St Mirren

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Tunmise Sobowale's "athleticism, pace and energy" will bring "real quality" to St Mirren, says manager Stephen Robinson.

The 26-year-old right wing-back has become the Paisley side's latest summer signing, joining from Swindon Town on a two-year deal.

"We believe Tunmise has real quality in terms of his athleticism, his pace and his energy," said Robinson.

"He's coming in to compete with Jayden [Richardson] for a place in the team. He can play at right-sided centre-half or as a real attacking right wing-back with his pace.

"It's another bit of competition which we need in the squad."

Tunmise began his career at his hometown club Waterford. He would move to Spain in 2018 to join Hercules before returning to Ireland with Finn Harps.

In 2020 Tunmise re-joined Waterford, where he played with Buddies players Roland Idowu and Richard Taylor.

He would then move to Shrewsbury Town before going on to make 44 appearances at Swindon.

"I've spoken to some players who were previously here and they've had nothing but good things to say about the club," said Tunmise.

"I think it is the perfect place for me to play my football right now and enjoy it. I want to now do the best I can for myself and the club."

Swindon Town defender Tunmise Sobowale, 26, is on the verge of completing a move to St Mirren. (Swindon Advertiser), external

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before St Mirren's League Cup group game with Annan Athletic this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Buddies boss:

• St Mirren are set to complete the signing of Jalmaro Calvin in the next couple of days - "we're just waiting for paperwork now" - and Robinson says the Jamaica winger "adds something different, real pace and energy in the wide areas or through the middle".

• Former England boss Steve McClaren, who is now Jamaica head coach, provided a reference for Calvin at the 22-year-old's work permit hearing on Thursday. Having also signed Jamaica defender Richard King from the same club, Cavalier FC, this summer, Robinson says St Mirren have to "continue to be clever" and explore "diverse markets" for new recruits.

• The Paisley side are also keen to explore player development partnerships with a club in the Championship and one in League One as part of the Scottish FA's new cooperation system. The Buddies have already struck agreements with League Two Dumbarton and Lowland League Clydebank.

• Robinson says: "So it's a really good agreement that is flexible. It's beneficial to the club that takes him because they don't pay any money for him. And they get a really good young player. And it's beneficial to us because they're playing matches at good levels in competitive games."

• Former Morton goalkeeper Ryan Mullen will make his St Mirren debut on Saturday. The 24-year-old was due to play against Forfar on Tuesday but was ill.

• Robinson says that although he's pleased with how Peter Urminsky has performed in the League Cup matches, he's still looking to bring in another goalkeeper.

• He adds: "We know Peter needs games. We believe he needs to go out and maybe get 30, 40 games. We will be certainly looking at a loan deal if he's not going to be the number one goalkeeper here."

• The St Mirren manager describes the League Cup group stage as "pre-season games you must win", adding: "I'm still trying to find out the best XI, your best system that fits in. I'm still trying to sign players, as all clubs are."

• On new head of recruitment John Park: "He's a really nice guy and he's got a multitude of contacts. His record speaks for itself in the game, so I'm really looking forward to working with him. He's fitted in really, really well and I'm looking forward to building that relationship."

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Manager Stephen Robinson was relieved to see St Mirren "revive" their League Cup campaign with a 2-1 win at League Two side Forfar.

The Buddies boss was far from happy that his Scottish Premiership side drew 0-0 with Arbroath on Saturday before losing the penalty shootout and bonus point.

At fourth-tier Forfar, defender Jayden Richardson drove in his first goal for the club after nine minutes and Mikael Mandron doubled that lead after 75 minutes, with Kieran Inglis reducing the deficit with a fine strike.

Robinson told St Mirren's official X account: "It was a win. These games are a hiding to nothing. You come here, a real sticky pitch. Everyone expects you to win five and six.

"We started extremely well and then we got a bit casual with things, without Forfar really threatening apart from free-kicks we gave away needlessly.

"We need a few fresh faces to freshen things up as well. But as I've always said at this stage of the season, you're still searching for your best 11 people, you are still searching for form.

"You're expected to come in and roll people over and Rangers and Celtic don't go to Livingston and Kilmarnock (artificial pitches) and roll them over.

"It's difficult to move the ball on these surfaces. It's difficult to get any kind of momentum.

"And we can be better, of course, we can be better in certain aspects and in our decision-making, especially.

"But we did what we needed to do to win, to sort of revive the campaign again, and we will go on and try and win the next two games and qualify."

St Mirren are poised to complete signing of 22-year-old Jamaican winger Jalmaro Calvin, who played alongside new signing Richard King at Cavalier. (David Irvine on X), external

St Mirren have finalised co-operation agreements with Clydebank and Dumbarton. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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St Mirren have announced strategic partnerships with League Two side Dumbarton and Lowland League club Clydebank as part of the Scottish FA's new cooperation system.

The initiative was passed earlier this year to help improve player development in Scotland by providing more opportunities for young talent.

St Mirren say the system allows them to "place a maximum of three players, who are eligible to play for Scotland and are under the age of 21, on a cooperation list".

These players are then able to move freely between St Mirren, Dumbarton and Clydebank.

As part of the agreement, Buddies youngsters Carrick McEvoy, Thomas Falconer and Theo McCormick have all joined Dumbarton, while Billy Hutchison will link up with Clydebank.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said: "I firmly believe in the loan system to develop our young players and something that hindered that previously was not being able to bring them back at certain stages or leaving yourself short in numbers.

"With the cooperation agreement, we are able to get them into men's football to develop under other coaches. Hopefully, we can also help the coaches and the clubs they are going to. It will be a great benefit for both parties."

St Mirren chief operating officer Keith Lasley added: "As per the Scottish FA's transition report, it has been shown, as a country, that we need to try and produce more young footballers for the national team.

"From a club point of view, it's something we want to do as well. We see these cooperation agreements as a key step forward in allowing us to be more strategic in our planning and think long-term rather than what has been traditionally a short-term, reactive process."

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We asked you for your views following St Mirren's penalty shootout loss to Arbroath in the Premier Sports Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Tony: Absolutely terrible performance. No shots at goal and Urminsky kept us in it. But, remember how our season went two years ago after Montrose beat us so fingers crossed for the same.

William: Pathetic performance, if that's what we are taking into the season it's not looking good. Nothing up front and no creativity, it was easy to play against us.

Douglas: An utter embarrassment from St Mirren.

Goalkeeper Urminsky was our best player with four outstanding saves. Two shots the whole game and poor shots they were.

Arbroath were the more hungry side throughout.

Robert: Poor performance, much too slow in the build-up, hardly tested their goalkeeper. Thought our goalkeeper played well.

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"Shocked" Stephen Robinson apologised to St Mirren fans who travelled to Arbroath for their Premier Sports Cup opener which ended in a goalless draw and a defeat on penalties.

The Buddies - who lost captain Mark O'Hara to a second yellow card after 88 minutes - couldn't break down the Championship outfit inside the 90 minutes, and lost out on the bonus point that comes with winning the penalty shootout.

St Mirren are back on the road on Tuesday, visiting League 2 Forfar Athletic and Robinson is demanding a response after he "didn't recognise" some of his side's play.

"I'm in a little bit of shock," he told club media.

"The performance of maybe 13 of them is something I've not seen all pre-season. We've had a fantastic pre-season.

"I didn't recognise some of the decision-making, some of the passing, some of the simple things we've continually done through the pre-season.

"We decided as a collective not to do that and got exactly what we deserved.

"We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves. It's disappointing for us, disappointing for the people that travelled a long way on a Saturday when they could have been sitting in the garden – I bet they wish they had done.

"But it's a group of boys that have never let me down over a longer period of time. As I say, we have to be and will be better than that.

"We have to react to it, we will be better. We have to do simple things which we didn't do."

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St Mirren are "more than capable" of reaching the latter stages of a cup competition and giving the fans "a special day out", says captain Mark O'Hara.

While the Buddies have enjoyed three top-six finishes in a row in the Scottish Premiership, they haven't got their hands on silverware since beating Hearts in the 2013 League Cup final.

The class of 2013 are "legends" in Paisley, and O'Hara wants to emulate their success.

"Obviously there was success before in the cup and the boys that played that day are legends here and that's what we want to achieve," O'Hara said as St Mirren prepare to kick-off their League Cup campaign against Arbroath on Saturday.

"We've had success with the top six and getting into Europe and things like that, but this group want a cup run.

"We want to be successful in the cup and winning a cup would be special.

"When you look in the stadium and see all the photos and the celebrations last time, and the town coming together, it's something that we're capable of and would like to give to the fans.

"We've spoken already and I think that's something that as a group and as a staff, we want to achieve – we want a cup run, we want to get to Hampden and want that day out and we're more than capable of doing it.

"So we just need to make sure that we approach these games right, firstly, and give ourselves the best chance we can."

Latvia centre-back Daniels Balodis, the 27-year-old who left St Johnstone this summer, is set to sign for Tatran Presov in Slovakia despite interest from St Mirren. (Daily Record), external

Defender Richard King has been in training with St Mirren following his move from Cavalier but is unlikely to feature in Saturday's Scottish League Cup meeting with Arbroath. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Mikael Mandron scored twice as St Mirren defeated hosts Airdrieonians 2-0 in their final pre-season friendly.

Mandron struck after being set up by Marcus Fraser on the quarter-hour mark.

And the forward, 30, headed his second after the break.

Stephen Robinson's side start their competitive season away to Arbroath in the Scottish League Cup on Saturday (15:00).

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Richard King already feels part of a St Mirren "family" after the Jamaica international arrived at his new club last week.

Defender King, 23, signed for Stephen Robinson's side last month but has now joined up with his team-mates following the conclusion of Jamaica's participation in the Gold Cup.

"I'm very excited to get working with the boys and the coaches," he told club media.

"It feels like a good place to be. There are some good lads and some nice people.

"From my little time here, I can see the team is like a family. Everyone is close, really works together so I think it's really nice here. I know I'm in a good place."

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Assistant manager Brian Kerr says the training camp in Spain has been "very beneficial" for St Mirren as they prepare for their season-opener on Saturday.

The Buddies travel to Gayfield this weekend (Saturday, 12 July kick-off 15:00 BST) to take on Arbroath in their first League Cup group stage game.

Before that, they face Airdrieonians on Tuesday in their final pre-season game back on home soil.

Stephen Robinson's side have spent the last week in the blistering heat of Pinatar, and Kerr can only see positives from their time in the sun.

"It's been a great week," Kerr told club media.

"It's been great for bringing the new boys together, bringing some young boys over, continuing to add to the fitness that the boys had already topped up on and getting our ideas across for the way we want to play.

"The boys have worked very, very hard.

"It's been extremely warm conditions but what they get out of that is going to be very beneficial going back in towards the last pre-season game next week and then the first game of the cup."

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St Mirren's 2013 Scottish League Cup triumph highlighted the power of the Paisley community, says former Buddies captain and manager Jim Goodwin.

The Dundee United boss skippered the Buddies to the club's historic 3-2 win over Hearts more than 12 years ago.

Reflecting on the success and the celebrations that followed, Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "It brought the whole community of Paisley together. It was something [manager] Danny Lennon did really well.

"We did a lot of school visits and hospital visits, we were around all the different businesses trying to generate as much support as possible. The fans turned out in great numbers on the day at Hampden.

"I don't think any of us would have anticipated the scenes back in Paisley town centre [after we won]. At one stage you thought, there's nobody here, then you turned the corner and you saw thousands and thousands lining the streets.

"They were hanging out of windows. The weather wasn't great and they still went to the bother. I look back with fond memories and it's a nice thing to show to my son, who's football daft."

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St Mirren completed their training camp in Spain with a 2-1 friendly win over English League Two side MK Dons.

Roland Idowu and Alex Iacovitti were on target in a morning kick-off at the Pinatar Arena.

Idowu scored his third goal of pre-season in the second minute when he gathered a pass from Jonah Ayunga and managed to squeeze the ball home despite a stumble.

Ayunga inadvertently turned a cross into his own net for the MK Dons leveller, but a header from Iacovitti at a corner had the Paisley team back in front before the interval.

"There was a lot of pleasing stuff," manager Stephen Robinson told club media. "It's been a good week for us.

"We finished the game with seven academy kids. That will give them a little flavour of the physicality and intensity.

"When you're an under-18 at St Mirren, you're never too far away from the first team and some have shown they need a little bit more. They need to go on loan, get stronger, maybe their decision-making needs to be quicker."

St Mirren have a Tuesday friendly with Airdrie scheduled and open their League Cup campaign away to Arbroath next Saturday.

Ross County beat Dundee United and St Mirren to the signature of 21-year-old left-back Len O'Sullivan from Glenavon. (Scottish Sun, print edition)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.