Gus MacPherson warns St Mirren fans that small steps are needed

Jun 22 2008 By Mark Guidi

ST MIRREN may have a shiny new stadium this season but Buddies' boss Gus MacPherson has warned the fans to expect the same old Paisley pattern on the park.

MacPherson took the Buds into the SPL in 2006 and has battled on a shoestring budget to cement their top-flight status ever since.

And while the 39-year-old doesn't expect his side to be setting the heather on fire this season he insists progress is being made. And Gus has now established the club as a credible force in the SPL.

MacPherson, now the second-longest serving boss in the league after Killie's Jim Jefferies, said: "Realism must be our watchword. We can't afford to get carried away.

"It would be wrong to set impossible targets. If we suddenly jump to third or fourth in the league we would find that hard to sustain.

"After two years in the SPL if we can get to mid-table that would be perfect. That's not lacking ambition - that's being realistic.

"A club like St Mirren has to advance by taking small steps. It can't be huge jumps. That's not the way it works at a club of our size.

"The fortunate thing is that our fans and directors realise this.

"We can't forget it wasn't that long ago we were so heavily in debt there almost wasn't a St Mirren.

"So we must keep things in perspective. And I reckon we will do that this season.

"I'll soon be five years in charge and I'd like to think there has been a solid gradual progression here."

The Buddies will quit Love Street for their new stadium in January and there will be a new-look team on show as well.

David van Zanten, Marc Corcoran, Stewart Kean and Ian Maxwell have all left while Jack Ross, Dennis Wyness, Tom Brighton and Stevie Robb have been signed.

MacPherson is pleased with the transactions and said: "The key to our signings is that the players must be versatile.

"We can't afford to bring in guys with only one position in mind.

"But then they have to come here and prove they are up to it. I think they will and I have high hopes."