Image source, SNS Beni Baningime's deflected goal cancelled out Evan Mooney's early strike as Hearts and St Mirren drew in a pre-season friendly out in Spain. Both sides were heavily-rotated in the "incredible heat", with Buddies boss Stephen Robinson adding it was "a good workout against a very strong Hearts side". Mooney, 17, opened the scoring 13 minutes into the affair, finishing off the move he started with a slammed finish by Zander Clark. Baningime lost possession for the Buddies goal, but the Hearts midfielder made up for his mistake when he let fly from distance. A wicked deflection off Alex Iacovitti wrong-footed new signing Ryan Mullen in goal, leaving him with no chance. St Mirren's Conor McMenamin thought he had the winner when the ball was in the back of the net, but the offside flag denied him.
Image source, SNS Liam Donnelly says it has been an "easy transition" into the St Mirren squad since joining from Kilmarnock last week. The midfielder, who is also comfortable in defence, spent three seasons at Killie after joining from Motherwell, where he worked with current Buddies boss Stephen Robinson. He enjoyed his first run-out for the Buddies in the friendly win against Dumbarton on Saturday and was impressed with the "really good" quality of the group. "I know a few of the lads here already, I know the manager, some of the staff as well, so it's been quite an easy transition to get settled in," he told club media. "[The quality] is really good. Obviously I've seen that from playing against the team over the last couple of years, there's not been too many changes from last season, so I know the quality that's there. "I'm hopefully here to add to it and build on the success of the last few years." As well as adding quality to the crop, Donnelly is also hoping to bring "tenacity". "[I'll probably be] the sitting midfielder," he added. "I like to break things up, win the ball back, get things ticking, get things moving from the back as well."
Image source, SNS Image caption, Scotland internationals Greg Taylor (left), Lawrence Shankland (centre) & Allan Campbell (right) are all set to become free agents BBC Sport has taken a look at which players will be free agents on 1 July. The majority of major football leagues run from late summer to late spring, with pre-season in June and July. Therefore, contracts across most divisions typically expire at 23:59 on 30 June each year. Those whose contracts are expiring but have already agreed transfers to new clubs are not included, as they will not become free agents. Some Scottish Premiership contracts expire on 31 May rather than 30 June - the below players either already are or will become free agents. Aberdeen: Tom Ritchie Celtic: Greg Taylor Dundee: Scott Fraser, Antonio Portales, Joe Shaughnessy Dundee United: David Babunksi, Allan Campbell, Lewis Moult, Bryan Mwangi Falkirk: N/A Hearts: Jorge Grant, Barrie McKay, Lawrence Shankland Hibernian: Maksymilian Boruc, Junior Hoilett Kilmarnock: Kyle Magennis, Kieran O'Hara, Kyle Vassell Livingston: N/A Motherwell: Moses Ebiye, Harry Paton, Dominic Thompson, Davor Zdravkovski Rangers: Adam Devine, Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi St. Mirren: Dennis Adeniran, Elvis Bwomono
Image source, SNS Image caption, Evan Mooney is one of many St Mirren youngsters who featured against Dumbarton St Mirren assistant manager Brian Kerr says "a few staked their claim" in the Buddies comfortable pre-season friendly win against Dumbarton. Mikael Mandron opened the scoring for Stephen Robinson's side before Roland Idowu added a double and James Scott rounded off the scoring with a late goal. "I think it's always important that strikers get opportunities and chances," Kerr said. "We've managed to get Mika, Roland and James all scoring goals today, which is pleasing for us and important for them on a personal point of view. "A good workout, a good performances along the way with young boys and with some of the experienced ones. "There's a couple of them really state their claim for their place in the season." The Buddies had a number of academy graduates and young players out at The Rock, and Kerr added "none of them have done themselves any harm". "It's great for the young boys to come in," he added. "Obviously, Callum [Penman] and Evan [Mooney] came in last season. We've got Billy [Hutchison] and Thomas [Falconer] that came in and performed very, very well. "Opportunities are there for the boys if they want to take them. Certainly, none of them have done themselves any harm."
Image source, SNS Goalkeeper Ryan Mullen hopes "to take the number one jersey" after signing for St Mirren from Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton. Celtic academy product Mullen, 24, has joined Stephen Robinson's side on a two-year deal having kept 25 clean sheets in 65 games for Morton. Manager Robinson believes he will provide "real competition" to fellow shotstopper, Peter Urminsky. "We feel as if we have two very good young goalkeepers with great potential," Robinson told club media. Mullen "feels ready" to make the step to the top flight, having enjoyed spells at Queen's Park and Clyde before settling at Cappielow. "After playing in the Championship, taking the step up to the Premiership was always a big ambition of mine," he added. "I feel as if I've been ready since my first season in the Championship. "I knew I wanted to play in the top-flight, I wanted to be in the Premiership and I feel ready to go. "It's all about getting my head down, getting to work and trying to stake my claim in the team."
Image source, SNS Striker Owen Oseni's exit for Plymouth Argyle will "free up more money to do other necessary business", says manager Stephen Robinson, who also confirmed the club are "getting a bigger fee than we paid for him". The 22-year-old has signed a three-year contract after a remarkable rise with St Mirren securing a sell-on clause and potential for future add-ons The Irish striker joined National League side Gateshead last July after being released by Derby County and scored 13 goals in 24 league appearances before moving to St Mirren in January. Despite making just 11 substitute appearances for the Scottish top-flight side, Oseni has done enough to persuade Argyle to bring him to Devon. "Owen didn't really settle and hit the ground running at the club," Robinson told club media. "It was a little bit of a longer-term project, but we received a bid from Plymouth and we're getting a bigger fee than we paid for him. "Given he wasn't playing on a regular basis, it allows Owen to move on with his career. "He's a really good lad and he has conducted himself ever so well. I think he'll get better with time and we have protected ourselves with a significant sell-on should that be the case. "The move also lets us to free up more money to do other business which I believe is necessary. "There are ongoing negotiations with other players as we are actively looking to recruit two or three players."
St Mirren have accepted a transfer bid from Plymouth Argyle for striker Owen Oseni that would net the Paisley club a significant profit on the 22-year-old, who cost £120,000 transfer from Gateshead in January but has yet to score. (Sun), external Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip
Image source, SNS "Competitive and versatile" Northern Ireland international Liam Donnelly has joined St Mirren on a two-year deal from Kilmarnock. Midfielder Donnelly, who is also comfortable in defence, spent three seasons at Killie after joining from Motherwell, where he worked with current Buddies boss, Stephen Robinson. He made 91 appearances for the Rugby Park side - including playing a vital role in their fourth-place finish two seasons ago - before his contract expired this summer. Upon his signing, the 29-year-old said: "I know the manager well and have seen the success of the club the past few years. I want to be a part of that and hopefully we can do similar this season. "I just need to focus on getting my foot in the door and making sure I'm doing well enough to be in the manager's thoughts for the starting eleven." Donnelly, who is Robinson's fifth summer signing, will give the manager "options in numerous positions". "I've worked with Liam before and he's a really competitive player. "Technically, he is very good as well and he gives us options in numerous positions. "Liam can play anywhere in the back three, he can play at full-back in a four or he can play as a six or an eight in midfield as well, so it gives us a real lot of options in terms of where we can play him. "He's someone we feel will bring real competition to the squad. We run with a small squad so Liam's versatility could be invaluable through the season. "He's had injuries in the past that he's over now as he knows how to manage his body. "He's a tough competitor and gives us a real physicality as well as quality on the ball."
We asked for your views on St Mirren's Scottish Premiership fixtures and how they will be faring after 10 games. Here's what some of you said: Alistair: We've got both the Old Firm in the first month, which I hope is a good time as they bed in new squads and have Europe to think about. The European games will take a lot out of Hibs and Aberdeen, so I can see us having a good start with good recruitment. Spike: We need to make a fast start and I'm pleased to have Celtic at home first game. We should have nothing to fear after going undefeated in the top six after the split last season. We've shown how well organised and competitive we can be on our day. What we need this season is more consistency. It was a puzzle last season to watch us great one week and poor the next. Top six again will be a massive challenge for a club of our means, but I genuinely think we can do it again. And of course I'd love a good cup run - we are overdue one! Pat: We will be top six from day one to the end of the season and win a cup.
Opta have crunched the numbers to rank the difficulty of each Scottish Premiership club's first four fixtures of the 2025-26 season. According to their data model, St Mirren have the toughest start, followed by two clubs helmed by new managers, Dundee and Motherwell. As for the easiest, Hibernian and capital rivals Hearts should got off to a flier, right? Take a look below to see where your side places...
Image source, SNS Aside from the first game of the season against Celtic, all dates are subject to change as a result of broadcast and other requirements. Image source, SNS See St Mirren's full fixture list here
Image source, SNS As starts - and ends - to a season go, St Mirren are in for a stiff test. Stephen Robinson's side face last season's Scottish Premiership top three in the first four games of the new term, and the top two and Scottish Cup winners, in the final four. After lifting the curtain on the campaign away to champions Celtic, the Buddies welcome Motherwell to Paisley on Saturday, 9 August. Russell Martin's Rangers come to town two weeks later, before St Mirren wrap up August in the capital against Hibernian. A jam-packed, six-game December sees festive trips to Aberdeen (6 December), Hearts (13 December) and Rangers (30 December). Fast forward to the end of the pre-split campaign and it's equally eye-opening. The Buddies wrap up the season where they started it at Celtic Park on Saturday, 11 April. The week before, the Dons are at the SMISA after Rangers visit two matchdays before. It's quite the start, middle and end for the Buddies... what do you make of it? Looking at the fixture list, where do you think St Mirren will be after 10 games? Tell us here.
No sooner does the season finish and we start looking forward to key dates for the next campaign - and that will be a lot easier to do on Friday when the Scottish Premiership fixtures are released. That's right, that special day in the calendar is almost here already. The day when you'll learn details of derby fixtures, Christmas opponents and the run-in to the split. This page will bring you all the fixtures when they drop at 09:00 BST on Friday and we'll be giving you the chance to have your say on how things look. The new campaign kicks off on the weekend of Saturday, 2 August and will conclude on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
Image source, SNS Image caption, John Park is St Mirren's new head of recruitment St Mirren have appointed John Park as head of recruitment and emerging talent after Martin Foyle left to join Carlisle United. Park was most recently head of recruitment at Blackburn Rovers and has also worked for clubs including Celtic, Rangers, Birmingham City, Maccabi Haifa and Vancouver Whitecaps. St Mirren CEO Keith Lasley said: "We are sorry to see Martin moving on and wish him the best of luck in his new challenge. "His contributions have been key in the club's progression over the past few seasons and we thank him for all his efforts. "We have, however, moved quickly to bring John to the club and we are excited to welcome him to St Mirren. "John's experiences across the world, significantly in player trading and youth development, make him the ideal person to build upon the relative success at the club over the past few years in line with our club strategy." Manager Stephen Robinson says the exit of "close friend" Foyle is a "sad loss for the club". He added: "Martin has been an integral part of what we've done over the past three-and-a-half years and he's been an integral part of what I've done as a manager over 10 years now. "The club have appointed John and it's important that we get working together quickly, build a relationship and I look forward to that."
Image source, SNS Image caption, Jayden Richardson was an Aberdeen player between 2022 and 2024 "All the attributes are there" for new St Mirren signing Jayden Richardson to be a success in Paisley, says manager Stephen Robinson. The former Aberdeen defender, who was most recently at Boreham Wood in England's fifth tier, has penned a two-year deal with the Buddies. "Jayden is someone I tried to sign a few seasons ago," Robinson said. "He has got a lot of attributes that I like in a wing-back/full-back. "He's quick, he's strong, he's tall and very like Ryan [Alebiosu] who was with us last season. All the attributes are there and it's up to us to get that quality out of him." Richardson, who is a product of Nottingham Forest's academy, added: "I can bring energy, pace and power, and hopefully that athleticism up and down can get the fans on the edge of their seats. "I know what [Scottish football] is like. When I was up here in the past, playing against St Mirren, we knew it was a tough game no matter what and the fans here were outstanding."
Image source, Getty Images New signing Richard King will be a "really good asset" for St Mirren, says manager Stephen Robinson. The Buddies have signed the 23-year-old defender on a two-year deal from Jamaican side Cavalier. Robinson says St Mirren have "tracked" the Jamaica international "for a long time and kept up with his progress". "He's quick, he's strong and he's a project for us as well as it's a step up in level," the Northern Irishman added. "We believe he can be a really good asset for the football club when he returns from playing in the Concacaf Gold Cup. "We think he will add real competition to the boys we've already got and give us another option in that department."
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