NEW SAINTS BOSS KEARNEY SAYS TITLE SUCCESS IS HIS TOP TARGET

NEW St Mirren manager Oran Kearney has barely touched down in Scotland — but is already setting his sights on winning the Premiership title. The 40-year-old, who replaced Alan Stubbs with Saints second bottom of the top flight, will be officially introduced today and says he wants to repeat the success he has had at Coleraine — Irish Cup winners last season. ‘I want to win the league — because the day I started (at Coleraine) I wanted titles and trophies,’ said Kearney. ‘St Mirren, having just been promoted, are not in that position just now. Coleraine a few years ago were not in that position either, so with hard work, a lot can be done.’ Kearney signed a three-year deal with St Mirren on Friday, saw the colts in the Challenge Cup on Saturday and returned to Northern Ireland to say his farewells over the weekend. His focus now is on Friday night’s visit of Celtic, telling BBC Sport Northern Ireland’s Irish League

Show: ‘It will be tough. It hasn’t been the best start to the season and there’s a lot of work to do. ‘We’re stepping away from something where everybody knows their jobs inside out, so it will be a big change.’ Kearney failed to land the Saints job after an interview in the summer but, the fifth Northern Irish boss in Scotland’s top flight, he’s already been in touch with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers. He said: ‘I spoke to Brendan before my first interview. ‘Facing Celtic first up is brilliant and I’m looking forward to it.’ Kearney also said he’d touched base with Northern Ireland assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl about joining his backroom team. He added: ‘It’s something that could possibly be on the radar.’