Alex Gogic reveals St Mirren fan note that helped seal Paisley return after turning down offer from homeland

Alex Gogic admits he was sorely tempted to return home to Cyprus in the summer as he weighed up offers from across Europe.

But after a Nations League trip to Northern Ireland with the Cypriot national team in June he saw the clearest sign yet that he now belongs in Scotland with St Mirren. A Buddies fan stood with a hand-scrawled note urging the midfielder, who had spent the second half of last season on loan from Hibs, to sign on again at Saints.

Two months on and the 28-year-old has done just that after snubbing offers from Romania, Bulgaria and the land of his birth to pen a two-year deal in Paisley. Now the former Hibs and Hamilton Accies ace is desperate to get back to work after missing the first four league games of the season. And he insists a top six finish has to be the target for Stephen Robinson 's side.

Gogic said: “I had offers from clubs in Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria and there was a club in Russia as well. At the end of last season I was open to going abroad and trying something new if it was right.

“But, when I sat down and observed the whole situation, coming back to Scotland was best. Myself and my family really love Scotland and it feels like home to us now.

“The people and the football just keep bringing me back. Here we know what to expect football wise and living wise.

“It also meant a lot that the manager was willing to wait for me to make a decision. And when the fans like you and give you a warm reception then it helps. When I was leaving everyone was like ‘please sign’.

“And when I was with the national team there was a guy in Ireland who had a note that said ‘Alex please sign’. That was great. For sure it is part of the reason I decided to sign on.

“Yes there was a temptation to go back