FERDINAND COULD MAKE SHOCK MOVE TO PAISLEY

ORAN KEARNEY could make Anton Ferdinand the first signing of his St Mirren reign. The 33-year-old former West Ham, Sunderland and QPR defender is training with the Buddies this week. The brother of Manchester United legend Rio, Ferdinand is a free agent after leaving Southend in August. Kearney is looking at injecting some experience into the most porous defence in the Premiership. And former Bursaspor, Antalyaspor and Reading centre-back Ferdinand could fit the bill ahead of Friday night’s visit of champions

Celtic to Paisley. Kearney said: ‘Anton is in with us for a couple of days for us to have a look at him. ‘When you look at the team’s record, there have been a few goals conceded. ‘Going up a league from last season, we have lost a few of the experienced centre-halves from last year. ‘So it’s probably needing someone with a bit of experience to come in and be a calming influence. ‘Anton was staying in the same hotel as me on Sunday night, so we met up for an hour and we had a really good chat. ‘It was good to see there is real hunger there and a desire to do well. He trained on Monday and he will train again on Tuesday and we will see what can come from that.’ First-team coach Darren Jackson yesterday left St Mirren. But Brian Rice remains, having arrived at the club to work under previous boss Alan Stubbs, and Kearney plans to tap into his knowledge of the Scottish market. ‘Brian is going to be really important,’ he said. ‘I know his reputation goes before him in Scotland in relation to the quality of coach he is and the networks he’s got. ‘I know Northern Ireland inside out — and most of the south of Ireland, as well. Pedigree: Ferdinand has had a stellar career in England ‘But, coming over to Scotland, it’s about knowing where to find those wee diamonds in different areas, so people like Brian are going to be worth their weight in gold.’ The fifth Northern Irishman in the Premiership after Brendan Rodgers, Neil Lennon, Tommy Wright and Stephen Robinson, Kearney is looking forward to meeting his countrymen in the coming weeks and months. ‘I’ve had a couple of nice messages from a few of them,’ he said. ‘I know Stephen Robinson quite well and I also know Tommy Wright very well. ‘It will be great, once everything settles down, to hopefully meet for a coffee at some stage.’