THE RUNNERS AND RIDERS..

ST MIRREN St Mirren Park

SAINTS manager Jim Goodwin has rung the changes in Paisley, releasing 13 players and recruting six.

New signings include former Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick and ex-celtic defender Marcus Fraser who arrives on a free transfer from Ross County.

Finished ninth last season and will be eyeing a top six place this term.

DUNDEE UTD Tannadice

NEWLY-PROMOTED United were dealt a blow in pre-season with the loss of manager Robbie Nielson to Hearts.

But the Tannadice club moved quickly to replace him with Micky Mellon arriving from Tranmere.

Keeping top scorer Lawrence Shankland at the club will be vital if they want to survive.

HAMILTON New Douglas Park

THE Lanarkshire club retain what is arguably their biggest asset their plastic pitch.

Fourteen players have departed the club in the close season including the influential Alex Gogic to Hibs.

Brian’s Rice’s men finished second bottom last season and were perhaps fortunate the campaign was concluded early thanks for Covid-19.

ABERDEEN Pittodrie

FINISHED outside the top three last season which will have been disappointing for manager Derek Mcinnes.

The return of Dubliner Jonny Hayes from Celtic has caused some excitement up north but the Dons were dealt a blow this week with a serious injury to influential striker Sam Cosgrove.

KILMARNOCK Rugby Park

LOST Steve Clarke to the Scotland job but his former assistant Alex Dyer stepped up to the plate impressively following the sacking of Italian Angelo Alessio.

Consistently inside the top six, Killie’s artificial surface is a massive bonus in their bid to stay there.

New recruits include Irish under-21 keeper Danny Rodgers.

MOTHERWELL Fir Park

STEPHEN ROBINSON has done a terrific job since taking over at Motherwell, leading the Fir Park club to a third place finish last season.

The influential David Turnbull is fit again after a long term injury wrecked his move to Celtic.

Jake Hastie has returned to the Steelmen on loan from Rangers while former Celtic keeper Scott Fox has joined on a free from Partick.

LIVINGSTON Almondvale

STAR man Lyndon Dykes looks to be on his way out of the club with a seven figure bid already turned down from Barnsley.

Rangers are interested in the big Aussie as a potential replacement for Alfredo Morelos.

Another club which enjoys the advantage of a plastic pitch, maintaining their home form will be key to another top six finish.

ROSS COUNTY Dingwall

COUNTY were in and about the relegation mix last season and their transfer activity suggests the Staggies will struggle again this term. Stuart Kettlewell has lost Marcus Fraser and the experienced Richard Forster but has been boosted by the arrival of highly-rated Rangers youngster Stephen Kelly. Will settle for the same 10th place finish as last season.

ST JOHNSTONE Mcdiarmid Park

IT’S all change in Perth as the Saints get used to life without Tommy

Wright.

The long-serving former Northern Ireland international said his goodbyes to the Mcdairmid Park club during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Former Scotland defender Callum Davidson is the man charged with succeeding Wright, who led the Saints to yet another top six finish last season.

HIBERNIAN Easter Road

JACK ROSS is bedded into the job at Easter Road now and the Leith outfit will be keen to better their seventh place finish from last season. Alex Gogic has been signed from Hamilton to bolster the defence along with winger Drey Wright from St Johnstone. Will feel the impact of Hearts’ demotion to the Championship.