‘Kearney’s the man if we beat drop’

Since Oran has come in things have been brilliant, so it would be good next season to have him in charge from the beginning.

KYLE MAGENNIS

Kyle Magennis can see big potential for St Mirren under boss Oran Kearney but admits staying in the Premiership will be vital if they are to realise it.

The Buddies face a two-legged playoff with Dundee United this week after finishing second bottom of the top-flight table. Kearney was brought in to pick up the pieces following the disastrous appointment of Alan Stubbs last summer.

The Northern Irishman took over in September when they had just three points on the board. But, after performing vital surgery to his squad during the January transfer window, the picture gradually improved.

However, Saints’ season-ending run of six games undefeated was not enough to spare them dropping into the Premiership play-off final and they must now fight for their lives against Dundee United.

But midfield playmaker Magennis has seen enough from his new boss to convince him the Paisley side can have loftier ambitions next term, so long as they can battle their way to safety this week in the play-offs.

The 20-year-old said: “It’s massive we stay in this division. We’ve got a good group of boys and if we can stay up then look to start next season with the same squad, I think we could look to do much better than what we did this season.

“Obviously it was a bit of a shock to the boys at the beginning of the season with Jack Ross leaving and then Alan Stubbs coming in.

“He brought in a good few players but it just didn’t seem to work out.

“Since then Oran has come in and things have been brilliant since then, so I think it would be good next season to have him in charge from the beginning.

“We just have to do our job this week and make sure we’re playing Premiership football and not dropping back down again.”

Meanwhile Gary MacKenzie is set to declare himself fit for the visitors.

The former Dundee defender took a bang to the head against Hamilton and missed the Buddies’ final day win over the Dark Blues as they finished the season in 11th place. But he has returned to training in time to face Robbie Neilson’s side.