Former St. Mirren chief Stewart Gilmour says John McGinn's move to Aston Villa has helped save the club.

The Buddies were given a 33 per cent sell-on clause when McGinn left Paisley for Hibernian on a free transfer in the summer of 2015.

That meant St. Mirren received some of the seven-figure sum Aston Villa paid Hibs for McGinn in August 2018.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Gilmour said: "I'm not closely involved with the club anymore but I think we should be able to ride this storm for a couple of months.

"The one advantage St Mirren have at the moment is that they have money in the bank.

"They have taken in £1.9m in transfers over the last few years. Yes they've spent some of it but they must have £500,000 left of it I'd have thought.

"Sadly clubs are going to have to dip into their reserves but needs must.

"I see the SPFL say they have no money to support the clubs but in fairness the league tends to give out every penny they've got.

"St Mirren got to the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and the game was televised, so they will have some money from that. I'd have thought a couple of hundred thousand (pounds).

"It will be tough but I think St Mirren will be okay. The positive thing is that they have got to this point in the season before the virus has struck.

"A lot of the guys will be out of the contract in June and then will come the end of season payment from the league."