Derek McInnes looks to improve St Johnstone squad
Last updated on .From the section Football
St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes confirmed Peter MacDonald's departure from the club and vowed to do his best to improve his squad this summer.
MacDonald was made captain in the 0-0 draw with St Mirren that closed both clubs' season.
"Peter will move on and we wish him well," said McInnes. "I'm sure he'll be a good player for someone else.
"We'll try and bring quality in in the summer, if we can, within the parameters we've got to work."
McInnes's side and the Paisley Saints had already secured their Scottish Premier League status for next season before their draw and MacDonald was one of several players from both sides making their last appearance for their current club.
"He's been almost 10 years at the club, he's served the club well," McInnes said of striker MacDonald.
"He's had a lot of injuries in that time but when he's been on the pitch, he's done well. He's a fully committed player who has scored goals for us.
"Both teams served up a flat performance and both teams didn't do enough in the last third of the pitch.
"As much as you guard against it and try to put something on the game and try and get that real natural determination and enthusiasm for the game, it just wasn't there.
"There was plenty of effort but it was typical end-of-season of fare. You want to try and get the three points and send your punters home happy but neither team did enough to win the game."
McInnes this week turned down the chance to take up the vacancy at Brentford and is now setting his sights on improving St Johnstone for next season.
"Today probably summed up a lot of our performances this season. We were very organised, difficult to beat, it was another clean sheet, which has been the platform for us getting a lot of results.
"But, at the top end of the pitch, we never did enough. That's not just aimed at the strikers, I need to stress that point.
"We've not had anybody firing on all cylinders at the top end of the pitch, even set plays and midfielders scoring goals, we didn't get anywhere near the level we did last year when we were the fourth highest scorers in the league.
"To finish in the same position (eighth) on the back of those stats is credit to all the other characteristics and qualities the players have shown over the course of the season.
"They've worked extremely hard, they're a great bunch of boys to work with, but we're always striving for better and sometimes to get better you need that bit more quality.
"If there are any players out there who I think can bring something to us within our budget, we'll work very hard to get them."
