Radford

Given template used, Saints will be at home to Ayr and Stirling Albion, away to Alloa and Stenhousemuir. Two of our last three attempts at the group stage have been shambolic, including defeats to Montrose, Forfar, Annan and Queen of the South. Yet the lowest moment was the final game of last year against Ayr. We scored after a minute then as we approached final quarter, Callum Davidson clearly wasn't aware that scoring again put us in a position to qualify. Amateur hour.

I remember trying to look for a pattern there but it seems random. Don't even think the blank matchday followed a pattern, so they really could be in any order. TV maybe have a say as well.

We played a friendly at Recreation Park at some point but haven't played competitively there since we shared a league in 2002/03. Before that it was a Skol Cup tie in 1992. Played Stenhousemuir in this competition in consecutive years either side of getting promoted and before that, it was THAT game in 1995. A couple of visits there to play Falkirk but can't remember any friendlies.

Each group has a specific template. Group A is the top seed playing teams in slots three and five away. So trips to Alloa and Stenhousemuir. Just like the eighties.

You arent going to pick Saints up on the cheap but then you are buying a club capable of generating money and with no debt to service. There might not be the riches of the Premier League but Scotland has five European spots at the moment and the potential that brings. There is no point in the Brown family selling to someone that doesn't plan to take the club forward. The "nice local businessman" mob can do one with their parochial lack of ambition. We are a Premiership club and should be looking to kick on from that, rather than treading water or accepting going backwards.

Future of Parish obviously unclear as well. Presumably not released but playing contract, coaching or both? I'll be very disappointed if we lose Kane but not fussed about Brown or Hallberg.

I really hope so. We'll see who signs a new contract then the quantity and type of signings though. This will be Davidson's legacy.

Saints will pay the price this summer for the chronic mismanagement of money by the previous manager and whoever signed off on his lavish spending, as well as an abject performance on the pitch. And only time will tell what the motivation was behind the appointment of Steven MacLean.

Not that he ever tweeted anything but unfollowed him about a fornight ago as couldn't take the spamming. You'd have thought someone might have told him he'd been hacked. But then maybe they sent an email...

Arthur joined The Football Club in 1998 and The Football Club had great success during his time at The Football Club.

Building a new team and squad shouldn't involve bringing a 31-year-old that left us for Southend United back.

Players not mentioned are Kane, Brown, Hallberg and Parish? Latter is obviously in a slightly different situation but interesting with Hallberg when assumption had been he'd go. For me, Hallberg staying blocks off pathway for Cammy Ballantyne. I wouldn't be too upset if he moves on. James Brown would never have been near 30 appearances in a good Saints side, the sort of team we should be striving to be again. If he signs on again, he can't be playing that many games next season. Obviously sad to see Wotherspoon go and Davidson and O'Halloran in different circumstances but with decisions made, eyes look forward. What brilliant memories the three of them have created for us though, some of the best.

Can someone please send Cammy MacPherson home with a football for his holidays so he can practice taking set plays if he.is to remain on them next season. Chronic.

Hopefully by the middle to end of the week we'll have a much reduced and streamlined squad and an idea of how many players are likely to be coming in. Not that it might mean much considering Davidson said last summer he wanted between four and six and ended up signing a dozen. In about 7 years time someone will open a cupboard at McDiarmid and find William Sandford has been locked in there since about last November.

Thinking I saw him losing a 50/50 with Stevie May's wee one.

Was told earlier in week we wouldn't see Bair again after seeing him training on his own on Tuesday whilst rest of squad were on main pitch. Wish him no ill but glad all parties have stopped wasting their time. Make mistakes in recruitment and you have to pay the price, literally. Others should be shown the door as well so we don't go into a new season with unwanted players hanging around the place.

With the decision made, my backing is now fully behind Steven MacLean and I look forward to seeing how he can mould his squad (with more emphasis on youth) and hopefully deliver exciting and winning football. Positives in the appointment have been highlighted above, he knows the squad and hopefully what is required and will be well aware of why the support turned on a double-winning manager. He isn't here to just keep things ticking over, as has been the case with the last four appointments. I also take the point he knows and understands the club and that is good but equally, ambition is never a bad thing. Give me a manager that wants to move up the ladder over one that sees this as some sort of pinnacle. Especially when they are a young manager. I hope the security of the long-term deal allows and encourages him to build and give young players a chance. If there is progression and optimism then league positions don't matter much as long as they aren't the bottom two ones. He will make mistakes as a rookie boss (and we've seen that already) but there will be patience I'm sure as long as he shows he is learning from them. Hopefully he can sit down with the media early next week before any holiday and set out some plans and visions to send everyone away for the summer with optimism and an urge to get those season tickets renewed.

St Johnstone 5-2 Livingston. Moon, Sheerin (2) and Milne (2) for Saints, Griffiths and some guy called Davidson for the Lions.

Hopefully starting from scratch in pre-season will give David Wotherspoon a chance to catch up again. He has to be worth a one-year deal for everything he's given the club.

The most mental thing was that prompted a change and I enjoyed the way we played in the two Rangers games. I thought the penny had finally dropped. But like the scorpion, he just couldn't change his nature and drowned himself by reverting to his (not) preferred system. Touched on it in match thread but I've not been convinced that MacLean isn't just the continuity candidate and surely nobody wants more of what we've had for 18 months. Sadly not sure anyone at the club cares enough to undertake a proper recruitment process.

First time in a while we've been in the stadium for a game with nothing riding on it for Saints. But it was still disappointing to throw away a comfortable advantage. Felt it was a game we were in complete control of and playing some decent stuff but we defended really poorly for the bulk of the second half against what was simple football from County. Whether it was standards or ability, that is a concern. Continuity won't cut it and I remain to be convinced that isn't primarily what Steven MacLean offers.

Of course though, these clubs may have zero interest in doing deals with us if we vote to relegate them in a fornight by supporting this Old Firm led Conference League. Has anyone emailed Saints or even the steering group about this?

Went to get tickets this morning. Situation seems to be that I can now buy them up there and get one free. Obviously hasn't been communicated that well and no idea what the score is if you've already bought them. Half expecting County to tell me they aren't dealing with away sales... Chance for Steven MacLean to show what he's about.

Hallberg is possibly a step up from guys like Simon Lappin and Gary McDonald but what we achieve next season isn't going to based on whether we still have him or not. If him going will provide more opportunities for Ferguson, Kucheriavyi and now it seems again Ballantyne then I'm comfortable.

For the 14th time in a row, if you want to be accurate. No David Dickinson to help you out on Wednesday must be a blow.