Murray Davidson hopes to follow team-mates south

IT IS impossible for Murray Davidson not to recall his past when pondering his future. The midfielder admits it looks like he will bring to an end four years with St Johnstone this summer after being “grateful” but “politely” turning down a new contract with the Perth club.

When the 25-year-old considers what might be next for him with “a few” English options on offer, his days in the Livingston youth team with West Brom’s Graham Dorrans and Norwich City’s Robert Snodgrass inevitably come to mind.

“They are probably the best examples, but look at the number of players who have gone down south from Scotland and succeeded,” he said. “There have been so many. There was never any doubting the ability of Snoddy and Dorrans. It was just a case of getting a wee break here and there. The two of them have gone to the Championship and been excellent and now they are in the Premiership. They deserve it and looking at them it’s something any player – including myself – would want to go and do. There is no reason why I can’t.”

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Although any player who shows up well in the Scottish Premier League seems to be reported as a Rangers target these days, genuine attempts were made to take Davidson to Ibrox when the club playing out of that ground were the defending Scottish champions. Circumstances are altogether different for Ally McCoist’s team 21 months on from that rejected bid. Davidson would be mindful of that were Rangers again keen on his services.

“I’m not sure if there is still an interest. You would have to ask the club or my agent,” he said. “But there was one once and if that’s still there I will discuss that when I feel the time is right. As a player I want to go and play at the highest level possible for me. It’s pretty obvious Rangers are not playing at the level I am playing at right now. So I would be dropping down a level. There are seven or eight things you weigh up [when considering a move] and that would be a big factor when I weigh up my options in the summer.”

More immediately, Davidson is weighing up the fact that a point for St Johnstone at home to Dundee United would all but make certain of their place in the top six. “Getting into that and then getting into Europe is how I want to finish the season. Until it is over I won’t get involved [in talks over my future].

“My agent deals with all that. I need to keep my concentration and performances to a level I am happy with because if my mind starts to wander then no one will want me.”