Hugh Murray admits showing St Mirren manager Danny Lennon that he had something to offer the Buddies makes his impending record appearance for the club all the more pleasing. Murray has played for a total of five managers at St Mirren since Tony Fitzpatrick handed him his debut against the now defunct Airdrieonians in August 1997. Murray will break Fitzpatrick's club record of 458 appearances if he manages to play against Hamilton on Monday. But the milestone did look unlikely to be reached when Lennon told Murray he was free to leave following an offer from Dunfermline in January. Murray refused to go and has since made 14 more appearances to take him level with his former manager's record.
Murray said: "It's funny because Tony Fitzpatrick gave me my debut and unfortunately for him it's going to be his record I'm going to break. But it's important you stay away from major injuries and I've managed to do that. Different managers have come in and I've managed to play in their teams so, from that point of view, it's pleasing I've made those amount of appearances. Dunfermline were interested and I wasn't playing in the team. But as a footballer you have got to show a wee bit of character. I said to the manager I would train hard and try and get back in his team. There was a big chance I would have gone but it just wasn't right for me. Sometimes as a footballer, when you get a knock, it's how you recover from it. I've worked hard and got myself in the team. I've had to try and prove the manager wrong and I've done that. When you get back in the team it's about keeping the jersey and I have managed to do that so far."
Since the offer from the Pars was passed on, Murray's performances have convinced Lennon of his quality and he retains hope of extending his stay at St Mirren Park when his contract expires at the end of the season. Only three first-team players are contracted to stay with St Mirrem beyond the summer and Lennon is waiting until Saints secure their SPL safety before making offers. They can do that on Monday if they beat Accies and Murray hopes that could spell further good news. Murray said: "There are a lot of boys out of contract and I'm in the same boat as them. I would love to be here, whether that happens I don't know."
Lennon has been able to sort the futures of his younger players and this afternoon secured the signature of striker John McShane who has signed a two-year deal with the option of another year after scoring 13 goals on loan with Dumbarton. Under-19s Dominic Kennedy and Adam McHugh have both been offered new deals which will see them join the first-team squad. However, But Graeme Ramage, Ryan Frances, Conor Cassidy, Conor Ramsay, Craeg Little, Joel Kasubandi and Sean Burns will be freed, while Josh Horne left the club this week.