Dorman won't go on cheap

Aug 10 2008 By Mark Guidi

GUS MacPHERSON knows St Mirren talisman Andy Dorman will become a signing target for bigger clubs but has warned it could take millions to land him.

The midfielder has forged an impressive reputation since arriving from New England Revolution in January with his style and scoring ability.

Big English outfits have taken note of the 26-year-old who is contracted to Love Street until 2010.

But as Buddies boss MacPherson prepared for today's league curtain raiser at champions Celtic he vowed to demand top dollar for his prize asset.

Gus said: "This is our third season in the top division and it doesn't get any easier.

"Now we have been in the SPL for a couple of years there's a level of expectation that it should be easy for us to stay up. It's not as simple as that.

"Lots of hard work goes into it and a large slice of luck is also involved.

"But we've some good players and I believe they can do well this season.

"Dorman is one I have high hopes for. I'd never heard of him when I was tipped off and had to call a few of my contacts.

"Some said buy him while others thought the SPL wouldn't suit him.

"I'm now glad I got Andy. It was a gamble but all signings are.

"Andy has been good for us and if he keeps progressing a few clubs will be chasing him.

"That's the downside of having players doing consistently well. But I'd want top dollar for Andy.

"Whether that would be £500,000, £1million or £1.5m you don't know.

"We would need to wait and see. We are now pretty much an established SPL club and the cash Hibs have received for players in recent years is the benchmark for the rest of us."

The record transfer fee received by St Mirren was £850,000 for Ian Ferguson from Rangers in 1988.

MacPherson may well expect to top that for Dorman considering Hibs sold Scott Brown to Celtic for £4.4m and Steven Whittaker and Kevin Thomson to Rangers for almost £2m each.

Brown will play for the Hoops today and despite the financial gulf between the clubs and the fact star man Dorman (below) will miss the game through injury, Gus reckons his side can pull off a shock.

He said: "We know it will be difficult but we are not scared.

"Yes, they have Hesselink, Hartley, McDonald, Robson, Brown and McGeady.

That's plenty of talent.

"But we drew there last season and were unlucky to lose at home to them.

"We know we can cause them plenty of problems providing we rise to the occasion and get a bit of luck."