By the time you’ve read this, the squad may well have changed...again
You learn very quickly that there is no definite in the world of football.
You learn even quicker that there are no certainties in the world of St Mirren.
But then again, just occasionally, sometimes there are.
The cull of this season’s squad, the systematic dismantling of a once-cobbled together trainwreck, was always on the cards.
Even the ruthlessness, perhaps barring the exit of Southampton kid Alfie Jones, has come as a shock to next to no one.
For the best part of a week we have been putting the red crosses over the faces of those who have been given the chop. But it is probably not the time to be putting the rede pen down yet, because before the ink has even dried there will probably be even more to come.
With the tally (currently) at 10, you could argue that even more deserve to be going.
Matty Wi l l o c k , Jordan Kirkpatrick, Ian McShane, Josh Heaton, Ryan Edwards and Jeff King could all have no complaints as they simply failed to make an impact, despite Heaton boasting the biggest fee forked out in close to 30 years of scrimping and saving when it comes to transfers.
Willock was sent packing before the window even opened in a move that tells its own story, while Kirkpatrick returned to parttime football following a failed 18-month experiment which never looked like working.
In McShane’s case, he simply wasn’t able to make the step up.
An asset in the Championship without a doubt, the classy midfielder will always be remembered for the contribution he made to the title-winning side.
Could he begrudge a move, probably, but either way it will be Falkirk’s gain as they face a relegation battle of their own.
Heaton and King’s exits were to be expected – although that doesn’t mean the anger and disappointment surrounding the whole charade of their signing by Alan Stubbs has gone.
And it’s now just a case of getting Cole Kpekawa out the door to complete the set – and you can bet your house that it’s coming.
On the incoming front, it has been a busy week down at St Mirren following an otherwise slow start to the transfer window.
The arrival of Greg Tansey shows that the Saints are still a force to be reckoned with in the market despite the perilous predicament they find themselves in near the foot of the Premiership.
Beating off the likes of Dundee and Hamilton Accies to the midfielder’s signature, Tansey becomes the first to stroll through the door.
But there was no relief on the face of the gaffer, though he was definitely pleased to have got his man.
Oran Kearney has remained calm throughout what is undoubtedly a hectic transfer window, relentless from even before the bells tolled for 2019.
Regardless of how the rest of this week goes, the transfer dealings will, without question, go right down to the wire when January 31 comes.
The emergence of St Mirren being a force in the market, and apparently coaxing a host of talent from Eastern Europe, such as Mihai Popescu and Vaclav Hladky, is in itself a novelty.
But Kearney remains focused and isn’t getting carried away despite the names he is linked with.
He has admitted that he has laughed at a few of the names suggested, insisting some have been rubbish.
But just as certain as outgoings have been is the fact more are coming in. It is shaping up to be a busy few weeks.