Outgoing St Johnstone midfielder Paul Sheerin has backed boss Derek McInnes to keep the club’s fortunes on an upward trajectory.
The 35-year-old, who has not been offered a new contract after six years’ service at McDiarmid Park, was unable to help clinch the draw that would have seen the Perth men finish seventh in their return season to the SPL.
That honour went instead to the visitors.
The result and the fact that his farewell appearance off the bench was just for the dying minutes of the match made it something of an anti-climatic end to his Saints career, but he predicted more good times for the club next season.
He said, “It would have been nice to have finished with a win or a draw so that was a bit disappointing, and it was disappointing as well to not get a longer run-out.
“But if you look back on the season as a whole the boys have done really well.
“When you come up you are always deemed to be one of the favourites to go straight back down, but we never felt like that.
“We’ve proved we are more than capable of holding our own in this league and hopefully the boys will progress next season. I’m sure they will.”
He continued, “The standard has been set by just missing out on sixth and then on seventh.
“No doubt the gaffer will bring in players who will improve the club and new targets will be set.”
Sheerin was honoured by the home fans before kick-off when he was announced as the Saint of the decade, following in the footsteps of John Brogan for the 80s and Roddy Grant the 90s.”That was very special,” he said.
“I’ve been here six years and I live in the city as well so I’ve developed a real affinity for the club and the supporters.
“They might have said differently after my first season here, when I took a bit of stick, but I managed to turn it round.
“It all culminated in promotion last year, which was the highlight of my time.”
A couple of part-time clubs have intimated an interest in taking him on next season, but Sheerin would prefer to stay full-time.Coaching”I’d also like to take the next step into coaching,” he said.
Saturday’s match was settled before Sheerin got on the pitch, but only just.
Hamilton’s winner came on 84 minutes from Australian James Wesolowski, who tucked home a Dougie Imrie cut-back.
A draw would have perhaps been a fairer result as, until this point, it had been the archetypal game of two halves.
It was Accies who bossed the first period and they were worthy of their 2-0 half-time lead, the result of a Mark McLaughlin header on eight minutes and a curled Imrie free-kick on 15.
Saints were as dynamic and determined after the break as they were lethargic and lacklustre before it.
As he has been on many occasions this season, Murray Davidson was the driving force behind the comeback and he headed home a Chris Millar cross on 49 minutes.
Then Kenny Deuchar was brought down in the box by keeper Sean Murdoch with less than 20 minutes left.
Liam Craig’s penalty was saved but he converted the rebound.
At this point, as McInnes observed, “it looked as if there was only going to be one winner.”
He added, “That second half showed what we were all about but we didn’t show it in the first.”
Accies celebrated on the pitch as if they had won the league itself and manager Billy Reid was a proud man.
He said, “I couldn’t ask for any more from these players than they’ve given me.”