Dyer ready to be a No 1 after Clarke schooling

Alex Dyer believes the time is right for him to become a manager in his own right, but is still not sure if he will be given that chance at Kilmarnock.

Steve Clarke’s former No 2 announced earlier this month he would only consider taking over permanently at Rugby Park if he was asked directly by club owner Billy Bowie. So far the call has not come as Killie appear content to wait for the winter break before deciding on Angelo Alessio’s replacement.

But Dyer now says he is ready to make the step up after paying tribute to Clarke, insisting the lessons he has learned since linking up with the Scotland boss have given him the tools he needs.

He said: “Everyone who is in this game wants to be a No 1 at some point. I’m 54 years of age. I’ve been around a long time and this could be my chance. If it’s not then I’ll move on and do what I need to do for the football club or elsewhere.

“Why has it not been right to be a manager before now? Opportunities and maybe confidence in my own abilities.

“I’ve had good schooling throughout all my career but the last two years have been excellent. What I thought I knew, I didn’t know enough.

“Working with the gaffer, Mr Clarke, has been excellent. I knew he was good when I first met him at West Ham and I jumped at the chance to come here to Kilmarnock when he called me.

Cammy Macpherson is confident St Mirren can secure Premiership survival with less stress than last season.

Tenth-placed Saints fought off relegation last season with a tense and dramatic penalty shootout win over Dundee United in the play-off final. Now, the 20-year-old says: “We are probably a better team than last year because we are competing every week.

“There are not any games where we have looked off the pace so I think we have a good chance this season.”