Financial demands rule out St Mirren return for Miranda

Argentinean defender Franco Miranda will not be back at St Mirren next season after failing to land a bumper pay increase.

Boss Gus MacPherson said: "In short Franco Miranda won't be coming back to St Mirren.

"We had offered him a contract but initially he was looking for a 75% increase on his previous deal with the club.

"We still don't know how fit Franco is after his injury from last season so that would have had to be checked out first to prove his fitness.

"But, if he proved to be fit, we wanted him to come back to St Mirren but unfortunately we couldn't agree on a financial package to get him here.

"It is really disappointing as I believe he would have been an asset for us.

"Clubs are finding it difficult financially just now and some players don't seem to understand that.

"It is a player's prerogative if they want to see if they can get a better offer elsewhere."

The Saints boss added: "We are still looking to strengthen the squad, which we will continue to do.

"It is an ongoing process but, like the case with Franco, when you make enquiries about players some of them don't seem to realise that the money isn't there which once was.

"Some may believe that they will get that offer that they are holding out for but it certainly can't come from St Mirren because we have to work within our financial restraints."