We can confirm that the St Mirren airdome will be fully operational as of tomorrow (Tuesday 17th July). 

The dome had come down due to weather conditions a few weeks back, but has now been restored to full working order. 

For more information or enquiries please email info@stmirren.com. 

Alan Stubbs gives his thoughts as St Mirren draw 0-0 with Kilmarnock in the opening match of the Betfred Cup and pick up a bonus point after winning 3-2 on penalties. 

Alan Stubbs' St Mirren earned themselves two points in Betfred Cup Group H as they drew 0-0 with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The Buddies were impressive throughout and gained a bonus point after a 3-2 win on penalties after the full time whistle. 

The opening exchanges were fairly uneventful but Saints were seeing a lot of the ball without creating much. 

But with 13 minutes on the clock Killie were denied the opportunity to take the lead thanks to a good block by Craig Samson. Jordan Jones robbed Jack Baird of the ball on the left wing and centred the ball for Lee Erwin. Unmarked, the striker looked odds onto give the hosts an early lead, but the Saints goalkeeper did well to block the effort.

Five minutes later it was The Buddies turn to go close with Ryan Flynn sending a delightful ball into the six yard area. Danny Mullen was just inches away from getting a toe on it which would have surely given Saints the lead.

Hayden Coulson, who would go on to pick up the man of the match award, went on a lung-bursting run on 24 minutes before sliding the ball wide to Cammy MacPherson. MacPherson's cross was deflected into the box where the Killie defence failed to deal with the danger. It was headed down into the path of Cammy Smith who shot into the ground and watched as his effort crash off the bar. 

Both sides created chances in an exciting first half. Killie were next to go close when Gary Dicker's dinked pass picked out Eamonn Brophy. The striker brought it down on his chest before cracking a shot just over the cross bar. 

The two Cammy's combined for Saints five minutes later as MacPherson slid the ball through to Smith. Smith played it across the box where he found an unmarked Jordan Kirkpatrick and the midfielder really ought to have scored with the goal gaping but dragged his attempt wide. 

MacPherson impressed throughout for Saints and almost scored his first senior goal after breaking forward from own half he had a shot palmed away by MacDonald.

A few minutes after the restart Mullen was brought down right on the edge of the Kilmarnock box and won Saints a freekick. Smith and Kirkpatrick stood over it with the latter curling it low just by the far post. 

Just after the hour mark, Saints could, and perhaps should, have been ahead when Jeff King's cross was met by Mullen who forced a superb fingertip save from MacDonald. The ball fell kindly for Saints with Jack Baird following up but he poked it over the bar. 

The game ebbed and flowed for the remainder with both sides trying to create chances to pick up all three points but neither having anything clear cut. 

In the end it would go to penalties to see who would earn a bonus point. Craig Samson saved from both Lee Erwin and Kirk Broadfoot while Gary Dicker slammed one over the bar. Paul McGinn and Hayden Coulson scored for Saints allowing Danny Mullen to net the winning spot kick to get Saints off to a good start in Group H.

Full Time: Kilmarnock 0-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Samson, P.McGinn, Baird, Kpekawa, Coulson, MacPherson, McGinn, Flynn (Kellermann 80), Kirkpatrick (King 55), Smith (Cooke 82), Mullen
Subs Not Used: Rogers, Heaton, MacKenzie, Stewart

Kilmarnock: MacDonald, Millen, Broadfoot, Findlay, Waters, Jones (Burke 83), Dicker, Power, McKenzie (Kiltie 69), Erwin, Brophy (Ndjoli 69)
Subs Not Used: Mackay, Higgins, Frizzell, Thomas

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Jordan Stokoe
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Alan Muir

Attendance: 4,026 (827 Saints fans)

St Mirren are happy to announce the signing of Cole Kpekawa today after being on trial with the club.

The towering defender signs a two year deal with Saints and will go straight into Alan Stubbs' squad for tonight's game against Kilmarnock.  

The 22 year-old joins having come through the academy of Queens Park Rangers. He has also had stints with Portsmouth, Leyton Orient, Barnsley and Colchester.

St Mirren's 2018/19 campaign gets underway this evening as The Buddies travel to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock in the opening match of the Betfred Cup.

Alan Stubbs takes charge of Saints for the first time tonight after being appointed as manager on a three-year deal in June. 

The Englishman took over from title-winning manager Jack Ross and has looked to put his own stamp on the team, bringing in five new players over the course of the last few weeks.

There could be debuts for a host of the new boys with Paul McGinn, James Kellermann, Jeff King, Josh Heaton, Cody Cooke, Hayden Coulson and Danny Rogers all having joined the club during the summer. 

The Buddies come into tonight's match on the back of a pre-season training camp in La Manga. A friendly against Bolton was scheduled for last Saturday but was cancelled at short notice after an issue at the English club. 

Like Saints, Kilmarnock visited La Manga during pre-season and also haven't played any pre-season friendlies ahead of tonight's match.

The hosts have lost influential Youssouf Mulumbu after the expiry of his contract but have added Mikael Ndjoli on loan from Bournemouth, while Stuart Findlay has signed a permanent contract after spending last season on loan from Newcastle. The Rugby Park outfit also announced the signing of Ross Millen on a six-month deal this afternoon.

Despite tonight being the first competitive match of the season for both clubs, it is likely to feel somewhat like a friendly as both look to build up their match sharpness ahead of the Premiership season beginning in August.

But with a chance to see new boys in action along with how Alan Stubbs wants his St Mirren team to play and the challenge of coming up against a Kilmarnock side who exceeded expectations last season, it's sure to be an exciting night for Buddies fans.

Speaking to stmirren.com earlier in the week, Stubbs said: "I'm really looking forward to it. Obviously Saturday's game against Bolton was disappointing, with it being so late.

"From our fans point of view as well, it was disappointing for them because they would have made arrangements for that day. It was obviously outwith our control, and something we couldn't do anything about. But from purely our side I was disappointed for our fans not to be able to see the early signs of the squad I'm trying to put together."

St Mirren Football Club can confirm that Myles Hippolyte has left the club to join Championship side Dunfermline Athletic. 

The English forward joined The Buddies from Falkirk in January and scored once in his eight appearances for the club.

Everyone at St Mirren would like to wish Myles all the best in his future career.

* Although there will be a pay-at-the-gate option on the night at Rugby Park it is advisable to buy your tickets in advance in order to avoid any queues on matchday.

** Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

The St Mirren Ticket Office opening hours ahead of the match are as follows:

Fri, Jul 13th - 10:00am - 2:00pm

St Mirren Ticket Office Tel: (0141) 840-6130.

St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com.

Additional Information for Travelling Fans

Tomorrow, Friday 13th July, St Mirren kick-off the competitive season at Rugby Park in a BetFred Cup group match against Kilmarnock.

The referee tomorrow is Steven McLean and he will be assisted by Jordan Stokoe and Paul O'Neill. The fourth official will be Alan Muir.

St Mirren Chief Executive, Tony Fitzpatrick and Head of the Youth Academy, Allan McManus were recently invited over to Navan in Ireland by inspiresport's Jed McCabe to host a masterclass for boys and girls of the North Eastern Counties Schoolboy/girl League (NECSL) elite squads on Sunday.

Representing the Buddies, Tony and Allan held a coaching session, presentation and Q&A to 40 NECSL coaches on the philosophy of the St Mirren Youth Academy and how Irish clubs can bring their teams to experience a tour to train and play at The Buddies Academy at Ralston.

Already 40 girls from the elite squad have pre-booked to visit St Mirren in March 2019.

Jed McCabe from inspiresport said: "I am lucky to work with some of the world’s top clubs and can honestly say Tony and Allan put on a show up there with the very best.

"Their love for the club shone through and that is something you can’t put a price on.

"My job is to bring groups from outside Scotland to St Mirren as I feel they will enjoy the attention to detail and the friendly family atmosphere at the club."

St Mirren’s partners inspiresport have worldwide connections and due to the success of Sunday’s event they plan to roll out more across the UK and Ireland that will put St Mirren front of mind to potential groups as well as having contacts who will keep them informed of potential players.

Paddy O’Reilly from NECSL said: "Jed from inspiresport, who I have known for a long time, informed me that he had the chance to bring Tony and Allan from St Mirren FC and I set about inviting our elite boys and girls as well as 40 coaches from different clubs in the NECSL.

"I have high standards and on the back of Jed’s recommendation was expecting a good show.

"Even my expectations were exceeded and I was absolutely delighted to witness first-hand the professionalism of Tony and Allan coupled by their passion for St. Mirren which rubbed off on the players and coaches alike. Many NECSL teams will be coming to St. Mirren Academy in the coming months and years."

Tony Fitzpatrick said: "Going to Ireland in conjunction with our partners inspiresport is a huge opportunity for the club as it gives us a platform to engage with a larger audience and encourage them to visit St. Mirren as well as expanding our scouting network."

St Mirren have today signed goalkeeper Danny Rogers on a season-long loan from Aberdeen.

The Dons stopper has spent the last two seasons on loan at Championship side Falkirk, where he was a regular starter for The Bairns.

Rogers becomes Saints seventh signing this summer.

St Mirren Goalkeeping Coach, Jamie Langfield said: "I'm absolutely delighted to get Danny to the club. He is someone I’ve known since he was a young boy at Aberdeen, when I was playing there, and I’ve watched him grow and mature into a very good goalkeeper.

"I'm really looking forward to working with him as his coach now, and hope to see him develop even further as the weeks go by.

"Danny is a great age for a goalkeeper and will come here and not want to sit on the bench - which will bring tremendous competition to Craig. I’m really looking forward to seeing them battle it out for the right to play”

We can confirm today that goalkeeper Ross Stewart has agreed a two year deal with Livingston.

Ross signed from Albion Rovers in the summer of 2017 and went on to make 4 appearances for The Buddies.

We would like to thank Ross for all his hard work over the past season.