Dougie foots the bill!

Jan 30 2012 Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

SAINTS striker Dougie Imrie revealed how he’ll be looking for a holiday from former team-mate Jonny Hayes following Saturday’s 0-0 SPL draw with Inverness Caley Thistle.

The pair met up for dinner prior to Saturday’s match – and it was unfortunate Buddie Imrie who ended up paying the bill.

But following Saturday’s 0-0 draw at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Hayes was again linked with a move to Old Firm giants Celtic.

And Imrie joked how he’s expecting a free holiday from the Caley wide man – if he does make the move to the place the Celtic fans call ‘Paradise’.

Imrie said: “I went for dinner with him on Tuesday and he made me pay!

“He can definitely play at a higher level. He came up to the SPL and he’s shown what a fantastic player he is.

“I’m sure that if he keeps doing what he’s doing then whatever will be, will be, for him.

“His performances in the SPL over the last couple of seasons prove that he can play at a higher level.

“It would be a massive loss for Inverness if they lost Jonny but you lose players you replace them and if Jonny goes, then Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas will find a replacement.

“But if he gets a move there, then I’ll be hoping he can take me on holiday!”

Imrie reflected on Saturday’s stalemate and said he couldn’t grumble with the final result.

He said: “Obviously we’d have liked to have come here and get three points but it wasn’t to be.

“But it was a good team performance and I thought it was an entertaining game.

“I thought a draw was probably a fair result in the end.

“I thought the lads were excellent because Inverness is a hard place to play.

“They have been on a great run, so it’s good to come here and put in that type of performance against them.”

Imrie was up against it throughout the game and was involved in a fascinating individual contest with Caley left-back Kenny Gillet.

But he got no change out of the Jags defender and he was kept at bay from a goal-scoring point of view.

Imrie said: “It was a good contest and Kenny’s a good player.

“I thought he played well.

“We had plenty of chances to win it. Inverness did hit the post but we had a couple of good opportunities to score ourselves.”

Imrie made his second straightstart in a St Mirren jersey since his move from Hamilton Accies and is loving life back in Scottish football’s top flight.

He said: “It’s always good to be playing in the SPL. Iit’s where everyone wants to be and I’m no different.

“I’m just thoroughly enjoying being with St Mirren.

“It’s a lot quicker in the First Division , it’s 100 miles an hour. In the SPL you get more time on the ball to do things.

“But from my point of view, hopefully at St Mirren we can push ourselves back into that top six.”