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Charlie Adam knew the meaning of success at St Mirren during a First Division and Challenge Cup-winning double season on loan in Paisley.

The then Rangers midfielder was shipped out to Gus Macpherson's side in 2005/06 where he bagged his first two winners medals in a career spanning 19 years.

The measure of success has changed significantly since then for St Mirren with European football later this month a reward for a fruitful season last term.

Similarly, it's changed times for Adam who was thrilled to be back in Scotland with his Fleetwood Town side in a 2-2 draw with the Paisley club.

"It was a long, long time ago. I even had hair back then," joked Adam when reflecting on his formative spell in the St Mirren first-team. "It's always amazing to come back. It's changed a lot since I was here, when they played at Love Street.

"It was a great time, a great football club and I always look out for their scores.

"Getting first team football at St Mirren really made me develop as a football player. 

"I managed to get a good chance at Rangers after my loan spell here, so I'm always really grateful to St Mirren."

Adam, 38, still keeps tabs on his former club and will be backing them as they jet off to either Iceland or Albania to face Valur or Vllaznia in the Conference League next week.

"Stephen has done a great job here and it's always a nice place to come back to," he added.

"There's an opportunity now for the club having got back into Europe. It's going to be a tough tie, whoever they get, but if they can get through it will be amazing.

"Just to be there is an amazing achievement and it'll be a great journey for their supporters."

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For Adam, pre-season this summer has been a wholly different challenge with endless phone calls and negotiations with agents replacing running sessions.

While less taxing on the body, Adam reckons there is no comparison between the stress of management in pre-season compared with fitness drills as a player.

He said: "It's definitely easier being a player in pre-season than a manager, I'll tell you that!

"The way we work, everything's with the ball. That's different to when I started out.

"Every week we're getting fitter and fitter and we know there's still things to improve on.

"It's not busier than expected. It's a lot of calls from agents, players, different managers.

"Different things happen all the time and no two days are the same. That's why I signed up for it and hopefully we can kick on this season.

"I'm using all my experience but picking up the phone is also something I've never been shy to do.

"There's a lot of people more experienced than me and it's great to lean on them. Sometimes you have to stand on your own two feet and sometimes make mistakes. But you learn from all that and find solutions."

Adam had spent time as a loan manager at Burnley before his first step into management at Fleetwood in December. 

The club suffered relegation last season and will compete in League Two this term. Despite the disappointment, Adam is relishing his role back in the forefront at a football club.

He explained: "I've loved it so far. It's been a quick six months and a very busy summer so far. But I'm delighted to be a manager and I'm learning every day.

"Things keep arising and you have to deal with whatever is thrown at you.

"I've got great staff here. Great coaches and I'm always leaning on them to try and get advice and help to better my understanding.

"I know I can't do it on my own. I've had to get the right people around me and hopefully we can get a team on the pitch that represents what we are and we can do the fans proud."