CALUM MACDONALD malcolm.macdonald@theherald.co.uk WENDY Alexander is being hailed the saviour of St Mirren football club after she was revealed as the backroom broker who helped the club strike a multi-million pound property deal with Tesco.
Tesco has agreed a £15m purchase of the Love Street stadium in Paisley and yesterday the club unveiled plans for its stadium in Ferguslie Park in the town.
The agreement was finalised on Tuesday after Renfrewshire Council gave planning consent for the new site.
St Mirren's chairman Stewart Gilmour said yesterday the deal had saved the club.
The windfall will allow £2m of debt to be paid off, he said, and creation of a Premier League-standard stadium in Greenhill Road.
Work on the new 8000-capacity stadium is expected to start this summer before opening in time for the 2008/09 season.
Mr Gilmour added: "We would like to thank everyone who has supported us in this long, long journey. Particular mention has to be made of Wendy Alexander and Hugh Henry who have been a great help guiding us through the planning and political process of getting permission for the supermarket at Love Street and the new stadium."
Tesco was unable to say when the supermarket at Love Street would be built.
Ms Alexander, a Scottish parliamentary candidate for Paisley North, said: "Securing a brand-new stadium is a major boost for St Mirren.
"A new superstore will aid the continuing regeneration of the area and provide local people with first-class shopping facilities."
Hugh Henry, a Scottish parliamentary candidate for Paisley South, added: "St Mirren is a community club and its survival is important to Paisley and Renfrewshire.
"I am delighted I have been able to help find a solution which will benefit the club and the local community."
Ms Alexander was also responsible for brokering a deal under which Tesco will rebuild Linwood town centre.
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