St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes has made his second close-season raid across Tayside by capturing Dundee’s top scorer Sean Higgins.
Good technical abilityHiggins, who netted 15 goals in 52 games for the Dark Blues, paid tribute to former manager Barry Smith, who kept Dundee comfortably in the first division despite a 25-point deduction.
He pointed out, “Promotion was never on the cards because of the penalty but the manager and the players came up with an outstanding performance over the course of the season.
“We went unbeaten for months. I’m sure Dundee would have been promoted if it hadn’t been for the points deduction. But they survived and that was the most important thing from the club’s perspective.
“Everyone, from the manager to the fans, pulled together and dug in. Even when boys were going out the door the spirit remained strong.
“The manager united everyone.
“When Leigh Griffiths left for Wolves I was the only recognised first-team striker at Dens and I’d like to think I stepped up to the challenge.”
Higgins may be untested at SPL level, but McInnes believes he has captured a striker ready to make the step up.
He said, “Sean is a player we’ve looked at in the past because he’s got good technical ability.
“We’re going to struggle to bring in strikers with proven SPL quality in them. We’ve got to openly admit that because finances probably won’t allow it.
“We’ll try but we’ll also be looking at players who have been doing well in the first division and who have been scoring goals.
“Sean has been doing just that. He’s a finisher and he had a great second half of the season before he got injured.
“He can play off a main striker as well, which is something we’ve not really had. All our strikers were a bit similar this year. It is always good to have options.
“I think the first division has been a good market for us in the past and hopefully it will be with Sean again.
“We’re giving him the platform to come here and play in the SPL and it’s up to him to take that chance.
“We always do our homework on the type of player we’re getting as well, and he’ll be a good addition to our squad in that respect. That’s important.”
Speculation that Saints are interested in Dundee midfielder Gary Harkins is understood to be wide of the mark. The same applies to ex-Hibs and Falkirk striker Darryl Duffy.
Hot on the heels of midfielder David Robertson swapping Tannadice for McDiarmid Park, the 26-year-old striker has rejected a contract offer from Dens Park to sign a two-year deal with Saints.
As Higgins revealed, becoming a Perth player is like coming back to his football home.
He explained, “I was a kid with Saints, training with the club when I was in fifth and sixth year.
“The managers back then were Sandy Clark and Billy Stark and I played in a youth team with lads like Manny Panther and Mark Ferry.
“Most of the youths were released when the club was relegated from the SPL. I wasn’t offered a contract and I moved on to Ross County.
“It’s taken a while but here I am back with St Johnstone, where it all started for me. I’m really looking forward to getting going at Perth.
“I’m delighted to get a move to an SPL club like St Johnstone. This is a big move for me at an important stage of my career.”
Higgins was a key man for Dundee last season, finding the net regularly before undergoing knee surgery eight weeks ago.
Now he hopes to bring goals to a team which struggled badly up front last season.
He said, “I felt I was doing well but had to have the knee operation so my timing was unfortunate. But I’m fine now and ready for pre-season.
“Everyone wants to play at the highest level. It was a difficult decision for me because I enjoyed my time with Dundee and it was an experience I will never forget.
“But I have been playing far too long in the first division and if I missed out on playing in the SPL it would have been a decision I would come to regret.
“I feel I deserve my chance. I am joining a stable club with a good squad and a highly-rated manager.”
Like previous recruit Robertson, Higginswho yesterday finalised the paperwork on a deal revealed by Courier Sport last weekkept a close eye on Brentford’s attempt to take McInnes south.
He stated, “There are always going to be clubs sniffing about a manager like Derek McInnes. I was speaking to St Johnstone at the time when Brentford came in and had an offer subject to the medical.
“Maybe it was touch and go. But I’m glad he is staying. Everyone can see he is an outstanding manager so if the right club comes with the right offer for St Johnstone, I’m sure he will move on.
“But hopefully not before Saints and myself benefit from what he and Tony Docherty bring to the club.”
Before signing, Higgins sounded out former Saint and Dens Park team-mate Gary Irvine.
“He spoke highly of the club and his time with Saints. I also know Jamie Adams from his loan time at Dundee and as a friend of ex-keeper Euan McLean I met a few of the Perth lads.
“I know all about the rivalry between Perth and Dundee. Hopefully I can win over the fans by scoring goals here.”