Buddies fear window pain
Saints aware Baccus could exit
STEPHEN Robinson last night admitted he is dreading the arrival of January because he fears bigger clubs will target his best players.
The St Mirren boss is keenly aware of outside interest in all three of the players he signed for the Paisley club last summer.
At the top of the list is former Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Keanu Baccus, who made his first start for Australia in the 2-1 World Cup loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Saturday.
Buddies team-mate Ryan Strain narrowly missed out on the 26man Socceroos squad for Qatar 2022 but has also impressed in the Premiership since arriving from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa.
Another attracting interest is former Motherwell midfielder Mark O’Hara, who has been a strong performer since teaming up with his old Fir Park boss in Paisley.
Robinson is now bracing himself for bids for his top players when the window opens next month — but vowed he won’t allow anyone to leave on the cheap.
‘I’m worried about every day of January,’ he said. ‘When you are a club like ourselves, you are always at the mercy of bigger clubs with more money. They can come and take your players.
‘We only changed around 30 per cent of the squad in the summer and I think every signing we have made is attracting attention.
‘That means we have recruited very, very well, with a limited amount we can change.
‘It will be an interesting window.
Obviously we will not sell people or get rid of people for money we don’t believe reflects their value.
‘But, at a club like St Mirren, you have to accept we do have to sell. There has to be a realism that our model is we have to bring players in and then sell them on.
‘It is frustrating as a manager. You want to build on success and sign more players. You want to continue to bring players in and keep the better ones, too, but I understand the parameters of the football club.’
Although Baccus’ impact at the World Cup could ultimately see him leave Paisley, Robinson has been thrilled to see the 24-year-old feature in every match for Australia in Qatar.
‘We have all been watching the Australia games at the World Cup,’ said the Saints boss. ‘The good guys don’t often get the rewards, but Keanu is such a great kid and I’m delighted for him. The whole of the squad is
talking about it and everyone is so proud of him.’
Sitting in seventh place when the Premiership shut down for the World Cup, St Mirren have had a mixed bag of a season so far.
While praying his squad is not plundered by wealthier rivals in January, Robinson expects to be given cash to rebuild for the second half of the season if key players do leave the club.
‘Hopefully if we did sell anyone we will get the money to replace them,’ he said. ‘At the minute we won’t be able to recruit anyone else in January.
‘It’s more a case of trying to hang on to the current squad and keep everyone together, because we have a small squad but we have a good squad. We have got good players and good characters.’