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ASCOT, CHESTER, MARKET RASEN, NOTTINGHAM, RIPON & SEDGEFIELD CARDS: P20-21 Australian duo holding out on new Saints deals
Stephen Robinson insists he hasn’t given up hope of retaining Australian internationals Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus.
The Socceroos duo have both been offered new deals by the Buddies but have yet to sign.
Saints gaffer Robbo is braced for summer departures as his top-six heroes attract admiring glances from other clubs.
Strain and Baccus will both have their suitors and Robinson conceded there’s not much room left when it comes to thrashing out terms.
“Both have been offered contracts but at this moment in time neither have signed,” he confirmed.
“And there is not a lot further we can go. Listen, you never know, things can change.
“Both boys have been fantastic for me at this football club. Nobody had heard of them when they came so the football club has been fantastic for both boys.
“We have given them the platform and they have certainly taken that.
“We haven’t lost all hope yet – we 18+ only. Terms and conditions apply
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still might surprise a few.
“Keanu at the minute hasn’t been in the team because of the performances of others. He was also away and ill at the same time which took away a bit of his momentum.
“But he’s been a fantastic player for me and he’s a fantastic boy as well.”
Robbo knows the score when it comes to the business side of the game but is adamant Saints are an attractive proposition at the negotiating table.
The high-flying Buddies could seal a place in next season’s Europa Conference League tomorrow with a win over Kilmarnock if Dundee fail to notch up a victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.
The boss said: “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 I think we have got a lot to offer. We have finished in the top six twice now.
“People can see the calibre of player we’ve got and also the staff that we’ve got. I think players enjoy working here.
“I think our reputation has spread of the good coaching staff we have here and I think players feel that they improve and get better.”