St Mirren

Fixtures for the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season have been released.

The campaign will kick off with Hearts hosting Rangers at Tynecastle, a repeat of the sides' final league game of last season which ended in a 3-3 draw.

Newly-promoted Dundee United entertain derby rivals Dundee, while Celtic begin their title defence with the visit of Kilmarnock.

Jimmy Thelin's first Premiership game as Aberdeen boss is a trip to Perth to face St Johnstone.

David Gray starts his reign as permanent Hibs head coach away to St Mirren, while Motherwell are to home to Ross County.

The opening round of fixtures will be played from 3-5 August.

St Mirren start their 2024/24 Scottish Premiership campaign by hosting Hibs in Paisley on the opening weekend of the season.

Due to the Buddies' involvement in Europe, the match will take place on Sunday, 4 August at 15:00 BST.

You can find all of St Mirren's fixtures here

Image source, St Mirren FC on X

St Mirren have unveiled their new home kit, external for the upcoming campaign.

The strip is described by the club as "a classic reborn", with gold trim accompanying the club's traditional black and white stripes.

As the Paisley side prepare for their first European campaign since 1987, they say it will be a kit that is "long remembered" by fans.

Image source, Getty Images

The 2024-25 SPFL schedule will be unveiled at 09:00 BST on Thursday, and we've got all the information you need before the return of domestic football.

The action in all four leagues kicks off on the weekend of 3 August.

Eight months later, the Premiership split happens on the weekend of 12 and 13 April and the top-flight season concludes on the weekend of 17 and 18 May.

And while it might be too painful to be thinking about the national team, there are international periods in September, October, November and March to bear in mind.

There will not, however, be a winter break this season.

The expansion of Uefa's club competitions - with the new league phase of the Champions League and Europa League running until the end of January - is the reason for that.

The SPFL said the format change "exerts additional pressure on the domestic calendar" and means no mid-season trips to the sunshine for Premiership clubs.

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Jaden Brown says returning to St Mirren on a permanent deal gives him a "great opportunity to showcase what I'm all about".

The 25-year-old full-back has signed a two-year contract with the Paisley club after spending the second half of last season on loan from Lincoln City.

Brown's action was limited, playing just eight times for Stephen Robinson's side, but the Tottenham Hotspur academy product is hoping to "hit the ground running" this summer.

"I loved my time on loan here at the club last season," he said. "I didn't get as many games as I wanted, but it's important to be in and around good people and it was a successful group, qualifying for Europe."

St Mirren manager Robinson added: "I don't think people have seen the best of Jaden. He arrived here without a lot of game-time and towards the end of his loan we were really impressed with him.

"We had no direct competition for Scott Tanser at left-wing back so it was important we got that level of competition.

"Jaden can also play in numerous different positions further forward and on the right-hand side so he certainly strengthens our squad."

St Mirren are poised to re-sign Jaden Brown, with the 25-year-old set to leave Lincoln City after last season's loan spell with the Paisley club. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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St Mirren have signed Irish midfielder Roland Idowu on loan from Shrewsbury Town until the end of next season.

The 22-year-old played 10 times in total for Shrewsbury last season having signed for the club from Waterford in January.

"Roland is someone we feel that is highly talented," St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said.

"He can play as an eight, he can play anywhere in the midfield and he can play a little bit further forward in behind the strikers.

"He's different from what we have and someone I've kept an eye on from afar so we're delighted to have him on board."

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Ryan Strain's move to Dundee United is a "coup", says delighted manger Jim Goodwin.

The Australia full-back, 27, has signed a two-year deal at Tannadice to remain in the Premiership after leaving St Mirren this summer.

"Bringing Ryan to Tannadice represents an exciting and forward-thinking piece of business," added Goodwin.

"Throughout the past two seasons he has been one of the country’s best performers in his position - his set-piece delivery is first class, he rarely loses a defensive duel and possesses an infectious workrate."

We asked what you made of St Mirren's Europa Conference League draw and their chances, be it against Valur of Iceland or Albanian side Vllaznia.

Here's what you had to say:

Eddie: Hopefully we get Valur; the flight from Glasgow Airport will suit us. We also might get to see Marc McAusland again.

Philip: My 11-year-old son is a huge Buddies fan. He told me he's going away wherever they are drawn in Europe? He's already been to Iceland so maybe Albania? Best tell his mum. Come on you Saints!

Fraser: Desperate to see my team in an away European tie, having waited 37 years for the chance. I'm sure we'll carry a big travelling support. However, apparently if it's Iceland, the away capacity is only around 80. Hoping the club can support those who want to travel - maybe suggest to our opponents that they move the tie to a bigger stadium?

Stephen: Tickets allocation for away fans if the tie is in Iceland is a joke.

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Stephen McGinn has agreed to return to St Mirren as an academy coach after retiring from playing at the end of last season.

The 35-year-old made 197 appearances over two spells for the Paisley side and will now take a full-time role with the club's Under-18s.

McGinn had been working with the St Mirren Under-16s on a part-time basis - alongside his playing career - but decided to hang up his boots after leading Falkirk to the League 1 title.

"I feel like it was the right time to stop playing and I'm thankful that the club offered me the job when it did," McGinn said.

"I joined the academy in November but was still very respectful of my main job at the time being the Falkirk captain.

"When I got offered the job to come back in full-time and have it be my main job, I'm really excited about it.

"It's always been a path that I wanted to go into after I finished playing. I've been at St Mirren for a long time as a player and there's a brilliant academy here that will help me get better as a coach. My primary job is to try and get players into this first team.

"I know what it takes to come out the academy and be a first-team player. I've seen it first hand with team-mates, myself and my brother. I'm here to earn my stripes and show the players and coaches that I deserve to be here."

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The Europa Conference League draw provides St Mirren with an "exciting opportunity", according to manager Stephen Robinson.

Robinson's side will face Valur of Iceland or Albanian side Vllaznia in the second qualifying round of the competition, and the Northern Irishman can't wait to get started.

"I think it's a really good draw - but a tough one too," Robinson told the club's website.

"We've avoided two of the big sides that were unseeded in Hacken and Brann. The ties we face give us an opportunity, one I believe the fans will be really excited about in terms of travel.

"We obviously have to wait and see who we get but we're delighted to be involved at this level of competition."

The Paisley club could have faced Northern Irish side Cliftonville or League of Ireland Premier Division's Derry City, but Robinson is glad to have a trip further afield.

"It feels more like a European game," he added. "We still have to navigate our way past them but it will be an exciting trip for the fans.

"It will be a different test for us as players and coaches. I've already spoken to a few of them and they're already really looking forward to it.

"We will have the advantage of seeing both sides in action against each other. We'll prepare like we do for every other game. The world is a smaller place in terms of the footage available for other teams.

"We've had our time off. We've enjoyed it. We're very proud of what we achieved last season and now the challenge is can we take it a step further and progress in Europe.

"We know it's a tough tie. We'll need to do a lot of research. But we're all very excited about the challenges the new season will throw up."

Image source, Getty

St Mirren, fifth in the Premiership last season and whose most recent European involvement dates back to 1987, avoided Brann, Hacken, Derry City and Cliftonville in the draw for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

Stephen Robinson's men have been paired with either Valur or Vllaznia.

Valur were runners-up in the Icelandic top flight in 2023 and currently lie third, four points behind leaders and Reykjavik rivals Vikingur 11 games into the campaign.

Their 52-year-old head coach, former Iceland midfielder Arnar Gretarsson, once had a loan spell with Rangers.

They last played in European competition when they were beaten by Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the second qualifying round two years ago.

Albanians Vllaznia, who are in Europe after a fourth-place finish in their domestic league, lost in last season's first qualifying round to Northern Ireland's Linfield.

Thomas Brdaric, the 49-year-old former Germany and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, was appointed head coach earlier this year.

St Mirren will face Valur of Iceland or Albanian side Vllaznia in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

The first leg is away on 25 July, with the return in Paisley on 1 August.

What do you make of the draw and the Buddies' chances of making it through in their first European tie for 37 years?

Let us know your thoughts here., external

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St Mirren's list of potential opponents in today's Europa Conference League second qualifying round draw has been whittled down.

The Buddies are seeded and in group one for the draw (13:00 BST), meaning they could face:

• SK Brann (Norway)

• BK Hacken (Sweden)

• FCB Magpies (Gibraltar)/Derry City (Ireland)

• Valur (Iceland)/KF Vllaznia (Albania)

• Cliftonville (Northern Ireland)

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Billy Abercromby, St Mirren's 1987 Scottish Cup-winning captain, has died aged 65.

The former midfielder was a youth product and made his first appearance in 1976 before going on to play a total of 367 times.

He spent 13 seasons with the Buddies and was also part of the side that won the First Division title in 1976-77.

Abercromby went on to famously captain St Mirren to their third - and most recent - Scottish Cup triumph in 1987 after a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Hampden.

He would leave in 1988 and end his career with brief spells at Partick Thistle, Dunfermline Athletic, Cowdenbeath and East Stirlingshire.

"The thoughts of everyone at St Mirren are with Billy's loved ones at this difficult time," St Mirren said in a club statement.

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Kilmarnock and St Mirren will discover their European opponents this week, with their respective draws taking place on Wednesday.

The Ayrshire side will enter the Europa League at the second round of qualifiers, while their Premiership rivals go into Conference League at the same stage.

Kilmarnock's potential opponents are particularly eye-catching, with Dutch giants Ajax, Portugal's Braga and Trabzonspor of Turkey among a list of eight possibilities.

Molde of Norway, Croatian side HNK Rijeka and Austrians Rapid Wien are also in there.

Meanwhile, there are 44 potential teams St Mirren could be paired with.

Brann (Norway) and Hacken (Sweden) stand out as tough opposition, but Stephen Robinson's side would fancy their chances against clubs such as Cliftonville (Northern Ireland), St Patrick's Athletic (Ireland) and HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands).

Kilmarnock will learn their fate at 12:00 BST on Wednesday, with St Mirren's draw taking place an hour later.

The second-round ties of both competitions will take place on 25 July and 1 August.

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

That was the question we asked you to answer, with the transfer window now open.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Eddie: Loan out Peter Urminsky, sign Simon Murray. Strange as it may seem I would not sell anybody.

Iain: We desperately need a goalscorer, that must be the priority for the manager. The defence and midfield are strong but up front has always been a problem.

Joe: Sign Simon Murray.

Image source, Getty

St Mirren have signed midfielder Oisin Smyth from Oxford United on a two-year deal.

The Northern Irishman, 24, started his career with Dungannon Swifts, making more than 100 appearances before joining Oxford in January 2022.

He departs having played 25 games and scored one goal for the English Championship newcomers.

On his move to St Mirren, Smyth said: "Following the club last season and seeing how well they did was a massive factor. There were a few factors that caught my attention so I'm glad to get the deal over the line.

"My initial chats with the manager were very positive. The main thing we spoke on was development and how he is able to make players better. I wanted to come here and play and enjoy football again so that's the main aim."

Smyth becomes Saints' third summer arrival following full-back Shaun Rooney and goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe.

Manager Stephen Robinson is thrilled to land "another really good footballer".

Robinson added: "He’s someone I know from back home. He got a good move to Oxford but didn’t play as much as he wanted and comes in at that age bracket we like.

"He’s got lot of development and lots of game time to come. He can play in numerous different positions, he can play as a six or an eight."

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Lennon is thrilled the eyes of the football world are on two of his former St Mirren proteges as Scotland prepare to open Euro 2024 against hosts Germany.

Lennon, 55, gave talisman John McGinn his professional debut as an 18-year-old in 2012 when he was in charge of Saints and also handed a teenage Kenny McLean his Buddies bow in 2010.

Both of the Paisley academy graduates played a big part in helping Scotland qualify for Euro 2024 last year, and Lennon is hoping to see the Aston Villa and Norwich midfielders prosper in Germany.

Steve Clarke’s side kick off Euro 2024 against Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Friday.

“It’s always nice when you’ve worked with players and you see them progress to the level John and Kenny have gone to,” said Lennon.

“You could tell at a young age they had ability but what’s got to come along with ability is the character, determination and attitude, and the two of them have that in abundance.

“I started John McGinn in a cup final at 18 years of age so that’s how much faith and belief I had in him,” he said.

“I’ve only had a wee helping hand in his career, like every other coach he’s had – it’s John who has put himself on this stage – but you could certainly see at an early age the talent that he had."

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 Mirren, who would you pick?

Click here, external to let us know.

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St Mirren have confirmed their pre-season schedule, which includes four friendlies and a warm weather training camp.

Stephen Robinson's side will travel to Spain for a week and start their 2024-25 preparations at the Pinatar Arena.

The Buddies will take on Championship side Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park when they return in early July.

There will be a Renfrewshire derby the following Tuesday when they face Greenock Morton at Cappielow.

Robinson's men then host English League Two sides Fleetwood Town and Carlisle United before their Europa Conference League qualifying campaign begins at the end of the month.

St Mirren's pre-season fixtures:

• Dunfermline Athletic v St Mirren, 6 July (15:00)

• Greenock Morton v St Mirren, 9 July (19:45)

• St Mirren v Fleetwood Town, 13 July (15:00)

• St Mirren v Carlisle United, 19 July (19:30)

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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."