It has been a recipe for success at St Johnstone when a former player is appointed manager at the club.

Owen Coyle, Derek McInnes and Callum Davidson the recent examples of players-turned-managers at McDiarmid Park. In Tommy Wright there is another connection as he stepped up from assistant to Steve Lomas to take on the role.

Now, Steven MacLean could be the latest man to follow a proven method in Perth having guided St Johnstone to Scottish Premiership safety in his four-match stint in the dugout. 

It's certainly an appointment club captain Liam Gordon would support - as would the rest of the playing squad – even if he admitted it’s a decision well above his station. 

“That’s outwith my control, we will see what happens,” he said of the possibility of MacLean being appointed on a permanent basis. “But I can tell you right now that every single player in that dressing room is 100 percent behind Macca and his ways and ideas. 

“You can see our recent managers have all had the connections internally. It’s a thing the club has always kind of done. 

“It’s a good recipe for success because people know what the club is about and what’s expected. I’d be delighted if that was the case with Macca. 

“But on the flip side, I don’t want to forget what the previous manager done. 

“We had a lot of good times under Callum [Davidson] - this season as well - so it’s a special mention for him.”

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Former manager Davidson was first onto the phone to send his congratulations to MacLean and Gordon after the crucial win.

And Gordon was pleased to achieve safety for his previous manager as he admitted the pain he felt after his dismissal from McDiarmid Park. 

He explained: “It was the same for me after the Dundee United game for myself. 

“He was away over in sunny Barcelona, I think having a couple of red wines. 

“One of the first texts I received was from him saying ‘well done’. I think that shows you the type of man that he is. 

“Listen, to me personally it will still hurt, what happened to him. Being a fan, what he gave to the club was amazing. 

“He’s one of the best ever servants if you look at the money generated from him leaving as a young player, coming back to having all the success. 

“That will always stay with me. But obviously the reaction we’ve shown since that’s happened, it shows that I kind of wanted to do it for him as well. 

“Macca received a text from him, I did too. What a great man.” 

Meanwhile, Lewis Mayo urged his Kilmarnock team-mates to ensure the club remains in the top flight without the need for a relegation play-off.

Derek McInnes’ side sit one point ahead of Ross County and three in front of Dundee United.  

“It’s crunch time now, it’s time to stand up and be counted,” said Mayo two huge matches against the teams below them in the basement battle. “The chances will run out but equally the two teams below us, they are below us. We are in the strongest position going into this.

“It is our job to be professional and go there with confidence and a clear focus to take three points. 

 “It’s in our hands with us being in pole position with two games to go.

“That’s the mentality we need to have, we have got two games to go to keep Kilmarnock where we want them to be. 

“I don’t think there is anyone in that dressing room that doesn’t understand the importance of it or how much it means to people in Kilmarnock.

“We feel that any time we are around the fans; we feel it at the home stadium and with the away support.

“The loss to St Johnstone was disappointing but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort. Everyone in there is fully focussed and is going to give everything in these last two games.”