Striker keen to remain a Saint

AMID ALL the talk of players possibly leaving St Johnstone, striker Rowan Vine has spoken of his desire to extend his stay at McDiarmid Park, writes Eric Nicolson.

Murray Davidson has been linked with a move to Rangers or the English Championship and Liam Craig is being lined up by Hibs.

Vine is hoping that February arrives with both men still in Perth, but from his own point of view he has no desire to move on.

The former QPR frontman is one of several players out of contract in the summer, but he revealed that Saints have an option to add on another 12 months.

Vine explained: “I’ve signed a year, with an option of another year for the club.

“They’ve got up to a certain point to take up that option, so it’s not something I’m thinking about just now. “I’d be happy to stay here. “I’m enjoying it here. I’d been out of the team for the last couple of games before Dundee but I’m back in and I want to stay there.”

As far as his in demand team-mates are concerned, Vine observed: “Obviously it’s not ideal to have people out of contract in the summer when we’re doing pretty well. That means there will be interest.

“We don’t want to be losing anybody, especially players who have been regulars. But I don’t know if you can help that.”

Saints head into the winter break in good fettle, thanks to a derby win over Dundee on Wednesday, albeit an unconvincing one.

Vine believes that result will set them up nicely for the resumption of SPL football after two rest weekends.

He said: “It wasn’t the greatest of games and the performance wasn’t what we wanted, but a win’s a win.

“It was vital for us to get that result going into the break.”

SNS Group. Rowan Vine.