IT’S OVER AND OUT
You could say that it’s been coming.
You could say that there was no other thing for it.
At the end of the day, it was no less than anyone really expected.
Although, it has perhaps come slightly quicker than most of us may have anticipated.
This week’s news that Nicolai BrockMadsen and Hayden Coulson have been put out of their misery, or vice versa depending on who you listen to, was the big story down Greenhill Road this week.
Sixteen outings between them, one goal in a meaningless cup clash, the pair had been reduced to no more than no marks in a Saints side brimming at the seams.
However, it is testament to the struggles that NBM face since signing on the dotted line that he has been allowed to leave the club despite only Danny Mullen, Simeon Jackson and, the lesser spotted, Cody Cooke, remaining in the sparse frontline ranks.
The big Dane arrived to much fanfare, if anything the Birmingham City striker was a big name not only in spelling.
But his performances suggested that he was worth more on the Scrabble board than he was in the transfer market as a string of poor performances look set to see him consigned to the history books as one of the more ‘disappointing’ Saints signings.
With the Buddies linked to the likes of Greg Stewart, ironically lining up against them for Kilmarnock tomorrow, was it a case of Alan Stubbs simply believing he knew better than to go for the tried and tested?
Unfortunately, we will never know, but what we are left with now is another issue to contend with.
Give Stubbs his due, in the case of Coulson it appears more a case of what might have been.
He started with so much promise that many believed the gaffer had pulled a rabbit out of the hat following a series of impressive performances in the Betfred Cup.
But one thing is for sure, he was never the left back that the former management team had proclaimed him to be – he even said himself when he was unveiled that it was a position that he had never played.
It should have come as no surprise when he was clearly out of his depth when up against some of the country’s best wingers.
Hung out to dry, he could be forgiven if he was still having nightmares about Gary Mackay-Steven rampaging towards him down the Pittodrie wing.
But it is only just the beginning, and as the Oran Kearney era begins to take shape, the more likely it is that others will continue to head for the exit door.
Summer’s scattergun approach has done next to nothing in helping Saints’ fortunes in the top flight.
It has to be noted that, for some, it is not their fault that they aren’t good enough. The fault lies at the door for those that signed them.
It is now up to Kearney to sort out what he has inherited.
A new year will no doubt bring around a new-look St Mirren side.
It might not be quite the 10 in and 10 out of years gone by... but it won’t be far off it.
Winter is coming, and so is the transfer window.
However, it could well be that even more depart before the bells chime for 2019.