Buddies reunited at Saints
Stephen Robinson hopes the Fir Park factor can help him send St Mirren soaring up the Premiership.
The Buddies boss has been reunited with a host of former staff and players from his time at Motherwell.
He signed Mark O’Hara directly from his old club and recruited former Well players Trevor Carson and Declan Gallagher.
Richard Tait, Charles Dunne and Curtis Main were already in place when he took over from Goodwin af ter his depar ture to Aberdeen in February.
Robinson’s also got exassistant manager Keith Lasley as chief operating officer and Martin Foyle as chief scout by his side.
Robinson said: “They know my methods, they know me and I know their personalities.
“Someone as a joke changed the online photo of the Saints club shop to the Motherwell club shop!
“What it does, though, is bring a quick understanding of what we’re trying to do
here. It’s a shortcut. Having players you’ve been in a dressing room with before helps develop an understanding much sooner rather than just starting from scratch.
“Mixing in new signings with the players who’ve already been with me is a good combination. We have a fine group of characters in now and that bodes well.”
Robinson led Motherwell to both domestic cup finals in 2017/18 then third place in 2019/20.
His target is now top six with St Mirren in his first full season.
Robinson said: “Any little thing you can do to gain that extra percentage helps.
“There are only so many players available who can help to strengthen clubs like ourselves.
“We can only pay so much and not everyone wants to play in Scotland in the first place.
“The fact I’d worked with some of the players before was a happy coincidence and that should help.”