Gus MacPherson joy at securing return to management with Queen of the South

MacPherson said: "I am delighted to be back in the game, delighted to have got the job and impressed with what I have seen so far. When you look at the quality of people out of the game at the moment there is a very high standard of applicant when these opportunities come around."

The Dumfries side only have three signed players at the moment and MacPherson knows that building a squad is a priority. He said: "It is going to be a difficult job but it is not that different from any other manager's before a season starts. We are already trying to bring players to the club and we have to bring more than some clubs. What we have to do is make sure we bring the right type of players to Queens."

MacPherson, will be out to repeat the success he had in his six-and-a-half years in charge at Paisley, where he secured promotion to the SPL in May 2006 and helped his side retain their top flight status for the next four seasons. Saints also reached the Co-operative Insurance Cup final in March 2010 but despite these feats MacPherson was dismissed last summer along with his assistant Andy Millen, who will again be his right-hand man at Palmerston.

Both have signed one-year contracts and MacPherson added: "Andy and I want to put a team on the park that is competitive and can make an impact in the First Division. There is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes to make sure everything is in place for the players when they return. We will be aiming to achieve the objective of training in Glasgow. Most of the players are based in that area and for the moment, it is the right thing to do."

MacPherson is also looking to lift spirits at Palmerston and said: "We need to get the positivity back here. There has been a little bit of negativity but everyone must be focused and pulling in the right direction."