STEWART GILMOUR has claimed that some of the abuse directed at the St Mirren directors and their families has been "horrific" and called on the worst of their detractors to bear in mind that there would be no club to follow without him and his allies.
The chairman of the Paisley side understands the disappointment of fans following the dreadful run of results that has left the team stranded at the foot of the SPFL Premiership, 10 points behind Motherwell, and sliding ever closer to relegation.
Gilmour has also admitted that a clear error was made when the board opted to replace Danny Lennon with his former assistant, Tommy Craig, at the start of the season and found themselves with no option but to remove him from his position in December.
However, he insists the levels of vitriol aimed at those in charge from both the fanbase and the media has gone beyond the pale and has urged the most vehement of the critics to consider the events that saw his consortium take over in 1998 when matches were still being played at a run-down Love Street and debts were high.
Gilmour and his consortium have also had their 52 per cent share in the club up for sale since September 2009 without being able to find a suitable buyer.
"We have put our hands up and said we made a mistake with our appointment of the manager this year," Gilmour told Herald Sport. "It has been a sore one, but some of the stuff has been horrific.
"I am not going into it because it is personal, but people, particularly journalists, have got to remember that the people they are dealing with are human beings and they have got families.
"What they seem to forget is that the club would not have been there if it hadn't been for our guys putting their hand in their pocket.
"It is as simple as that.
"Of course, there is a degree (of criticism) and we do stand or fall by the decisions we make, but some of the stuff printed online and in newspapers is, in my view, way over the top.
"These people should have a wee look at themselves.
"I know that the guys inside my boardroom are hurting.
"I know that they made decisions with the best will in the world and I know how much they have put into the club - not just in terms of finance, but in terms of time and energy without one penny of recompense.
"I think some of the stuff has been a real cheap shot."
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