CUP FINAL week began on a sad note for Saints with news that 1976 Wembley trainer Jim Clunie has died back in his native Scotland.

Lawrie McMenemy, who brought Clunie with him from Grimsby Town when he was appointed Saints manager in 1973, said: "He was a conscientious coach for me and a good friend. I'll miss him."

Clunie died in his home town of Kilmarnock aged 70. He was diagnosed with cancer only 14 days ago.

He was a former Raith, Aberdeen and St Mirren player, who joined McMenemy's coaching staff at Grimsby during the 1970/71 season.

McMenemy said: "Jim was recommended by Ian McFarland, who was on the coaching staff with me at Sheffield Wednesday. Grimsby went on to take the championship that year and Jim played his part. We started the season with 2,000 in the ground and ended it with 24,000.

"He was one of my first appointments when I came down here and he quickly won the respect of the players and of course he was there for our Wembley triumph over Manchester United.

"I was at the League Managers meeting this week and talking to Sir Alex Ferguson who remembered that it was Jim who replaced him as St Mirren manager in 1978.

"It was actually the reason Jim left The Dell. The opportunity came for him to manage his old club when Alex moved on to Aberdeen, and I didn't stand in his way."

When Clunie finished with football management, he became a scout and did some work again for his old Southampton boss. Later he became a civilian driver in the fire service.

Had he been well, he would have joined up with the squad of '76 at The Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

He leaves a wife and four children, among them son Ian still lives in Southampton.