STEPHEN McGinn is not only a brother to one of Scottish football’s hottest properties but he's also his agent. Well, sort of.
The St Mirren captain is well aware that should younger sibling John move from Hibernian this summer, a third of his fee will make its way back to Paisley where the Scotland man began his career.
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And with Hibs looking for a minimum of £5m for the midfielder, that would be a welcome sum heading into the St Mirren coffers on their return to the Premiership and McGinn, the elder, has not been allowed to forget this matter.
Just in case he has any influence.
“It’s funny, I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with the chairman (Gordon Scott) without him even asking about that,” smiled McGinn "Obviously it would be massive for the club with the figures talked about for John.
"With everything else I put St Mirren first but with this one I put John first. John is really happy at Hibs. Usually with Scottish players outside the Old Firm they have to leave for England or Celtic or Rangers to establish themselves as Scotland international players.
"But John and Hibs have been so good together that he’s now an established Scotland player and playing at the top level in Scotland. In the season just past I thought Scott Brown and John were the two best midfielders in the country.
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“So he’s in a good place just now. He really enjoyed the Scotland tour of Peru and Mexico and he’s ready to go next season with Hibs.”
Should John stay, or sign for Celtic as has been muted, three McGinns will be in the Premiership, Paul has re-joined St Mirren from Partick Thistle, which will make for an interesting watch when they are all on the same pitch.
Not that Mary, mum to these footballers, will be watching.
“My mum just wouldn’t go,” revealed Stephen. “My dad (Stephen) would support Hibs. He’s been a closet Hibee for the last couple of years and I give him a bit of stick about it.
“But my mum doesn’t like the thought of seeing us play against each other. She knows what John and I are like. One of us could end up on the end of a bad one so she doesn’t like watching us play each other.”
John, of course, knows Alan Stubbs, from their time together at Hibs and Stephen is delighted the Englishman is now his manager at the newly named The Simple Digit Arena…if anyone will ever call it that.
“Since my first association with St Mirren, about 15-years ago, I can’t remember an appointment of this kind of calibre,” said McGinn. “When you look back at some of the names, quite a lot of them were gambles or up and coming managers.
“Jack (Ross) was an up and coming manager from Alloa with potential. To have attracted Alan Stubbs shows the good work that’s been going on here over the last 18 months.
“There’s a good feeling about the place.
“From where it was when I joined last January to sitting here now with Alan as the manager, and so much excitement about the place, it’s such changed days.”
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