Buddies are bidding for centre-half

Jun 30 2009 by Andrew Newport, Paisley Daily Express

SAINTS are in the market for another centre-half before the start of the new season.

Buddies boss Gus MacPherson has already recruited Lee Mair from Aberdeen this summer but defenders Will Haining and Marc McAusland have both left the club.

Haining was told he was not being offered a new deal, while youngster McAusland has quit Saints to join First Division outfit Queen of the South.

That leaves Mair and club skipper John Potter as favourites for starting roles at the heart of the defence.

But the Buddies are keen to dip into the transfer market again to make sure they have greater competition for places in that area of the team.

St Mirren general manager Brian Caldwell confirmed: “We are looking to strengthen the squad.”

Queens have snapped-up 20-year-old McAusland on a two-year deal after he struggled to break into the first team at St Mirren Park.

McAusland, whose dad Bryan is a Saints director, made just six appearances for the Buddies last term.

And, although the Paisley club were happy to keep him on their books, he decided to make the move to Dumfries as he seeks first-team football.

“Naturally, I was sorry to leave St Mirren but I had to consider my future,” said McAusland, who graduated through the club’s youth set-up.

“I want to play football but, apart from a few appearances on the bench, I never quite managed to break through, so I felt the time was right to move on.

“My father’s actually a director at St Mirren but I had his full backing and he’s says he’ll be there to see me play as often as he can.

“I know the First Division is a tight league and Queens have a decent squad, so there’s going to be quite a lot of competition for places.

“However, I’ll give it my best shot and do my utmost to get a regular first team place.

“I won’t be a stranger in the camp for I know Stewart Kean and Ludovic Roy, who were both at St Mirren, and also Bob Harris, who was in the Scotland Under-21 squad with me.”