Sven Sprangler: MacLean departure, talking with fans and the feeling of St Johnstone's first win

Sven Sprangler admits he was in tears after hearing that Steven MacLean had been sacked as manager of St Johnstone.

The Austrian midfielder was brought to the club by MacLean in what he previously - and continues - to describe as a dream come true.

He will forever be grateful to the former Perth boss and Liam Craig, who was also let go, for giving him the chance when nobody else was.

“The week was tough for everyone,” Sprangler told the PA.

“I had a good relationship with him. He is the reason why I am here - and also Liam.

“For me it was very tough and, to be honest, I cried a little bit at home. It affected me a lot.

“They gave me the chance to be here in Scotland. As I said, it was always a dream.

“The dream came true because of them. That was the reason I was so emotional at home.

“My girlfriend helped me a lot in that moment because it was two tough days.

“I wrote to them. I was in touch with them and it is the hard part of football.”

Last Saturday, the day before MacLean and Craig departed, Saints had been defeated 4-0 by St Mirren in Paisley.

At the end of the game, Sprangler walked over to the away end to apologise to supporters and talk through the performance with them.

“I had to do it,” he insisted. “They support us in the bad moments and are always there.

“When I came here they gave me so much love and I want to give it back.

“I want to have a good relationship with the fans because I got a lot of messages from them.

“I am very thankful and grateful for that. It was a positive talk with them after St Mirren.

“They said we need to believe in each other, keep going with a lot of passion.”

Passion was certainly on show from Sprangler after Wednesday night’s first win of the season against Kilmarnock.

He ran the