Image source, SNSSt Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie will not be joining Rangers as their new chief executive. (Sun), external
Gillespie has withdrawn from the race to be appointed Rangers chief executive. (Mail), external
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has confirmed the Perth club’s interest in centre-half Charles Dunne, the 31-year-old who left St Mirren this summer. (Courier - subscription), external
Mark Jardine
Fan writer
International weeks, while they have their merits, are like opening a bag of crisps and noticing there are less crisps in there than there used to be. Mostly fresh air and unlikely to satisfy usual appetites.
Having travelled to Germany this summer and attended the Switzerland game in Cologne, my own interest in the national team has peaked and fallen away slightly. It'll come back, but for now I just want a return to the usual joys of a St Mirren-filled week.
Good news then, as usual service is back, baby. The Saints have a new striker in the country and in training, injured players have had a short break to push on towards availability for selection, and we have Kilmarnock to look forward to on Saturday.
Brothers in European arms this summer, both of last season's surprise packages have ultimately found their way to being knocked out of continental competition before Back to School promotions are removed from supermarket shelves.
Admittedly, our Ayrshire colleagues took a slightly more scenic route, but we've each ended up back in the same place with some nice memories and euros in the coffers as consolation.
Killie do not so much resemble a bogey team for St Mirren, as Derek McInnes represents some sort of Bogeymaster General.
He has made a career, from Perth to Kilmarnock via Pittodrie, of frustrating a succession of Saints managers at almost every turn. Indeed, last season's margin separating fourth and fifth place could be boiled down to their favourable head to head and little more.
With each passing season, the belief is this will be the one in which the curse is lifted, and this weekend is no different.
The Buddies have had an extra fortnight of one-game weeks to adjust to, and better league form thus far to point to as justification.
Respective fixture lists have been comparable, with the key difference to this point being success in front of goal. Bruce Anderson's late draw-salvaging penalty at home to Hibs was the first league goal recorded by Killie this season.
Saints' hopes will be pinned on this disparity continuing, and that Kevin van Veen can take last season's fruitless spell in Kilmarnock as motivation to get in on the act himself.
Mark Jardine can be found at Mistery Hunters, external
St Mirren will do everything in their power to keep manager Stephen Robinson at the club long-term, says chief operating officer Keith Lasley. (The Herald, subscription required), external
Read all of Tuesday's Scottish Gossip
Image source, SNSDespite the packed fixture schedule and their European exploits, it's been a steady start to the league season for Stephen Robinson's St Mirren, holding onto all three points against Hibernian on the opening day before picking up a point at Dens before the international break.
The Paisley club's fans are a fairly pleased group, and there have been plenty of signs they will be pushing for another top-six finish this season.
That pursuit can only be supported by the addition of proven goalscorer, Kevin van Veen. That's the one area St Mirren have failed to sort under Robinson, but the former Motherwell man might just be the answer.
From the first four top-flight games this season, the Buddies have only conjured up 36 shots. A league low.
They have also only had 67 touches in the opposition box, only Ross County (50) have had fewer.
At the other end, only Kilmarnock (65) have faced more shots on goal than St Mirren (61), but they have already faced Celtic, which tends to skew that particular stat.
Ellery Balcombe has been one of the brightest sparks for the Buddies between the sticks, and unless Van Veen starts finding the back of the net regularly, he will need to continue pulling out the stops.
BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.
Ewan asked: With both Hearts and Hibs managers under pressure, should Saints fans be worried about Stephen Robinson's position?
Tom answered: Well, Ewan, I would say yes. Robinson has such fantastic energy and is doing such a fine job at St Mirren that if those clubs are in need of a new manager at some point he's got to be on a shortlist.
Hearts and Hibs have gone for rookie managers and it's not working out at the moment. If they feel they have to make a big decision then Robinson ticks a lot of boxes.
That said, he's really happy at St Mirren, feels valued and supported and loves the job. He's building something there.
Bobby asked: Do you think St Mirren are now victims of last year's success as playing the four games in Europe has obviously affected their Premiership start? That said, do you think they have enough this season to finish top six again?
Tom answered: Europe can take a toll, Bobby. Jack Ross at Dundee United, Barry Robson at Aberdeen. Smallish squads are suddenly cast into a murderous run of games and the potential for things to go off the rails on all fronts is high. Once you lose confidence it can be very hard to get it back again.
I think they'll be very close to top six. The start to the league season has been brutally tough, partly because of Europe and in other part because they've had to play Aberdeen, Dundee United, Celtic and Dundee - all of whom are going well.
Things will settle down soon, I think. Top six will be harder because Aberdeen are a serious contender again. They were a shambles last season. So, difficult but doable.
Get your questions ready.
Tom English, BBC Sport Scotland's chief sportswriter, is in the hotseat and ready to offer his insight and opinion on your club.
Four games into the Premiership campaign, what would you like to ask?
Put your questions to our man here, external.
St Mirren have finally returned to their Ralston training base after months of switching between Neilston Juniors' Brig O'Lea and Glasgow University's Garscube facilities because their new six-figure surface had not bedded in properly following bad weather. (The National), external
Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Mark Jardine
Fan writer
Such is the volume and righteous fury around the concept of strikers across the Saints fandom this past week, you'd be forgiven for thinking there were bins not being collected or pits being closed within a PA postcode.
Angry fans - covering both the "Mika Mandron is no Doug Somner" and the "I signed Shankland on Fitba Manager and he only wanted two grand a week" ends of the age spectrum - constantly bemoan the absence of a true '20-goal-a-season striker' in Paisley.
The rational line sits somewhere far from that angle. Do strikers outside the big two/three in Scotland sometimes score 20 or more? Aye. Sometimes.
Is there a fool-proof method of predicting that'll be the case when you sign that striker on a free from the third tier in England? Naw.
Which brings us to deadline day at the Smisa Stadium and the ultra-last minute addition of Kevin van Veen on loan from Groningen. Van Veen embodies that discussion almost too perfectly.
After six seasons in English football to only modest acclaim and prolificacy, Motherwell fans hit the jackpot in 2022-2023, watching the Dutch powerhouse smash in 25 league goals across a single campaign.
Such excellence earned the hitman a return to his native Netherlands with Groningen, though that is where the purple patch seems to have halted for now.
A miserly loan spell with high-flying Kilmarnock last season bore no fruit, and his parent club were content to farm him out again this term.
For every 22-23 Van Veen masterclass, there are six, seven or eight other seasons of contrary evidence to work through.
Every striker ever signed in Scotland, with a couple of eight-goal seasons under their belt at Northampton or Crawley, has been recruited with the intention of unearthing a 25-goal diamond from the rough. The reality is very few ever do.
Stephen Robinson and Martin Foyle have banked two years worth of goodwill from their transfer dealings in Paisley, and even the most pessimistic of Buddies will back their judgement in recapturing that lightning in a bottle from the nomadic Van Veen.
If nothing else, the impending arrival of added competition seemed to drive Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya into netting a couple of exceptional striker's goals at Dens Park last weekend.
Should Van Veen's impact be in increasing the aggregate as opposed to breaking his own records, the sensible majority will be more than happy.
Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external
In: Dennis Adenirany, midfielder (Hapoel Petah Tikva); Alex Iacovitti, defender (Port Vale, undisclosed); Shaun Rooney, defender (Fleetwood Town); Oisin Smyth, midfielder (Oxford United); Jaden Brown, defender (Lincoln City, loan to permanent); James Scott, forward (Exeter City, loan to permanent).
Loan in: Killian Phillips, midfielder (Crystal Palace); Kevin van Veen, forward (Groningen); Ellery Balcombe, goalkeeper (Barnsley); Roland Idowu, midfielder (Shrewsbury Town).
Out: Ethan Sutherland, forward (Wolverhampton Wanderers, undisclosed); Ryan Strain, defender (Dundee United); Keanu Baccus, midfielder (Mansfield Town); James Bolton, defender (Fleetwood Town, undisclosed); Alex Greive, forward (Bohemian); Ryan Flynn, midfielder (Arbroath); Charles Dunne, defender.
Loan ended: Hyeokkyu Kwon, midfielder (Celtic); Zach Hemming, goalkeeper (Middlesbrough).
Loan out: Kieran Offord, forward (Crusaders); Lewis Jamieson, forward (Raith Rovers); Gallagher Lennon, midfielder (Annan Athletic).
Read the Scottish Premiership ins & outs in full here.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren youngster Gallagher Lennon has joined Annan Athletic on loan.
The 18-year-old, son for former Celtic and Hibernian manager Neil, will spend the remainder of the campaign with the third-tier side.
However, his parent club have the right to recall the teenager in January.
Image source, SNSMikael Mandron says St Mirren should be looking to pick up more draws this season as they look for a third consecutive top-six finish.
Last season, Stephen Robinson's side drew eight and lost 17 games in the Premiership, alongside their 13 wins.
Mandron's wonderful goal helped St Mirren to a 2-2 draw against Dundee on Sunday, their first of this league campaign.
"We are delighted to have scored two goals and I think a point is very good for us," Mandron said.
"Last year we didn't get that many draws, this year was kind of a point for us to try and get more draws.
"If you can't get a win, instead of getting a loss to try and get a point and we did that."
Mandron is also keen to link up with Kevin van Veen again, after his former Motherwell teammate signed for the Buddies on deadline day.
"I think it is great, it is super healthy, there is already loads of competition at the club and adding a player like Kevin van Veen is only going to make us better as a team but as individuals as well," Mandron added.
"I played with Kevin when I was at Motherwell, a great player, it was a joy playing with him so it is going to be good.
"He has got everything as a striker - he is strong, he is so good technically, he scored loads of goals for Motherwell, he is a great guy as well so I think it is great."
Watch highlights as Dundee and St Mirren draw in the Scottish Premiership.
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Image source, SNSStephen Robinson believes Kevin van Veen can get back to his best at St Mirren, following a disappointing loan spell at Kilmarnock in the second half of last season.
The Dutch striker played 13 games for the Rugby Park side without scoring, but Robinson has no doubts about Van Veen's ability to find the back of the net.
"I believe there are reasons it didn’t work out for him at Kilmarnock," Robinson said. "They were flying so it’s hard to break into a team when they’re doing that.
"There were also different things going on that affected him. I'm happy I've got him, he's in a good headspace, he's very talented and I'm delighted to have him.
"If you get him believing in himself he has the talent to win games.
"When games are tight perhaps he along with the other strikers give us wee added impetus going forwards."
Van Veen was not signed in time to be involved in St Mirren's 2-2 draw against Dundee on Saturday - a result that extended their winless run to six games.
Robinson hailed his side's battling qualities at Dens Park and expects results to pick up soon.
"Every game is important" Robinson added. "Every point counts. In previous years we could have lost that game but we weathered it ever so well.
"Credit to our players as our squad is still getting up to speed. The fans know that now we're focused on the league we'll get better."
Dundee extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine games by fighting back twice in an enthralling Scottish Premiership draw with St Mirren at Dens Park.
Toyosi Olusanya capitalised on Antonio Portales' hesitancy to give the visitors the lead, driving into the Dundee box and finishing from a tight angle.
But a similar error from Richard Taylor at the opposite end then allowed Curtis Main to loft in a delightful effort.
A chaotic 10-minute spell in the opening period ended with Mikael Mandron guiding in a stunning strike to restore the away side's advantage.
However, Docherty's men demonstrated the slick play they have been lauded for in the infancy of this campaign, when Lyall Cameron's superb reverse ball teed up Ziyad Larkeche to dispatch a composed finish.
Dundee fans, send us your thoughts on the game here, external.
St Mirren fans, give us your views here, external.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I'm delighted with the point against a top-six side last season. We've led twice with two really well-taken goals.
"Disappointed we didn't hang on, but to come here and get a point, we're really pleased with it.
"We faded away a wee bit but came back strong. The first goal we've made an induvial mistake, the second we made a poor decision on the ball. There are lessons for everybody.
"Could we have nicked it? Dundee will probably think the same."
Image source, SNSSt Mirren striker Mikael Mandron was a real handful for Dundee in the first half and scored a beauty from 20 yards
Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSZiyad Larkeche nets Dundee's second leveller against St Mirren
Having contributed to 24 Dundee goals since the start of last season, there would have been natural concern within the Dundee fanbase when they saw pictures of their talisman Luke McCowan holding a Celtic scarf above his head late on Friday.
But in Lyall Cameron, they have another diamond. The 21-year-old's delightful assist - one of two chances he created - showed how key he is to this exciting group.
Debutant Sammy Braybrooke, on loan from Leicester, can also be satisfied with his showing, looking composed on the ball while managing 15 final-third passes.
The big issue, however, is at the other end. Losing cheap goals was Dundee's Achilles heel last season, conceding 68 all in, and already this term they have shipped seven in four league games.
If Tony Docherty can sort that, there is serious potential to be unlocked in this team.
Similar could be said of St Mirren, who are capable of causing any side problems, especially with Toyosi Olusanya and Mikael Mandron in the form they showed first half.
Stephen Robinson's forward options look a bit light, though. Former Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen will help address that if he can get himself match fit and show the form that earned him a move to Groningen.
It is now no wins in six for the Paisley side, but back-to-back home games against Kilmarnock and Hearts after the international break gives them the chance to get points on the board.
Judging by their first-half display - and the way they ended the game at Dens - there is no need for any doom and gloom.
Jane Lewis, Brian McLauchlin and Tyrone Smith round up all the deadline defying drama as the Scottish transfer window shuts.
From Celtic's record breaking signing to some high profile departures they discuss all the biggest moves in Scotland and cross to Italy to hear about the excitement as Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay move to Napoli.
Listen to the full episode here.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren have completed the signing of former Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen on loan until the end of the season.
The 33-year Dutchman arrives from Groningen, having spent the latter half of last term with Kilmarnock.
During that spell, he failed to score in 13 appearances, but contributed 29 in 44 games with Motherwell in the previous campaign.
Ryan Flynn has joined Scottish League 1 side Arbroath from St Mirren.
The experienced midfielder, who signed for the Buddies back in 2018, lifted the Championship trophy with the side that same year.
He went on to play a pivotal part in their rise over the last few years and grew to be a fan favourite.
The 35-year-old's contract ended in Paisley at the end of the season, but he had been training with the club before signing for managerless Arbroath.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSEthan Sutherland has left St Mirren to join English Premier League side Wolves for an undisclosed fee, with the deal including "potential for significant adds on and a future sell on".
The 18-year-old forward rose through the youth academy and made his first-team debut last summer.
He had a loan spell at Alloa Athletic in the second half of last term and departs Paisley having made four appearances for Stephen Robinson's side.
"Ethan made it clear he wasn't going to sign with us at the end of the season so it would have been a compensation package," manager Robinson said.
"You're always at the mercy of these bigger clubs. It’s a brilliant move for him to a fantastic club and Wolves have got a player with a lot of potential.
"When I first came into the club there were people thinking twice about keeping him on but with his ability and raw talent it was imperative that we kept him and developed him.
"It's credit to the academy staff and now the first-team staff that have strengthened him. We wish him nothing but good luck."
As Friday's 23:00 BST transfer deadline edges closer, where do St Mirren still need to strengthen and what deals would you like completed before the window closes?
