ALAN Kernaghan last night snubbed big money offers from English clubs to sign a lucrative new two-year contract with St Johnstone.

Stewart Duff, managing director of the Perth club, said: ''We always said we would sit down at the end of the season in an attempt to keep him here.

''We are very pleased Alan has agreed to extend his stay. With Jim Weir having a long-term injury, it was particularly important we got Alan fixed up.''

Kernaghan, the 30-year-old former Republic of Ireland defender, looked ready to leave the McDiarmid Park club at the end of last season and return south.

He was outstanding as Saints recorded the third best defensive record in Scotland and said: ''St Johnstone have restored my self-confidence.''

q RAITH Rovers are ready to sign 34-year-old Dundee United midfielder Dave Bowman. Manager Jimmy Nicholl is about to lose Danny Lennon to Hibs and needs a replacement in the middle of the park.

Bowman, who signed from Coventry City, spent 11 years at Tannadice before being freed at the end of the season.

q HIBERNIAN full back Willie Miller last night launched a scathing attack on the club after rejecting a new contract.

The player is angry at what he regards as a derisory offer after spending all his senior career at Easter Road. Miller said: ''I am extremely disappointed at the offer Hibs made me. I have given 12 years of my career to the club and the offer I was made certainly did not reflect that.

''As a Hibs fan, no-one was more disappointed than me that we were relegated. But I was prepared to try and battle back to the premier division. However, it now looks like I have no option other than to try another club.''

Aberdeen, Dundee, Watford and Stockport County are all keen on the defender, who has made more than 250 appearances for Hibs.

q PROMOTED Dundee are on the trail of 21-year-old Queen's Park top-scorer Scott Edgar.