Who needs the World Cup when you’ve got Stubbs and Saints?
The World Cup is in full swing and St Mirren are spending cold hard cash on transfer fees.
As the new Scottish Premiership season fast approaches, Alan Stubbs looks like he is out to shape a team capable of competing.
There were doubters when the big Englishman was handed the reigns, but he has not been slow in taking major decisions on shaping his own squad.
And by the looks of things, he is getting a bit of backing from the powers-that-be.
Now, I have no idea who Josh Heaton is either. But if the club was prepared to splash a reported 75k on the lad from Darlington, it shows he must be well thought of.
It is not every day the Saints board get out the cheque book, so let’s celebrate it.
And the club apparently beat off competition from the likes of West Brom and Middlesbrough for his signature – if that’s true, it shows the level that St Mirren are once again at.
There have been several other big names linked with the club in the past week – some promising, some less so.
I’m not sure what category Anthony Stokes falls into. Apparently he has been in chatting with the gaffer and training with the squad.
There is no doubt the Irishman has talent. Indeed, Ireland manager Martin O’Neill said he may be the most talented player he has ever worked with. He also said he may be the laziest.
That is the dilemma. A proven Premiership goalscoring record and skill, weighed against the potential for controversial off-field incidents..
It would be a gamble, no doubt, but it’s not everyday a striker of his quality becomes available for free.
It’s just a good job Steven ‘Elvis’ Pressley never got the Saints job.
Another big name doing the rounds is Kenny Miller.
Again, he has the class and quality to make a difference in Paisley.
But at the age of 38 and already flirting with idea of going into management, would he have the hunger to compete at the highest level?
But that names of that standard are being linked is something in itself. Some say the club should have more ambition than picking up Old Firm rejects on free transfers, but I think it shows how far the club has come in the last 18 months that those names are even in the conversation.
Stubbs has repeatedly said he wants to strengthen in every area of the pitch and it looks like the club are going to back him. Long may it continue.
One player heading the other way is Gavin Reilly. After notching 22 goals last season, the hitman might have expected to get a tilt at the top flight, but it perhaps goes to show the ambition Stubbs has for this team that Reilly was deemed surplus to requirements.
Good luck to the lad, wherever he ends up.
Another sign of the times is the squad jetting off to Spain for a warm weather training camp.
Don’t worry about us lads, we’ll hold the fort here.