St Mirren Football Club can confirm that Ian McShane has left the club to join Ladbrokes Championship side Falkirk.

Ian joined St Mirren in July 2017 from Ross County and played a pivotal role in our Championship winning side. 

In his time at Saints, Ian made 49 appearances scoring five goals.

We would like to thank Ian for all his efforts at the Buddies and wish him the best for the future. 

We can confirm today that Jordan Kirkpatrick will leave the club to join Alloa Athletic on January 1st 2019 subject to the completion of paperwork.

Jordan signed for Saints from the Wasps in May 2017 and went on to make 17 appearances in his time at the Buddies.

We would like to thank Jordan for all his efforts at St Mirren and wish him the best for the future. 

As we approach the new year it is customary to reflect and to make resolutions for making positive changes going forward.

2018 was a year that saw us fulfil our goal of bringing Premiership football back to Paisley and whilst it has been a somewhat turbulent return to the top flight to date I am confident that the huge amount of work that has gone on over the last few months will pay dividends in the second half of the season.

Oran and his backroom team have been travelling the length and breadth of the UK and beyond scouting potential targets and I am sure we are all looking forward to him putting his own stamp on the squad.

There are no guarantees in football but you can rest assured that we will give the management team every help we possibly can as we seek to improve the playing squad in what is going to be a very busy January transfer window.

One of the bright spots of the season so far has been the emergence of our youth players. Ethan Erhahon has quickly become a regular in the first team and if Cammy MacPherson had not been restricted by injuries I am sure we would have seen a lot more of him. Cammy Breadner and Sam Jamieson have both made their first team debuts this season.

Here’s a quick update on a few other things happening in and around the club since my last update.

Stadium and Academy lighting

We are about to start the process of changing all the lighting at the stadium and academy to low energy LED fittings. This will pay for itself over the next 5 years and it is something that is much needed especially in the car park where half the lights are either missing or not working.



I would like to thank club sponsors Consilium Contracting Services for their assistance in working with the club to specify and install the lighting and Resource Efficient Scotland who are helping finance the process.

Academy Pitch

The new pitch at the academy is now complete. It has already raised the standard of the junior academy and reserve team training and will now be vital to the first team when the weather dictates that they cannot use the grass.

We spent a lot of time researching the best surface with academy manager Allan McManus travelling as far afield as Holland. The financial input from SMiSA members allowed us to go the extra mile and lay what is now one of the best surfaces available at any level.

We would also like to thank Scottish Football Partnership for their financial assistance.

Tunnel Project

The project to personalise the tunnel is now complete with the addition of a board celebrating the Championship winning team from last year, some upgraded lighting and the laying of Astro turf.

Our thanks to club sponsors Rearo for working with us to design and manufacture the boards. I am sure seeing all the successful saints teams of the past inspires the players as they pass through the tunnel.

We have also installed a camera in the tunnel to help add to the atmosphere at the start of the game. We have had a few software issues that meant it wasn’t working at every game but it will become a regular feature going forward.

Match Day Entertainment

The Paisley Panda is not just the club mascot.

Colin Bright, ably assisted by our club SLO’s, is the driving force behind all the good things that happen to entertain families on match days.

Thanks to donations from the Fans Council, SMiSA and the Kibble we have been able to provide face painters, balloon artists and buskers as well as half time entertainment.

The feedback we get from the families coming to the games is excellent so keep up the good work guys.

St Mirren Trust

The St.Mirren Community Trust (shortly to be renamed The St.Mirren Charitable Foundation) was set up in 2013. However, without adequate initial funding it's aims and objectives stalled.

Recently, the opportunity arose to employ a consultant in Gayle Brannigan who had extensive experience in trust management and we felt that she would be the catalyst to getting it up and running and doing good things in the local community. As a result the club invested an initial start up sum to get the charity moving forward and within the last few months we have seen several projects completed  by the charity with the help of the club and key business partners.

The board of the trust now consists of Saints director Alan Wardrop, Paul McNeil of the SFA, Gavin Whyte of Sigmoid Consulting and is chaired by Sir Ian Reid who has unrivalled experience in running and developing trusts.

We will explain more about the trusts aims and objectives in a separate article but already we have seen a pilot scheme for young entrepreneurs from Renfrew high school, a festive friends program which in conjunction with the Salvation Army provided Xmas dinner at the stadium for people who would otherwise be spending Xmas on their own and the siting of a men’s shed within the attenuation area behind the dome (thanks to club sponsor Cruden for providing one of the cabins and doing all the preparation work).

The next program they are working on, FFIT, is an SPFL Trust program which uses football as the engagement tool to encourage participants to sign up to a free 12 week training course which would be taken at the stadium. It's aimed at men & women between the ages of 35-65 who are at overweight and as such at potential risk of developing diabetes and other coronary heart disease related conditions.  If you are interested in joining the programme contact the trust via Gayle Brannigan at gayle.brannigan@stmirren.com

SMISA Director

David Riley has been part of the SMiSA committee since the club takeover and after the recent election becomes their representative on the club board. We look forward to welcoming David into the boardroom.

Dave Nicol has been an excellent choice as the first ever fans representative on the board and we have asked Dave to continue on the board to assist David to integrate smoothly into his new position.

And Finally……

Whilst it was perhaps easy for fans to turn out in such large numbers as we closed in on the Championship title it is at difficult times like the ones we have faced recently that fans truly become "supporters".

It’s been a difficult time for you all and yet the backing we continue to receive, both home and away, has been absolutely fantastic. It really does make a huge difference, something that Oran and the players have all acknowledged.

There were a lot of fixtures in December, a notoriously expensive time of the year for us all and yet we still had great numbers following the Saints at all our matches. Over 1,000 at Kilmarnock was terrific commitment.

None of this is ever taken for granted and everyone at the club is desperate to give you better results on the park to reward your efforts.

I’d like to personally thank you for all your support and wish you and your families all the very best for 2019.

COYS!!

Oran Kearney gives his thoughts on today's 2-1 loss to Kilmarnock and discusses the upcoming winter break & January transfer window. 

He also thanks the fans for their brilliant support with more than 1,000 Buddies at Rugby Park this afternoon.

St Mirren were edged out by Kilmarnock in the final game of 2018 as the Ayrshire side won 2-1 at Rugby Park.

Two quick goals from Stuart Findlay and Jordan Jones had Killie in control, but Simeon Jackson pulled one back for Saints. But the Buddies couldn't find an equaliser 

It was a disastrous start for Saints with the home side opening the scoring with just four minutes on the clock. Stuart Findlay got away from his marker to get on the end of a Chris Burke corner and head beyond Dean Lyness.

Kilmarnock doubled their lead on 11 minutes when Greg Stewart danced through the Saints defence and teed the ball off to Jordan Jones who swept home from close range. 

Killie kept on the offensive with Greg Taylor having a shot blocked and Stewart, causing the Buddies problems down the left side, teeing up Eamonn Brophy who fired over inside the opening 20 minutes.

But Saints managed to weather the storm and even pulled a goal back on 22 minutes. Adam Hammill's ball into the box from the right was met by Simeon Jackson who guided his header into the bottom corner.

St Mirren finished the half strongly and had a big chance to level just after the half hour mark after Cammy Smith robbed Findlay of the ball inside the Kilmarnock box. The forward laid the ball across the box into the path of Hammill who smashed over the bar. 

Very little was created by either side in the second half. Stephen O'Donnell smashed an effort off a Saints defender on 56 minutes, while Lee Hodson had a powerful effort drive blocked on the edge of the Kilmarnock box. 

Greg Stewart had the best chance of the second 45 when he drove through on goal but his effort was straight at Lyness. 

Oran Kearney made a change with just over five minutes remaining when Sam Jamieson came on for Cammy Smith. But the Buddies couldn't fashion any chances in the remainder of the game to take a point back to Paisley.

Full Time: Kilmarnock 2-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Lyness, P.McGinn, Baird, Jones, Ferdinand, Erhahon, Hodson, S.McGinn, Hammill, Smith (Jamieson 83), Jackson
Subs Not Used: Rogers, Flynn, Breadner, Kirkpatrick, Glover, McShane

Kilmarnock: Bachmann, O'Donnell (Millen 56), S.Boyd, Findlay, Taylor, Power, Dicker, Burke (McKenzie 83), Jones, Stewart, Brophy (Ndjoli 75)
Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Waters, Tshibola, K.Boyd

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Fourth Official: Grant Irvine 

Attendance: 7,131 (1,002 St Mirren fans)

This Saturday (29th December), St Mirren bring the curtain down on 2018 as they head to Ayrshire for a Ladbrokes Premiership match-up with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The info on Travel Clubs heading to Rugby Park for the match is as follows:

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

The bus for Kilmarnock will leave at 1:30pm from Abercorn Street.

Bus tickets are now on sale from the bar.

Chivas Travel Club

The bus for the game against Kilmarnock will leave The Court Bar at 1:30pm

Non members bus tickets are available from the Court Bar.

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

If you would like to travel on the bus please contact Fraser Burns on Facebook or Twitter.

North End Travel Club

The bus to Kilmarnock will leave The Sneddon at 1:00pm.

Bus tickets are on sale from the Brewer’s Tap, £6 each.

St Mirren travel to Ayrshire on Saturday to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Additional Information for Travelling Fans

The referee on Saturday is Willie Collum and he will be assisted by Frank Connor and Daniel McFarlane. The Fourth Official will be Grant Irvine. 

St Mirren manager Oran Kearney reflects on a disappointing afternoon for the Buddies as we suffer last-gasp loss.

St Mirren's last home game of 2018 ended in heartbreak as St Johnstone grabbed all three points in the last minute.

After a forgettable first half, things livened up after the break with the Buddies threatening through Paul McGinn and Cammy Smith. However, the better chances fell to the Perth Saints with Buddies goalie Dean Lynnes doing well to deny Richard Foster.

When Chris Kane wasted a great chance to score for Tommy Wright's men it looked as if the points would be shared, but in the final few seconds Tony Watt popped up to score the only goal and give his side a late Christmas present.

Smith was back in the side at the expense of the injured Cody Cooke with Adam Hammill returning in place of Ryan Edwards. The Saintees had lost narrowly at home to Rangers on Sunday and made just one change, Danny Swanson coming into midfield in place of Ross Callachan.

The opening exchanges suggested we were in for a Christmas cracker as Hammill fizzed an early free-kick across goal before Watt headed wide at the other end. Another Hammill free-kick produced another chance as it was only knocked out as far as Smith, but his volley was easily held by Zander Clark. The visitors were then denied a penalty for Stephen McGinn's challenge on Murray Davidson, their frustration compounded by Davidson having to go off injured and Callachan replacing him after just 15 minutes.

After that the first half fizzled out, a few St Johnstone crosses causing problems in the home defence before the danger was eventually cleared. Just before the break, Hammill was involved in a charge forward but when he got his shot away it was well wide – the winger appealing in vain for a corner.

Simeon Jackson was just unable to get onto Lee Hodson's through ball thanks to the efforts of Joe Shaghnessy early in the second half before the Saintees passed up a good chance to take the lead. After regaining possession, Alfie Jones tried to hack the ball clear from the byline but instead kicked it straight to Callachan at the edge of the box, only for him to drill his shot wide. The midfielder went down rather easily inside the box a few minutes later, ref Kevin Clancy booking him for his dive.

The game was beginning to open up a bit more, Hodson lofting the ball into Clark's grasp with what seemed to between a shot and a cross from the on-loan Rangers man. Watt had another penalty appeal turned down before doing well to get the better of Anton Ferdinand only for his shot to be deflected across goal and behind.

It took the Buddies more than an hour to force a corner but it was almost worth the wait, Ethan Erhahon taking it short to Hammill whose cross was stabbed goalwards by Jones before being cleared. Paul McGinn and Smith both saw shots blocked as the Paisley Saints continued to push for the opener. However, Dean Lyness was the busier of the keepers as he tipped over Richard Foster's shot before comfortably saving Callachan's header.

The visitors were finishing the game more strongly and twice came close to going in front. Lyness did well to get something on Scott Tanser's fierce cross but the ball flew straight at Erhahon, bouncing off the youngster before thankfully going past the post. There was then another huge let-off when Jason Kerr knocked a free-kick down for sub Kane but he somehow shot wide from close range when it looked easier to score.

It was a warning and it was one that wasn't heeded as the Saintees snatched the winner with little more than 60 seconds left. David Wotherspoon found Tanser with a quick throw and his pinpoint cross was headed home by Watt to give the visitors all three points. It was harsh on Oran Kearney's side, who probably didn't do enough to win the game but definitely didn't deserve to end up with nothing.

St Mirren: Lyness, P.McGinn, Ferdinand, Baird, Jones, Erhahon, Hodson, S.McGinn, Smith (Flynn 75), Hammill, Jackson (Breadner 84)
Subs Not Used: Rogers, Kirkpatrick, McShane, Edwards, Jamieson

St Johnstone: Clark, Foster, Tanser, Shaughnessy, Kerr, Alston, Swanson (Wotherspoon 69), Craig, Davidson (Callachan 16), Kennedy (Kane 78), Watt
Subs Not Used: Hurst, Gordon, Anderson, McMillan

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Joseph Lawson
Fourth Official: David Dickinson

Attendance: 4,891

Our match day programme, published in partnership with Curtis Sport, will be available from the Club Shop ahead of Wednesday’s game.

This issue, for the Ladbrokes Premiership fixture against St Johnstone, is a 52 pager with a £3 cover price.

This latest edition includes the following:

Front Cover – Adam Hammill.
The Gaffer - Oran Kearney looks back on recent matches and looks ahead to the match against the Perth Saints.
Last Time Out – A look back at the recent Premiership match against Aberdeen.
The Opposition – Brian Corry casts an eye over Tommy Wright's St Johnstone side.
Matchday Announcements - Bulletin Board of info, dates and events in the world of St Mirren.
Decade of Football at Greenhill Road - A look back at a high-scoring 'Battle of the Saints' match-up on 19th October 2013.
St Mirren Greats – David Cochran looks back on the St Mirren career of Steve Clarke.
Matchday Gallery - Pictures from the post match presentations in the corporate suite after the recent home match against Aberdeen.
Action Shot & Q&A (Centre Pages) – Midfielder Ryan Edwards. Ryan also takes part in our quick-fire questionnaire.
Player Kit Sponsors 2018/19 – Check in to see who is sponsoring your favourite player's shirt for the season.
Fans Corner - Ticket prices, travel clubs update, match info and dates for fans to keep in their diary - and Fan's Music Pick!
Premiership Round-Up - A rundown on weeks 17 and 18 of the Ladbrokes Premiership season.
Street Stuff - News on Street Stuff's events over the remainder of the Festive Season.
Paisley Panda's Fun Corner – Some puzzles to keep the youngsters entertained during the half-time break.
Football Bloody Hell – The second part of Alan Gallacher's quiz that looks back on 2018.
Marketing Matters – Campbell Kennedy updates on the latest events and happenings at the club's Commercial Department.
FlashBack - A pictorial look back at the match between Saints and St Johnstone on 2nd February 2013.
St Mirren Fixtures & Results 2018/19 – A handy reference page of all the fixtures and results for this season.
Team Lines – The two squads and match officials for Wednesday’s match.

To buy this issue or to place your programme subscription for the 2018/19 season click HERE.