Sir Alex Ferguson backs old club St Johnstone

Good luck message to Perth side from 60s striker Fergie. Picture: AP

And the former Manchester United manager is backing his old club St Johnstone against his old sparring partners from his time managing Aberdeen in the 1980s – Dundee United.

St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown has revealed the one- time Perth striker sent a good luck message on the eve of their first Scottish Cup final.

“Sir Alex wrote us a lovely letter saying he’s got a close affinity to the club and that he hopes we win the cup,” said Brown. “He was here as our guest earlier in the season and really enjoyed his day. He was very humble and down-to-earth when he was here.

“It was a lovely touch from him to send us his best wishes and we’re really grateful Sir Alex took the time to do it.”

Nervous Brown added: “I don’t think I’ll enjoy Saturday at all because I didn’t enjoy the semi much.

“When Stevie May scored his second I couldn’t take my eyes off the clock and the time seemed to stop.

“I’m just aware of how much it means to everyone. It’s massive. I know how close we are but the job isn’t nearly done yet.

“It’s weird, but as the chairman you feel responsible. Even though you’re not on the park you still feel it’s down to you.

“After getting through the semi it was a case of relaxing because the monkey was off our back, but quickly it turns into wanting to win the thing.

“We’ve waited so long and it’s history we’re trying to make.

“I think the older players appreciate that because for a lot of them this is the chance. It doesn’t come around too often and they can go down as legends. That’s what it means to them, if they win the cup they’ll go down as the best St Johnstone team of all time. The guys from Willie Ormond’s team still get a great reception at dinners and that’s 40 years on. If this group of players do it, they’ll have that for them in the years to come.”

Sir Alex played for St Johnstone from 1960 to 1964, joining as a teenager from Queen’s Park, and scoring 19 goals in 37 appearances before he moved on to Dunfermline.