Gary: Onwards and upwards
MacKenzie reckons Saints must aim high
Gary MacKenzie has called on St Mirren to seize the momentum after agreeing to extend his stint in Paisley.
The experienced defender signed a new one-year contract with the Saints yesterday morning following a successful debut season in the black and white stripes’ last campaign.
The former Dundee and MK Dons centre back was a rock at the heart of the Buddies back line.
A series of impre s s i v e performances saw him capture a number of end-of-season awards from the St Mirren support.
But MacKenzie insists he isn’t content in simply beating relegation, and hopes the side can build on their relative success and push themselves up the table this season.
MacKenzie told Express Sport: “When I came in to the club last summer we were obviously thinking about challenging up the top of the table. It doesn’t take me to say that it didn’t work out as planned – but the gaffer has managed to the club back on track.
“The end of the season was brilliant to be a part of and I believe that we should be looking to get promoted next year.
“We need to use the momentum that we managed to create at the end of the season and use it in pre season and the new season. It really is as simple as that. Those last 15 or so games were special and in the grand scheme of things it is a fantastic achievement for the side to stay in the division.
“But now we need to start looking ahead. That won’t be a success next year. We won’t be celebrating just staying in the league.
“We have the players and the talent at this club now to make a big push up the league.
“We have already shown that we are capable of matching the best sides that are in the division and it is now up to us to push on and show what we are capable of.”
A handful of clubs are believed to have shown an interest in MacKenzie with his contract with the side coming to an end at the end of the season.
But having agreed a new contract, MacKenzie insists there was never any danger of him leaving the club once a deal was on the table.
MacKenzie added: “I really enjoyed last year. I love the club and as soon as I spoke to the gaffer about next season I knew I wanted to stay.
“Obviously with the situation that the club found itself in towards the end of last year, any talk of new contracts was pretty much on hold for everyone.
“But it’s exciting to see the manager have his plans in place already and that a good few of the boys are already signed up for next season.
“He had said at the Player of the Year dinner that he wanted to try and keep the majority of this squad together, and it is encouraging that he is managing to do that.”