Gilmour happy to miss out on big Europa League place

May 27 2009 by Andrew Newport, Paisley Daily Express

ST MIRREN have missed out on a place in the inaugural Europa League after Motherwell claimed Scotland’s Fair Play slot.

The Scottish Football Association yesterday confirmed that Saints’ 22-year wait for European competition will go on as the Steelmen have finished second to Celtic in the Fair Play standings.

The Hoops had already qualified for the Champions League qualifiers, so the slot for the new Europa League – which replaces the UEFA Cup – has been passed on to Mark McGhee’s side.

But, having narrowly avoided the drop from the SPL by just two goals this season, St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour, above, revealed he is actually PLEASED that the Paisley club has missed out on a taste of Europe as top flight survival will remain the number one priority for the 2009/10 campaign.

Motherwell will be plunged back into action just FIVE WEEKS after finishing their SPL fixtures against Kilmarnock last Saturday.

McGhee’s men will line up for the Europa League’s first qualifying round on July 2.

And that date would have been just a bit too early for Gilmour’s liking.

He said: “I was hoping that it wouldn’t be us who qualified. The Europa League starts on July 2 and that’s just too early.

“It’s already too long a season for players and, with this competition, we’d have had to bring the squad back into work in about a week to start pre-season.

“The timing of it just does not suit Scottish teams. I don’t think St Mirren being involved at that stage of the competition would be to the club’s overall advantage.”

St Mirren last qualified for Europe after beating Dundee United in the 1987 Scottish Cup final, earning them a place in the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.

Along with Motherwell, Scotland will also be represented in Europe next term by Rangers and Celtic in the Champions League and by Hearts, Aberdeen and Falkirk in the Europa League.