Shug: Lee capture is Mair like it

Jun 16 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

ST MIRREN stalwart Hugh Murray believes the capture of defender Lee Mair from Aberdeen proves the Buddies are going places.

Murray, 30, is convinced the signing is a statement of intent and reckons Mair will prove to be a great addition to the squad.

The midfield ace said: “Signing Lee Mair shows this club is going in the right direction.

“In all my time with St Mirren, I’ve never known a player from Aberdeen to come to us but it definitely tells you something about where this club’s ambitions lie. It can only be a good thing.”

Murray, right, believes that progress being made off the pitch by the Buddies is also providing a boost to Gus MacPherson as he browses in the transfer market.

St Mirren’s longest-serving player points to the new stadium in Ferguslie Park and the training complex at Allanton playing fields in Ralston as prime examples of the club’s long-term strategy.

Murray said: “When you look at our new stadium and our new training complex that’s on the way, these sort of facilities can only help us get more players such as Lee Mair.

“He’s obviously had a look around and fancied it here and who can blame him because we stayed up, we have another year of SPL football, are playing in a new stadium and have a great training complex to look forward to.”

Murray admits he is relieved that Saints managed to retain their place in the SPL at the end of the 2008/09 season – as the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.

He said: “If we had been relegated last season, signing players like Lee Mair would have been out of the window.

“The aim, first and foremost, is to stay in the SPL and try to build year on year.”