Latest news with #Buddies
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
What Stephen Robinson expects from young St Mirren duo after Arbroath title success
The Buddies welcome back Fraser Taylor and Callum Penman following their championship exploits at Gayfield. Stephen Robinson is expecting St Mirren's title-winning duo to be flying in pre-season. Buddies aces Fraser Taylor and Callum Penman return to Ralston this month having picked up League One championship medals while on loan at Arbroath. Taylor spent most of the campaign at Gayfield before Penman joined him for the second half of the Smokies' promotion push. Both players had already made their mark in black and white – Taylor set up Alex Iacovitti's goal in Saints' UEFA Conference League clash with SK Brann in Norway while Penman created two goals for Toyosi Olusanya in a Scottish Cup tie at Queen of the South. The League One player of the year award also went to Taylor and now the pair have the chance to impress gaffer Robbo as attention turns to the 2025-26 Premiership campaign. The Northern Irishman said: 'For Fraser and Callum to go out and get that experience is brilliant for them. Fraz has had a fantastic season and we're delighted for him. 'He now has to step up and it is a big, big step up for him. There's no doubting that but does he have the ability to do that? Definitely. His attitude and his desire will have him involved in our first team next season. Then it's up to him to break into that. 'People have to remember when they're crying out for players to come in, who are they taking out to make that happen? Mark O'Hara? Killian Phillips? We are a good side so players coming in have to be better than what's in the team. 'Fraz has got the talent and, most importantly, he has the mindset to keep pushing. We love him as a kid and as a player. We're really keen to see how he comes back and fights for his place in pre-season. 'I'm sure they'll come back flying for pre-season because they're both very grounded boys. They're very focused on being the best they can be and they're great examples for our other kids here. They've set standards, along with Evan Mooney.' Robbo will send more of the club's top talent on loan as he believes it is the best way for them to develop. The manager – who has been linked with a move for Jamaica defender Richard King – added: 'I don't believe in Under-23s football. I don't believe that compares to playing against grown men. It's a different world away. 'They play 500 passes in their own six-yard box and people say it's fantastic. You need to go to an Arbroath to then face Livingston away or Morton away. 'You need to go to these places to improve, and develop that mentality when crowds are shouting at you – good and bad. That toughens you up mentality.'
Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Inside St Mirren recruitment plan as "one-man band" hailed amid six signings bid
Manager Stephen Robinson is looking ahead to the new campaign after three successive Premiership top-six finishes. Stephen Robinson is eyeing six new signings for St Mirren this summer. The Buddies boss has outlined his squad-building plan following a third successive Premiership top-six finish. And he paid tribute to the efforts of head of recruitment Martin Foyle who he describes as a 'revelation'. The Northern Irishman insists the former Port Vale goal machine is a one-man band who travels the UK looking for rough diamonds. Robbo will be relying on his spy in the stands more than ever after a number of players moved on from Saints at the end of the season while Richard Taylor and Caolan Boyd-Munce turned down new deals at the SMiSA Stadium. The Paisley club would like to sign keeper Zach Hemming and wing-back Ryan Alebiosu on permanent deals following successful loan spells and have been linked with Jamaica international defender Richard King. And there is plenty more business needing done in other areas of the team. Robbo said: 'We need to sort the goalkeeper situation out. I believe we need another wide player, another centre-forward and another centre-half. Maybe two. 'We'll need to replace Caolan so we're probably looking at five or six players over the summer to bring the squad up to what's been lost. The club's policy is finding boys who are less well known. 'We want to bring boys in who are around 22-23 years who have maybe fallen behind where their talent should allow them to be. There's always something missing for that to be the case. Whether that's desire, fitness levels, whatever it may be. 'There are small points and coaching points you can help with – and you can give boys new motivation. We get a lot of pleasure from that. That's the model. In an ideal world, we'd then sell them on for a lot of money. 'We sign players we believe have a resale value, as well as boys who give us a real experienced, solid base to the team.' Robbo is grateful for what some may regard as Foyle's old-fashioned approach – and gave an insight into how it all comes together behind the scenes. 'Martin has been fantastic,' he said. 'He's been a revelation. He's a one-man band. We don't have any data or analysis. We basically have two Wyscout log-ins in the whole club that we have to fight over to get on and look at players! 'I have to praise Martin and give him so much credit for the relative success we've had. People sometimes use the term 'old school' like it's a bad thing. But there's a lot of old things that are still very, very good in this modern world. 'We don't have the finances to use the data analysis that Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs are using. We don't have Tony Bloom putting £10 million into the football club. 'We have one scout. We do not have any other full-time scouts other than Martin. So, he has to go to every game. He has to eat in service stations every day on his travels. Most of my conversations with him are when he's charging up his car! 'He gets no help from anyone, really. We've got one guy in Australia who helps us out with bits and pieces who essentially does it for expenses. Other than that, it's Martin putting players to us and us making those decisions.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Richard King to join St Mirren with Jamaica ace lauded by Steve McClaren on the way to Paisley
The defender was linked with a move to Rangers last January St Mirren are set to pull off the signing coup of Jamaican international Richard King. The Buddies have agreed a fee with Cavalier and are looking to finalise the move in the coming days. It will see the highly-rated 23-year-old defender make the move to Paisley. King has previously been linked with Rangers and has attracted interest from Aston Villa, Newcastle United and West Ham United. St Mirren didn't think they could pull off the deal but thanks to director Jim Gillespie's worldwide contacts he has managed to put a deal in place. Gillespie has led the negotiations while manager Stephen Robinson has been on holiday in America. King has previously had exposure on loan to Icelandic club IBV. It is a move by the ambitious St Mirren board to build the club up and add more quality internationalists to their squad. Jamaican international Steve McClaren has already backed King to go all the way. He has previously tried to get him to England but now St Mirren have stolen a march. McClaren has tipped King for the very top. He said 'It is like Richard King who has got a lot of interest in Europe and the UK. 'I have been banging the drum so that he can step up to whatever level he is put in. 'At the moment, he needs to get off the island and play in a better competition. He has been excellent the last two games and when he came on against the USA. 'I have told every scout in England that they should take Richard King. He might not be for now but that boy will be because he plays to the level he is at. 'So if he comes to the UK and plays in League One or the Championship, if given time he would adapt to that. 'If I was at a football club I would take him because I believe he would be a real asset. 'He is quick and can play to the level. I just hope somebody takes a chance on him.' St Mirren have already signed Killian Phillips and Roland Idowu on permanent deals from Crystal Palace and Shrewsbury Town respectively following impressive loan spells last season.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm just a kid from Kilbarrack' -Killian Phillips proud to put his area on the Ireland map after emotional debut
YOU can take Killian Phillips out of Kilbarrack but you can not take Kilbarrack out of Killian Phillips. He may be in a profession where peers holiday in Dubai rather than Dublin, but the 2 Killian Phillips was emotional after his Republic of Ireland debut against Senegal 2 Killian Phillips revealed he was proud to but Kilbarrack on the map after his international bow Phillips declared: 'There's no better place in the world than Kilbarrack, I will be back sleeping on my ma's couch on Wednesday. 'It's Kilbarrack for me now. I might cross the Liffey a couple of times but that's my holidays, I just want to go home, see everyone and get ready for pre-season.' When he does return to St Mirren - the Buddies triggered an option to buy him from Crystal Palace following his loan - he will now have a new word attached to his name - 'Ireland's'.. Whatever happens in the rest of his career, the 23-year-old will always be an Ireland international after coming off the bench in READ MORE ON FOOTBALL He said: 'It was probably the best feeling of my life, it was everything I wanted to do when growing up so it's a dream come true. 'I was a bit nervous coming in, obviously a lot of players that I've watched over the years and supported in this stadium. So I probably froze a bit during the week. 'I think out there I was calm, I had a couple of deep breaths when I first came on, I was probably a little overwhelmed when I first run on. 'It's just a game of ball, and at the end of day, that's the way I look at it.' Most read in Football Phillips impressed during his 23 minutes and took it all in afterwards as he sought out his personal fan club who got the Dart across the city to watch their local hero. He continued: 'I think there was bleedin' 70 to 100 here. The support that I get in my local area and from family and friends means the world to me. 'Don't say that on camera' - Nathan Collins' admission about Caoimhin Kelleher's move leaves Heimir in stitches 'I have such a great support system, a lot of people who looked after me over the years, coached me, I have to thank all of them now. 'I believe I am the first international from Kilbarrack so that's something I can bring to the grave with me. 'I'm sure I will be sitting in the pub in 20 or 30 years' time saying it to everyone who walks in.' The area is probably best known outside Dublin 5 as where the movie 'The Snapper' was filmed. And like any suburb, there are temptations and pitfalls to be avoided. He continued: 'It means the world to me, and I hope it gives the kids in Kilbarrack something to look up to as well… 'That you don't have to go down the roads of... you know yourself, you know what goes on in Kilbarrack, you don't have to do that, if you have a dream and you work hard every day you can do it. 'I am just a kid from Kilbarrack whose dream came true and the kids at the club now (Kilbarrack United) have someone to look up to. 'It's easier now to dream that dream as someone has done it, I am so proud because my community backs me so much.' And his own story should inspire as his route from Kilbarrack to the Aviva Stadium was far from straightforward. The 23-year-old explained: 'I was turned down by League of Ireland clubs when I was 17 but that's football and the beauty of the game, there's no linear progression. 'I was playing Sunday league at 17.' At that time, he was also on the FAI Fingal County Council TY Course where he was named Player of the Year and was soon picked up by And he credited the support there from current Longford Town boss Wayne Groves there as helping him on the road to where he is now. He continued: 'Everyone at Drogheda... Tim (Clancy), Kev (Doherty), Wayne Groves, they played a big part in developing me, they were the first managers who believed in me. 'I'd have quit football a few years ago if I hadn't met Wayne Groves when I did, he was the first person to believe in me so I owe him so much. 'And Tim and Kev, who gave me my professional debut as well. Without them I wouldn't be here. 'I am here now and I'd hope to inspire a younger generation, never give up and if you work as hard as I do, sacrifice as much as I did, you get the rewards.' IRELAND REGULAR But now Phillips wants to show that he can become a fixture in the Ireland team. His call-up and debut came after an impressive season with St Mirren where he was player of the year, but also because Hallgrímsson believes he offers something different. Standing 6ft 3in, his big frame and athleticism make him a different sort of Ireland's other midfield option. Phillips continued: 'I spoke to him on the phone a few weeks before I got called up, he just spoke to me about the season, how I was playing. 'It was a private conversation - but he told me exactly what he expected from me. 'Probably something different. A lot of presence in midfield, I can get around the pitch fairly handy. I can win a lot of duels as well. 'So obviously something that the gaffer thinks I can do well and something different I can bring to the team, so when I am called upon that's what I will do. 'That's what I try to bring when I play for my country. That's what I will bring to play for my country.'
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
'St Mirren's season was a success,' says Stephen Robinson
The Saints gaffer has reflected on a special season as he hails his players' for making the top-six for the third consecutive year. Stephen Robinson reckons St Mirren's season was a success as he took a final look at an action-packed campaign. The Buddies boss believes his side rose to the challenge in the second half of the season by breaking into the Premiership top six for a third successive year. At the beginning of 2025, Saints fans would have been forgiven for glancing over their shoulders and fearing a battle to beat the drop following four straight defeats. However, a 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie was a shot in the arm for a top-half spot. And wins over Rangers, Kilmarnock and Ross County got them over the line as Hearts fluffed their lines in a 0-0 draw at Motherwell in the final round of pre-split fixtures. Robbo's men then went on to have the best form of anyone in the top half after going unbeaten against Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United. Saints just missed out on making it back-to-back European adventures on the final day – but taking the fight that far was a measure of how much things turned around. 'From the second part of the season, I thought we were very, very good,' Robbo said in an interview with the club's media team. 'We played some really good football and had some pace and energy about the side. 'Our results are mirrored by the last five games in the top six where we managed to get nine points and remain unbeaten which was a very good achievement.' The Northern Irishman says it wasn't just a smash-and-grab in how they managed to pick up the points playing attractive football. He said: 'I alluded to the fact that the level of football – and standard – we were playing at to get into the top six at that stage was good. 'Overall, when you reflect on it, it was a hugely successful season and the consistency was the bigger thing. 'We are always trying to get to that stage [of playing nice football]. When you are winning games, and people are playing with confidence, that is easier.' By the season's end, St Mirren improved in many areas they were hoping to with the club ending the campaign with more points, touches in the opposition box, shots on target and goals scored compared with the last two seasons. New signings helped, with keeper Zach Hemming arriving back on loan from Sky Bet Championship side Middlesbrough. Ryan Alebiosu was a loan recruit from Belgium while free agent Declan John committed his future to the SMiSA Stadium. The Buddies even survived the late-season loss of top goalscorer Toyosi Olusanya – who joined MLS side Houston Dynamo in the United States for an undisclosed fee – thanks to Mikael Mandron and Jonah Ayunga finishing with a flourish. Robbo added: 'The personnel that we added and the people that started to come to form helped. 'Caolan [Boyd-Munce] was excellent in the last six months of the season. 'Ryan and Deccy gave us a different profile in the wing-back areas as they were more like wingers. 'And we played with real pace and energy with some of the one-touch football around the box which was very pleasing on the eye and good to watch; with it being something we will continue to do.'
