A POIGNANT moment occurred in a suite inside St Mirren Park this week when the club's new manager met the ultimate legend.

Just as Ian Murray finished his conversation with the press, Tony Fitzpatrick, as beloved a son as any of Paisley's football team, almost literally bumped into him, shook hands and wished the younger man good luck.

Murray, appointed St Mirren manager after the end of last season, may not know exactly just what Fitzpatrick means to the club he has just joined, although the pictures around the walls of him holding the Scottish Cup aloft and of his two terms as manager should offer a hint.

A blessing from the 59-year-old is what anyone at that club should be looking for, particularly such a young manager who has something of a job in front of him to get St Mirren back into the Scottish Premiership. For what it's worth, he got it.

Fitzpatrick said: "I haven’t really come across Ian before but I watched him as a player and really admired him as a footballer.

"He had a lot of skill but he was a very tough player as well. He’ll bring that to St Mirren, too.

"He did great at Dumbarton. With the resources he had to keep them up was a miracle. He’s got a name in the game and he’s an intelligent guy so I’m delighted we’ve got him."

Fitzpatrick has a feeling team he still calls "us and "we" have a chance of getting back up at the first time of asking.

He said: "Expectations at St Mirren are always high. If we get in the play-offs, I still believe Rangers need time to gel. Hibs are established, they’ll be a real threat.

"I was delighted Steven Thompson signed a new contract. It’s important these guys stay around because we’ve got very good young players, as good as any in the country.

"But you need your experienced players. I’m excited about the new season."

Excitement was in short supply last time out along with goals and points. The decision to appoint Tommy Craig as manager was never going to work and to the surprise of just about everyone did not.

So they find themselves out of the top tier and up against Rangers, Hibernian, Falkirk and Queen of the South for that one automatic promotion place.

Fitzpatrick said: "I was absolutely gutted to go down because St Mirren aren’t just a Premier League club, we’re a top six team.

"When I see teams like Dundee, St Johnstone, Inverness, no disrespect, but St Mirren’s potential is way above that.

"But we are where we are. I've got a good feeling about the new manager. He’s the right type of guy to take us forward."

St Mirren's future is far from certain. A buyer has still to come forward and until that is sorted the club give off the impression of treading water at best.

Fitzpatrick would like this issue resolved and quickly because he does feel that until it is, his team are going to struggle.

He said: "I put a lot of that (the uncertainty) down to our bad season last year.

"There has been so much speculation over the last few years. People say it doesn’t affect the dressing room but it does affect the dressing room. Players read papers, listen to the news.

"I definitely think it got to a lot of the players last year. Even to a certain extent the management team too because you never know how long you'll be in the job for.

"Hopefully we've made the right sort of appointment with Ian here. It’s about looking forward and I've got a good feeling. I think we’ll do well."