I hope Aussies don’t go walkabout
Robbo praying his Saints from Down Under join Gogic in staying
STEPHEN ROBINSON has revealed St Mirren’s top-six appeal convinced Alex Gogic to commit again to the Buddies.
And he’s hoping the lure of a European adventure will persuade Aussie contract rebels Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain to stay put too.
Robinson was handed a major boost this week when Cypriot stalwart Gogic penned a new three-year deal with the Paisley outfit.
However, Socceroos stars Baccus and Strain have stalled on agreeing new contracts and as things stand will be moving on at the end of the season.
But Robinson hinted there could be a fresh surprise for the Saints support after this week’s glorious Gogic announcement. Quizzed on the former A League pair, Robbo – whose side are on course for a Conference League berth – said: “Both have been offered contracts but at this moment neither have signed. “Listen, you never know, things can change. “Both boys have been fantastic for me. Nobody had heard of them when they came so the football club has been fantastic for both boys. “We’ve given them the platform and they’ve certainly taken that. “We haven’t lost all hope yet, we still might surprise a few. Money dictates a lot of things in life and rightly so. Players have short careers but when there is not a lot between the offers financially then we’ve got a lot to offer.
“We’ve finished in the top six twice now.
“People can see the calibre of player we’ve got and also the staff we’ve got. And I think players enjoy working here.
“Our reputation for the good coaching staff we have here has spread.”
Robinson was delighted to get former Hamilton and Hibs ace Gogic signed up again.
But he admits he might not have been so lucky had his team failed to back up last year’s breakthrough campaign which saw them finish in the upper half in the top tier for the first time since 1985.
“Goga’s been a huge player for us this season, one of many,” said the Saints boss.
“It’s been great to get it over the line and hopefully now there will be a couple more in the coming days.
“I’ve been speaking to Alex for a long time.
“He’s known my intentions and what I think of him since he first came to the club.
“I spoke to him about the players we want to bring in to keep improving and I think he was quietly excited by it – and Goga never gets too excited!
“I don’t think he would have signed if we weren’t a top-six side. We’re not in Europe yet, that’s still a good bit away, and we don’t want to get too carried away as we still need to get the points to confirm it.
“But obviously we’re sitting here with that opportunity and it’s attracted Goga to sign.
“He wasn’t going to sign for a bottom-three club or a club yo-yoing up and down to the Championship which we were for the last 10 years.”