Buddie marvellous: Tony Fitzpatrick was the last St Mirren captain to get his hands on silverware. Pic: ©SNS Group
Tony Fitzpatrick has lauded the “incredible” work of St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson and says he can’t believe the manager is in the firing line from fans’ frustrations. The Buddies, who are second bottom in this season’s Scottish Premier League, will contest their first cup final since 1987 when they face Rangers in Sunday’s Co-operative Insurance Cup final.
Fitzpatrick captained the Scottish Cup winning team of 23 years ago to victory over Dundee United at Hampden and went on to be twice in MacPherson’s position at St Mirren Park, before leaving Paisley for good in 1998.
MacPherson was responsible for restoring the club’s Scottish Premier League status after succeeding John Coughlin in 2003 and now stands on the verge of earning a cup double in his tenure with the Buddies, having won the Challenge Cup in 2005.
Despite all his success, the club’s current league position has angered some of the home support but Fitzpatrick says they have to lay off MacPherson, especially with the cup final being just days away.
"Honestly, I think the criticism has been very unfair,” said Fitzpatrick. "I played for the club but I'm a St Mirren supporter now and what the guy has done is incredible.
"He has taken us out of the First Division and we have stayed in the SPL for a few years, we've been to semi-finals and got to the Challenge Cup final.
"He has also had to sell players to survive and yet we are in the final of major competition, so it's very unfair."
A row over bonus payments to players has been rumbling on behind the scenes in the build-up to the big final, with the St Mirren squad said to be unhappy over the amounts given to them for reaching the Hampden showpiece.
Despite the players’ unhappiness at the situation, Fitzpatrick, who is sympathetic to their complaints, is certain they will not allow it to affect their preparations for the final and says it will be the last thing on their minds when they run out against Rangers.
"I back the St Mirren players," said Fitzpatrick "No disrespect to them but they are on a living wage, while look at the Rangers players, they are on a lot of money.
"The bonuses are so important to the St Mirren players, it means you can take your family on holiday or whatever. So they have every right [to complain] but let's not focus on that.
"The players will not be thinking about that when they run out at Hampden on Sunday. If they win this cup, that will be the last thing on their minds. It will all be about the achievement."
