St Johnstone

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Dimitar Mitov only spent one season at St Johnstone, but his impact was indelible.

The 27-year-old Bulgaria goalkeeper moves on to join fellow Premiership side Aberdeen having been in instrumental in saving Saints from relegation.

CEO Stan Harris acknowledged as much in the club statement confirming Mitov's departure, saying: "Dimitar's performances throughout the 2023/24 campaign were of a consistently high level.

"Those performances were always likely to gain attention from elsewhere and, when Aberdeen showed their interest, Dimitar decided he wanted to move on."

Manager Craig Levein added: "Dimi was a top performer for us and that was reflected in the number of trophies he received at our end-of-season awards night.

"His performances played a key role in helping us secure our place in the Premiership and I’d like to wish him all the very best moving forward."

Mitov, 27, made 41 appearances for the Perth side following his arrival last summer from Cambridge United.

In his 38 league outings, Mitov was kept busy. He made 138 saves, which was the most of any Premiership goalkeeper by quite a distance - the man he succeeds at Pittodrie, Kelle Roos, was next on 122.

And Mitov's save percentage of 71.6 was bettered only by Will Dennis of Kilmarnock (75.3%) and Hearts' Zander Clark (72.7%).

He clearly leaves a big void - so how do St Johnstone fill it? Who should they bring in as Mitov's replacement?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

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Dimitar Mitov says he told his agent to "get it done" as soon as he heard of Aberdeen's interest.

The Bulgaria goalkeeper, 27, has left St Johnstone to move to Pittodrie on a three-year deal after the Dons paid an undisclosed fee to trigger his release clause.

Mitvov, who was St Johnstone's player of the year last season, told the Aberdeen website: "It’s an amazing feeling to be here.

"As soon as heard there was interest from Aberdeen I called my agent and said get it done.

"The club has a huge history, there are lots of good people here, and when we played against Aberdeen I loved the atmosphere the fans created.

"I feel I did well last season, being consistent is always difficult as a goalkeeper, but I worked hard and this is another opportunity for me to improve my game and make the step up.

"I like the ideas the manager has about how he wants to go forward here, the way he wants to play and create a happy environment, connecting with the supporters to get them behind us. Everything he said fits me as a player."

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St Johnstone have announced new deals for six youngsters as they continue to prepare for next season.

Bayley Klimionek, Joe Ellison, Scott Bright, Jackson Mylchreest, Ben McCrystal and Adam McMillan have all signed one-year extensions to keep them at McDiarmid Park.

"They have definitely earned this so I’m looking forward to seeing them for the start of the season and I hope they hit the ground running," head of our youth academy Alistair Stevenson said.

"All of them will be looking to get opportunities to train with the first team and catch the manager’s eye. It’s about how you take the opportunity.

"If the manager does like what he sees, he might be prepared to give them an extended run as part of the squad."

Meanwhile, Filip Franczak, Kyle Scott and Kodi McKinstray have not been offered new deals and will leave the club.

St Johnstone forward Nicky Clark has been reunited with former Dundee United team-mate Ian Harkes, now with New England Revolution, during a visit to the United States and watched another Tannadice favourite of yesteryear, Ryan Gauld, score twice for Vancouver Whitecaps in Greater Boston. (Sun), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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St Johnstone forward Max Kucheriavyi held his nerve to help Ukraine's Olympic team win the Maurice Revello Tournament in Toulon.

The 22-year-old, who played 34 times for Saints last season, came off the bench in the closing minutes after Ivory Coast had fought back to level from two goals down.

The final went straight to penalties and Kucheriavyi netted his spot-kick as his side triumphed 5-4 to lift the trophy.

Kucheriavyi had featured in all but one of Ukraine's earlier group matches against Indonesia, Italy, Panama and Japan.

The Maurice Revello Tournament was previously called the Toulon Tournament. Scotland reached the semi-finals in 2017 and 2018, with Billy Gilmour picking up the 'revelation of the tournament' award in 2018.

St Johnstone are tracking Ghana Under-20 captain Aaron Essel, an 18-year-old centre-back who can also play as a holding midfielder or right-back and is a regular with Ghanaian Premier League team Bechem United. (The Courier), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Assistant manager Andy Kirk says St Johnstone "need to add some fresh energy" during the transfer window. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.

Steven MacLean is poised to join fellow former St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson's backroom team at Queen's Park. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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The transfer window opens on Friday and we want to know what matters to you most this summer.

If you could only buy one, sell one and loan out one player at St Johnstone, who would you pick?

Click here, external to let us know.

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Goalkeeper Jack Wills has agreed a permanent contract with Queen's Park - despite failing to make a first-team appearance while on loan at the end of last season - after being released by St Johnstone.

But head coach Callum Davidson hopes the 21-year-old, who has signed a two-year contract, will challenge Calum Ferrie, four years his senior, for a starting place.

"Jack impressed everyone during his time here," the former Saints manager told the Queen's Park website.

Jack, who previously had loans with Edinburgh University and Brechin City, helped Queen's Park win the reserve league.

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Adama Sidibeh continued his recent swift rise up the football ladder as the St Johnstone striker was handed his first start for Gambia in their 3-2 World Cup qualifying defeat away to Gabon in Franceville.

The 25-year-old striker, who joined the Scottish Premiership club in February from Warrington Rylands in England's Northern Premier, made his debut - and scored - as a late substitute in Saturday's 5-1 win at home to Seychelles.

That garnered Gambia's first points of their group-stage campaign and the latest defeat for the side managed by Northern Irishman Johnny McKinstry means they lie second bottom, with Gabon a point behind leaders Ivory Coast.

St Johnstone have not had any enquiries for striker Adama Sidibeh or goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov despite reported interest in the pair. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Representatives from Celtic, Hibernian and Ross County feature on the SPFL board for the 2024-25 season.

County director James MacDonald, Hibs non-executive chairman Malcolm McPherson and Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson make up the Premiership contingent.

Paul Hetherington (Airdrieonians) and Graeme Mathie (Ayr United) will represent the Championship, while Andrew Allan (Alloa Athletic) and Allan Maitland (Clyde) have been elected for League 1 and 2.

In a statement, the SPFL say clubs also "voted unanimously" to approve a recommendation that a new Ifab protocol for permanent concussion substitutes is used across all SPFL competitions.

"Each team will be allowed one concussion substitute per match in addition to the normal number of substitutes and substitution opportunities," they say.

"If that concussion substitute is used, the other team is allowed an additional substitute."

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St Johnstone have announced the signing of goalkeeper Josh Rae on a two-year contract.

The 23-year-old came through the Celtic and Leeds United academies, and has spent the last two seasons with Airdrieonians, where he won the SPFL Trust Trophy.

"It’s been a dream to play in the Premiership and hopefully I can play as many games as possible," Rae said.

"My main aim is to do well for this club and help us move forward. At every level, I’ve tried to do my best and work my way up. I now feel ready to take on this challenge."

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St Johnstone winger Drey Wright has signed a one-year new contract at the Perthshire club.

The 29-year-old was due to leave this summer but will now stay at McDiarmid Park after helping to keep Craig Levein's side in the Premiership.

Injury limited Wright's game time for most of the season but the ex-Hibs winger returned for the post-split fixtures, starting frequently at right-back.

He now enters his fifth season at the club, having made almost 100 appearances. He told club media: "I’m really happy to get things sorted here and I am looking forward to making up for some lost time.

"I think I was improving with every game towards the end of the season and thankfully I was able to help get the job done.

"Hopefully now, with a full pre-season, the improvement can continue and I can contribute a lot more in the upcoming season.

"Pre-season will be hard graft as ever but that is needed to give ourselves the best chance of success in the cup games and in the league.

"I enjoy coming in every day and I’ve made a lot of friends. After some really positive discussions with the manager and Andy Kirk, I’m really looking forward to my next year here."

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Swansea City are considering a £500,000 move for St Johnstone forward Adama Sidibeh. (Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Adama Sidibeh scored on his international debut as The Gambia routed Seychelles 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier.

The St Johnstone striker was introduced in the 67th minute of the Group F clash, finding the back of the net just 11 minutes later.

Victory hands Gambia their first three points of the campaign after three games, having endured narrow defeats to Cameroon and Guinea.

Sidibeh scored five goals in 15 Saints appearances after arriving from English seventh-tier side Warrington Rylands in January.

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The results are in. And they may be a surprise.

We asked you to cast your vote on whether the Scottish Premiership should keep VAR or scrap it.

More than 3,000 of you responded to the poll - and while there was a clear majority, it was no landslide.

Those in favour of ditching VAR totalled 67% of voters, while 33% were in favour of favour of keeping it.

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Most St Johnstone fans would credit Graham Carey's creativity in helping the club stave off relegation last season, and the stats highlight just how crucial the 35-year-old was.

In addition to his nine assists, he created 61 chances - the sixth most in the division - and completed 34 dribbles, only behind Dan Phillips in the St Johnstone squad.

The Perth side struggled for possession throughout last season, making those attacking numbers even more impressive, but Carey also mucked in defensively, winning back possession 226 times.

His all-round contribution explains just why his deal has been extended by a year as Craig Levein looks to squeeze yet more out of the veteran winger.

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Graham Carey has signed a one-year deal to stay with St Johnstone next season after playing a key role in the club's successful Premiership survival battle.

The midfielder, 35, will remain in Perth for a third campaign and aims to pass on his vast experience from a career that started at Celtic and includes spells at St Mirren, Plymouth Argyle and CSKA Sofia.

"I’m really happy to sign with the club again," said Carey. "I’m one of the more experienced players now and I’m hoping that can rub off on some of the younger guys.

"We want to be better than we were last season and get back to pushing further up the table."

Manager Craig Levein said: “Everyone knows Graham’s quality and I am sure he will continue to show this while pitching in with assists and goals next season."

The Scottish Professional Football League has ordered Dundee to pay St Johnstone £15,000 after ruling on whether the Perth club should be paid for the costs associated with McDiarmid Park being the back-up "home" venue for the Dark Blues’ Premiership game against Rangers in April. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.