ST JOHNSTONE manager Owen Coyle yesterday aimed to end to speculation linking him with other clubs by extending his contract to May 2010.

The Perth supremo, dubbed “Mr Motivator” by the club’s chairman Geoff Brown, was “absolutely thrilled.”

Coyle said yesterday he is happy to stay at McDiarmid Park.

He told Courier Sport, “When the opportunity came to extend my contract by another year I was delighted to do so.

“It’s always nice to be talked about in connection with other clubs, but I have always said my focus is on St Johnstone and this should put this to bed.”

He continued, “Everyone knows the feelings I have for this club. When I came in I said the aim was to keep progressing.

“I think we have done that over the last two years but it’s important to continue this.”

Coyle described reaching the semi-finals of the two main cups last season as “relative success” and is desperate to secure the First Division title come next April.

“In situations like we faced at Hamilton you have to bounce back,” he said.

“You either feel sorry for yourself and go on a downward spiral, or you get out of bed in the morning and get ready to do something positive about it.

“We still have two or three players to come in and we are trying to identify the right ones to enhance what we already have.”

Coyle admitted the club will miss the scoring exploits of striker Jason Scotland, but he feels more credence should be given to former Dundee forward Steven Milne.

“Sure we will miss Jason but people forget that Steven scored 27 goals in two half-seasons— he’s effectively missed a whole season,” he said.

“I feel we have brought a couple of exciting players in and we want them to play within the structure here.”

He believes last season’s heartache could prove to be a foundation to build on.

“The players should have a great belief after last season, as I think the style of football we played against good sides is very positive,” he went on.

“It’s not often that Celtic fans are shouting for the final whistle.

“It would be very easy to sit back after that but the players here are very resilient and want to do their best for the club.

“We don’t have the best players in the world but when they cross that line on a Saturday, rest assured they will give their best effort.

“The supporters recognise that and it’s important that we give them that. We had big followings at the cup runs last season but it took the fans a while to see what we were doing.

“Players are representatives of the fans, and supporters appreciate it when they are giving their best. We want to win games in an entertaining style and bring the fans back—and I think we are doing that.

“It will be an ultra-competitive league this season but one we look forward to.”

Coyle, who celebrates his 41st birthday tomorrow, replaced John Connolly in 2005 after a successful playing career that saw him turn out for clubs on both sides of the border.

They included Dumbarton, Airdrie, Bolton, Dundee United, Motherwell, Dunfermline and Falkirk.

He also spoke of his “a tremendous relationship” with Geoff Brown and managing director Stewart Duff.

GEOFF BROWN said the St Johnstone board are supportive of Coyle and said he has done “exceptionally” well.

“The problem was going back to being successful,” he said. “We were on a bit of downward period but Owen has created a sparkle that people enjoy.

“Every successful business has to have enthusiasm and football clubs are a business. People should enjoy being there.

“Last season was as good as it gets apart from getting the medics to help me at Hamilton! We played at a high level against SPL sides.

“It was good the way the team responded, which was also shown by the fans.”

Brown acknowledged finances will play a major role in this season’s race for the title, making it even more competitive.

But he still feels Saints will be flying the First Division flag at the end of it all.

“I don’t think I would be sitting here with this man (Coyle) if I was not optimistic about us getting back to the SPL,” he said.

“We are always asked, ‘Do you want to get back?’ But that’s a lot of nonsense.

“In any sport you want to play at the highest level. There’s nothing better than pitting yourselves against the top teams in Scotland.

“There’s not the excess money that was once floating around and there’s no money at all in the lower leagues from the media and that makes it very tough.

“That’s why it will be very difficult this year. There are teams in this league that really have to make it in financial terms.

“You have the likes of Dunfermline who had players on large contracts and the same thing happened to Dundee when they went down. But both those clubs can pull in spectators to assist with their income.

“It will be an extremely tough league but this can lead to better games.”

St Johnstone fans planning to travel to tomorrow’s friendly at Arbroath are advised to leave enough time as the annual Arbroath Seafront Spectacular is taking place.

Kick-off is at 3pm, with admission £6 for adults and £3 for children and OAPs.

* Saints were last night being linked with a fresh move for Hamilton forward Richard Offiong.