it was a difficult time for MacPherson & Co. to keep the fans happy and the 48-year-old was sacked in 2010. He said: “Looking back we did a fantastic job. When we took over we were ninth in the Championship and managed to stay in the league. In our first full season we finished second. After that the expectation was to win the league and we did. “Then the biggest achievement was staying in the Premiership. It was so tight, so competitive. “Al o t o f c l ubs ’ f ans would probably take that now. Maybe it’s a case of being careful what you wish for. We had to live within our means at St Mirren. Not once did we chap the door asking for money – we worked within the parameters. “We had one major argument with Stewart Gilmour, the chairman, in seven years – it was over the budget being slashed. “But he predicted what was going to happen and within three months I had to apologise – he was 100 per cent correct. “Everyone thinks we had a bad relationship but that wasn’t the case. We still speak now.”