Season 2011-12

Following the release of so many players at the end of the previous season, Danny Lennon set about rebuilding his squad, claiming that this time he would be looking for quality rather than quantity as he had done last time out.

The quality was certainly found with the arrival of Stephen Thompson from Burnley and Gary Teale from Sheffield Wednesday. Both recent Scottish internationalists with vast experience. Also arriving were Nigel Hasselbaink, Graeme Smith, Dutch full back Jeroen Tesselaar and a return for two former loan players in Paul McGowan and Graham Carey, both on permanent deals.

With the build up progressing smoothly and things looking positive, the preparations were dealt a blow with the resignation of assistant manager Iain Jenkins, for personal reasons. Tommy Craig was brought in as first team coach bringing a massive amount of experience to the club.

As the season progressed, Saints were praised for playing an attractive passing game, but they still found goals hard to come by, despite Steven Thompson scoring 15 times.

Highlights of the season were a draw at Ibrox and a great Christmas Eve win over Rangers at Greenhill Road. Despite losing out in the early rounds of the cup competitions, the league provided much entertainment culminating in an eighth place finish, the highest league position for 22 years.

The major improvement from previous seasons was turning what would have been defeats last season into draws this time round. A fact proved by the creation of a new club record of 16 league draws in the campaign.
If we can only turn these draws into wins next season!

The season ended on an emotional note with the final game in the stripes for Hugh Murray after fifteen seasons in the top team. His final game was at Greenhill Road against Inverness at the start of May. He was given a great and so well deserved ovation by the fans.