JACK ROSS is savouring a return to the big time after St Mirren were confirmed as second-tier champions, sparking wild celebrations in Paisley.
He and his players were swamped at the end as hundreds of fans spilled onto the field at the end once the Buddies had secured the point they needed.
And he revealed that the one of the greatest managers of them all, Sir Alex Ferguson, played a role in getting them over the line.
He said: "I was very fortunate to get a phone call on Friday from the greatest manager in the world ever: Alex Ferguson.
“The one thing he stressed was how positive to be with the players and how we approach the game with them.
“Thankfully they went out and produced the result on the back of that.
“He is still very close with Tony Fitzpatrick and I think Tony maybe leant on him.
“It was a very nice surprise for me to get a call from somebody of that stature and with that list of achievements in the game.
“For a young manager starting in the game it was really good because I had already decided how I was going to approach the game and he just reassured me I was going down the right path. So he can take credit for today as well!
“He won a league with St Mirren and then went on to do alright, so no pressure then!”
The Saints fans had hoped for goals and Lewis Morgan, the talisman of the season, had them out of their seats after just six minutes when he was desperately unlucky not to score.
Stephen McGinn played a quick free-kick on the left side and Morgan cut inside to curl a terrific shot that Neil Alexander got the faintest of touches to and it struck the inside of the right post.
The anxiety in the stadium was palpable in the second half with the fans desperate for the relief a goal would bring.
They thought they had it on 67 minutes when McGinn whipped over a great free-kick to find Danny Mullen in space but the ex-Livi striker headed wide.
Then on 78 minutes, Kyle Magennis had a piledriver bravely blocked by Craig Halkett as the supporters willed the ball in.
However, when the final whistle sounded the dark days of 18 months ago when Saints were seven points adrift at the bottom seemed like an eternity ago as hundreds of fans spilled onto the pitch to celebrate.
Ross said: “In the first instance I feel relief because we got the job finished, but then it’s a sense of pride in that group of players and real satisfaction that they will get the plaudits and rewards.
“Winning a championship is really rough and most players don’t do it very often in their careers, so they have achieved something here that will never be taken away from them.
“For what they have given me for so long I’m so happy for them.
“I think it’s well-deserved, the message before the game was that they are the best team and the best squad in this division.
“They have to buy into what we do and it requires them to sacrifice themselves and they have got their rewards for it.
“I know how satisfied and happy they are.
“Recruitment is such a massive part of a manager’s job. It’s so difficult to get right because there are no guarantees.
“People remarked when I took this job that I had inherited a good squad and they have proven that because some of them have gone on to have good careers elsewhere.
“But everything needs to fit with the way I do things and it’s chemistry that’s not always easy to get right.
“However, the ones we added fitted in well and that was key for us.
“We were very clear from day one that this was not a bedding-in period – and it will be the same next season.
“It gave the players ambition and a goal. Some bought into it right away, others joined later and the ones we recruited bought into it, so that was great.
“Hopefully there will be more days like this to come.”
The goalless draw suited Livingston who have enjoyed an equally remarkable campaign and deserve to be lauded for their efforts.
Manager David Hopkin said: “It’s a fantastic point for us that has confirmed our place in the play-offs and that’s a magnificent achievement for a club of our size and our budget.
“St Mirren have won the league, but I think our achievement is better.
“It was always going to be tough for us to come here on an occasion like this but I would like to congratulate Jack Ross and his team.”
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