No war at Saints, says Gus

Feb 9 2010 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

BUDDIES gaffer Gus MacPherson yesterday denied claims his Co-operative Insurance Cup Final heroes have had a major bust-up with the club’s board of directors over bonus payments.

MacPherson, above, said a report saying that the St Mirren first team are “at war” with the board was wide of the mark.

The St Mirren manager, who does not want the issue to cloud St Mirren’s preparations for their big games coming up, was keen to point out that it’s business as usual in the dressing room.

He said last night: “The players have had a meeting with the board and the situation was explained to them. But it’s wide of the mark to suggest they are at war with the board.”

MacPherson hit out after it was reported his cup final Buddies were raging with the club’s top brass for offering just £1,000 per man for beating Hearts 1-0 in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final at Fir Park. The report went on to claim that the Buddies were offered £1,600 per man to beat Motherwell in the quarter-final back in October.

It further suggested that tensions have risen because the first team players received more in bonuses for their quarter final win than their semi-final win a week ago.

In the quarter-final Saints beat the Steelmen 3-0.

But in the wake of last week’s 1-0 victory over Hearts, which has put St Mirren into their first League Cup Final for 55 years – and their first major final for 23 years – it’s been suggested a rift exists.

It is understood representatives from the first team met board members as far back as two weeks ago in an attempt to thrash out an agreement.

MacPherson added: “A meeting took place two weeks ago, so this is not something that’s fresh, or suddenly come to light.”

A club spokesman said: “The Board of Directors met a couple of weeks ago with representatives of the players and with the manager.

“At this point the bonuses for the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final and Scottish Cup fifth round matches were discussed. To date the board have had no request for any further meeting.”