Former Saints boss John Coughlin has claimed it was his idea to stay on at the club and save money by not sacking him. Coughlin stood down yesterday and his non coaching role has still to be decided.

Coughlin said: "I kind of instigated it myself and I certainly feel better than I did on Saturday! My job has still to be defined but I will do anything to help St Mirren and I have offered my services to Gus MacPherson and wished him all the best. If the fans could only see what goes on dayto-day and realise what is involved. I have been working 13 seasons in football now and the last three years have been without a holiday.

"I had athree-day cruise as a surprise birthday present in Maybut I wasback in at my desk the day after I got back. I must admit I went into yesterday's board meeting expecting to come out unemployed, so I was surprised and very happy the way that it has all worked out.''

These comments seem to have a totally different tone to the ones he made to The Scottish Sun yesterday which Mirren Mad covered earlier today.

Story source: The Daily Record