He’s staying put

May 22 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

WANTED man Gary Irvine has turned his back on more lucrative offers from England to sample SPL football with St Johnstone.

Hard on the heels of snapping-up Dave MacKay and Murray Davidson from Livingston in a £50,000 deal, Saints manager Derek McInnes yesterday confirmed his prized right-back had agreed a new 12-month contract to stay with the First Division champions.

The news will delight Perth fans fearing he was shipping out this summer.

But after returning from an extended end of season sunshine break in Magaluf with Perth teammates, Irvine (24) said: “I’m delighted to have agreed terms and now I can look forward to next season.

“The bottom line is that I always wanted to stay here. While there was nothing concrete, there were others teams interested but I have loved my time here.”

After spending nine years with Celtic, Irvine is relishing the prospect of a return to Parkhead for first team football.

He will be pitting his wits against old friends, including Stephen McManus, Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney.

The lure of continuing to progress under the tutelage of manager McInnes was another key factor in Irvine’s decision to stay.

He said: “I have loved working with the gaffer and Tony Docherty.

Along with Danny McGrain at Celtic and Kenny McDowall, who is now at Rangers, they have been big influences on my career.

“I have been involved in pretty much every game since the manager took over. Hopefully that will continue in the SPL.

“I could probably have got more money down south. You read about the big wages on offer in England. But the next level is testing myself against better quality players in the SPL.

“I have gone from being a fringe player at Celtic to a regular in a team which won the First Division championship. I have served my apprenticeship at Celtic and now with Saints. The SPL will top it off.

It is the perfect stage for me to develop.

“I know I have to prove myself at that level. That was another factor.

It is a new challenge. I will have to up my game again. But it is ideal at this stage of my career.

“It will be great going to venues like Parkhead, Ibrox and Tynecastle.

I had a few reserve games for Celtic at the stadium so that trip will be one to look forward to. It’s just the size of the pitch which worries me!

“But it will be great going up against some of the lads I grew up with at Celtic. There are still a few of them around.”

Irvine revealed he’d forged enduring bonds with former Scotland international McGrain.

“We are both right backs and Danny was always there for me when he was the reserve coach. I got a reserve team player of the year award one year and that was down to Danny and Kenny’s influence.”

Irvine, who emulated skipper Kevin Rutkiewicz by signing an extension, was being linked with interest from Swindon and a handful of Championship teams have been monitoring him.

Manager Derek McInnes observed: “There was interest in Gary from England but we have been talking for weeks now. I had made it clear I wanted him to stay.

“But we had a job to do and Gary concentrated on helping win the title.”

“He played at a standard week after week and if anything his game was improving. I’m sure he can maintain that form in the SPL and a lot of people will stand up and take notice. I’m just happy we have secured his services for another season.

“Gary is comfortable on the ball and athletic. Like many Rangers and Celtic full-backs he wasn’t tested too much defensively but now he has et standards for himself and he has been very consistent.”

FORMER Saints manager Owen Coyle is just 90 minutes from the Premiership. The Burnley manager can cap a remarkable season if he leads the Turf Moor side to victory against Sheffield United in Monday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley.