St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin has told St Johnstone they will have to cough up if they want Cammy MacPherson back this season.
The Paisley boss has opted to drag the on loan midfielder back from Perth after learning he’s signed a pre-contract with Callum Davidson ’s side.
But Goodwin - whose side booked their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup goals from Kyle McAllister and Greg Kiltie sank Ayr - is in no mood to give their McDiarmid rivals a helping hand in their fight for survival.
The Irishman said: “We recalled Cammy yesterday from his loan but there are ongoing negotiations there between our club and St Johnstone.
“They’ve offered Cammy a pre-contract which we believe he has agreed to.
“But we can’t be doing one of our Premiership rivals any favours. So if they want Cammy they’ll need to pay a fee to come and get him or he will be staying with us.”
Saints - who again left out contract rebel Jamie McGrath - were one of the chief suspects to suffer a shock but in actual fact they could not have asked for a more comfortable afternoon at Somerset.
It might have turned out differently had Ayr’s James Maxwell found the corner of the net instead of dragging wide inside the opening 30 seconds.
But St Mirren ’s Tannadice triumph over Dundee United on Tuesday has restored belief to Goodwin’s squad after 11 games without a win and they made the most of that let-off to take the lead seven minutes in.
Ethan Erahon fed the ball to Scott Tanser, who picked out McAllister - all 5ft 8ins of him - to nod home with a towering header.
And the visitors deservedly extended their lead on 24 minutes as Jay Henderson’s ball cut the United back-line in two as Kiltie drove through the middle, with the former Kilmarnock favourite stroking emphatically home with a neat touch and finish past Aidan McAdams.
Ayr finally turned the tempo up on their guests after the break. They almost got lucky when Erahon’s left a lazy leg dangling before turning Patrick Reading’s cross just over his own crossbar.
But it took a strong wrist from McAdams to keep out another fierce Ronan spank as St Mirren chased No.3.
Kiltie almost had a second as his shot on the turn squirmed wide after substitute Alex Grieve’s pinball run into the box scattered the Ayr defence.
The Honest Men had to resort to devious means to find a lifeline but referee David Dickinson refused to be fooled by Mark McKenzie’s dive in the box. Sub Jonathan Afolabi headed wide from a late corner but by that point Saints already had one foot in the fifth round.
A delighted Goodwin said: “When the draw was made if you were looking to pick out a few banana skins this would have been one of them.
“So I’m really pleased with the application of the players. Getting that first goal was really important to settle the whole thing down.
“The second goal was really-well worked. It was a brilliant finish from Kiltie with his weaker left foot.
“The boys did everything asked of them.”
