Please don’t go
Gaffer’s dilemma over Mallan and McAllister
St Mirren manager Jack Ross admits he would love Stevie Mallan and Kyle McAllister to stay at the club – but conceded it may not be possible.
Interest in the duo has heightened following the news that English Championship side Barnsley were sniffing about Mallan, while a host of sides south of the border are rumoured to be keeping an eye on 18-year-old McAllister.
There is less than a week remaining of the January transfer window and Ross insisted he would like to see the pair stay as Buddies.
However, he revealed that it could make sense from a business point of view if the duo were to leave.
Ross explained: “There are ongoing discussions going on about both, which is understandable because they are both good players.
“Stevie has deserved the recognition because he has done it now for almost 100 games for the club, which is a great achievement at his age.
“Kyle McAllister is a special player for his age. He has only just turned 18 but he’s a good player for his age.
“If I was at a club that had the resources then I would look at him. It’s as simple as that.
“But we need to make a sensible decision for what is best for the club short-term and mid-term.
“But if you’re asking me from a selfish, managerial point of view, then I don’t want either of them to go.
“But I completely understand that you have to be pragmatic about it and it might happen.
“I would rather it didn’t, for obvious reasons, but we will see what the rest of the window brings.”
Ross, speaking in the wake of his side’s defeat of Dundee, turned his attentions to Championship survival.
Having been consigned to being branded as relegation certainties, Ross insisted that his side must use it as motivation.
He added: “That group has endured a difficult season and have come in for criticism on a regular basis.
“So, I think for them to get the rewards for their performance, they have got to enjoy it and savour the moment.
“They have got to now come back and replicate that in the league games.”