CRAIG SAMSON could not imagine a better feeling when he lifted the 2013 League Cup with St Mirren but he insists winning the Championship is a superior achievement.

Saints clinched the title last Saturday with their goal-less draw against Livingston.

And the 33-year-old keeper – who has set a new shut-out record – just hopes Jack Ross will give him the gloves when Saints return to the Premiership next season.

Samson, who still has a year left on his contract, said: “I think doing it week in week out this season has been brilliant.

“The cup final was so special. We beat Celtic in the semi and we went into the final against Hearts thinking we could create history. So to do that was brilliant.

“But to get the club back to the Premiership is probably the better achievement.

“I’ve got more to give this club. We’re going up to the Premiership back where the club should be and I have a lot more to offer.

“That’s two trophies I have won for this club now which have been the greatest achievements of my career.

“The club has always treated me well – it’s home to me.

“It was reiterated when I came back to the club that winning the league was the target.

“The fans had had such a hard time the year before so it’s been such a fantastic season and everyone deserves it.

“Since Christmas we have been frightening. We did lose to Dumbarton at home but after that we were relentless.

“We just kept winning and although Livingston went on a good run our record was always better.

“I think if last year hadn’t happened then this year wouldn’t have happened.

“The boys gained a winning mentality although the pressure they were under last year was a million times more than what we were under this season,

“Since we won the cup there has been a downward spiral so that’ why winning the title last Saturday was so special.”

Samson also expressed his pride at going eight home games without losing a goal in the run up to and including the game with Livingston, which sealed promotion on Saturday – and he insists the whole team deserves credit.

He has picked out captain Stephen McGinn – another old boy who returned to drive the promotion bid – as an inspirational figure.

He said: “We’ve now set a clean sheet record at the new stadium and that’s down to everyone because we defend from the front.

“I think the captain has been outstanding, Stephen and I are very close. I think my wife and his fiancé are fed up we’re on the phone so much.

“We both knew that we could do it because of our experience, perhaps.

“He has been fantastic, He brings calmness when things are hectic.

“He’s played at a higher level so we know how good he can be.

“He will be massive asset to us next season that can only stand us in good stead.”

Saints faced eighth-placed Falkirk on Tuesday night, after the Gazette went to press, in a clash which the Bairns were desperate to win to guarantee their Championship status.

This Saturday will see St Mirren take on Queen of the South at Palmerston Park.

It will be the last time the two sides face each other this season, with the Saints coming out on top in all three of their previous encounters.

Their most recent game was just a month ago in Paisley when Liam Smith’s first goal for the club and a Harry Davis penalty in the first half were enough to wrap up the points. Kick off is at 3pm.