James Fowler says the Buddies are keen to get their business done early in preparation for the new season.

Saints have re-signed Adam Eckersley, Jack Baird, Josh Todd, Gary MacKenzie and Cammy Smith with work continuing to get others on board.

And he confessed that they want to get deals done as quickly as possible ahead of the upcoming campaign.

He told stmirren.com: "It's about trying to nail down the ones we would like to keep and we had been looking for a number of weeks without knowing where we were going to be or when the season would finish.

"We have identified ones that we would like to bring to the club that we would make us better and we are trying to get a lot of our work done early.

"We'll have a well deserved week break and it won't stop then as you'll still have agents pestering you when you are on holiday. That's part and parcel of football and it's something we love.

"We want to make we get the right type and right quality of player in for next season."

Someone already onboard for next season is captain Stephen McGinn whose year extension kicked in as Saints secured Ladbrokes Championship safety.

The Buddies assistant praised January signing McGinn for the part he played in St Mirren's survival bid last season along with the efforts of the team as a whole.

It was crazy," he said, reflecting on the draw with Hibernian on the final day that ensured the Saints were safe.

"The St Mirren fans were amazing that day, but they have been since the turn of the year. There have been changes within the club and a real positive vibe and it's played a massive part in the success. 

"You are out of control. Sometimes were you are on the field you feel like you were in control. But since we brought McGinn in he has been a massive influence on the squad. He's led by example on the training pitch and in every game he has played. The players have done excellent and we are extremely proud of them. 

"We were aware that Raith had scored so that last two or three minutes got really nervy and we were kind of counting down the clock. The scenes at the end will live with me for a long time." 

Fowler also paid recognition to the backroom staff that have helped himself and Jack Ross over the last few months.

Allan McManus had taken the team for a few weeks before myself and the manager had come in," he said.

"The manager was keen for Allan to continue being involved in the first team and he's that link between the first team and the 20s as well. It's good for us to be that unit.

"There's also Euan [Fotheringham] who has done an awful lot of analysis stuff for us and Jamie Langfield who mentored Billy O'Brien and brought him on as well.

"There isn't a lot of first team staff but the ones who have played their part have been tight and everybody has contributed."

St Mirren Football Club can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement to terminate the contract of Kyle Hutton.

The midfielder joined the Buddies last summer after leaving fellow Championship side Queen of the South. 

He went on to make 17 appearances for the Saints before being loaned out to Airdrieonians until the end of the season.

The club would like to wish Kyle all the best for his future career. 

St Mirren were boosted yesterday by the news that Gary MacKenzie and Cammy Smith signed deals with the club. 

31 year-old MacKenzie signed a one-year contract extension while Cammy Smith became a permanent Saint after an impressive loan spell. 

They join the likes of Stephen McGinn, Adam Eckersley, Jack Baird and Josh Todd in committing their future to the Buddies. 

You can commit to St Mirren this season too by purchasing a Season Ticket at Early Bird prices. 

The current Early Bird offer, which gives you the maximum value for your season ticket, will be available until Midnight 2nd July at the St Mirren Ticket Office and the Online Ticket Shop.

Season ticket sales are up 92% on this point last year with supporters getting behind Jack Ross' side in their numbers. 

All details on season tickets can be found here.

Cammy and Gary are in, are you?

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Cammy Smith on a two-year deal. 

The forward joined the Saints on loan from Aberdeen in January and impressed, playing 17 times and scoring twice.

Cammy becomes the latest player to pen a new deal as he makes the move to the Buddies permanently.

Over the last six months I played every week and I just liked everything about it really," he told stmirren.com

"The manager and coaching staff were a massive aspect of me coming back here and the potential we have next season to really push.

"Game time is massive at this stage of my career. I still feel I'm quite young but I feel now at a stage where I need to play every week.

"We know it is a tough league, but it's an enjoyable one as well so I'm looking forward to it." 

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce that Gary MacKenzie has signed a one-year contract extension.

The defender became a fans favourite after signing last summer - making 37 starts for the Buddies.

As well as proving to be a solid defender, the 31 year-old showed he was a threat up the other end of the park also as he scored 5 goals.

Speaking to stmirren.com, Gary said: "I think the way that the club is going, particularly the second half of the season, it was an easy decision to make in that way.

I wanted to be here, the club wanted me to be here and we just had to brush up on a few things. It was never in any doubt in my mind. 

"I'm delighted that it is done and I'm hoping we can continue the momentum from the second part of the season. 

"I believe that we should be looking to get promoted. Simple as that.

"I said towards the end of last season with the belief and the quality within our team we didn't fear anybody and there's no reason why can't go into next season with that mentality."

 

St Mirren in the Community are now taking bookings for this summer’s Football Camps.

The Camps will run over the upcoming school summer holiday at the club’s exclusive Air dome and at the Lochbarr Leisure Centre in Lochwinnoch. 

The fun will all kick-off on Monday 3rd July with camps running Monday through to Friday over the six weeks of the school break with camps for 3 to 5 year olds and 6 to 12 year olds.

Participants at the Football Camps are required to bring with them suitable indoor clothing and footwear (no metal studs or blades), shin guards and goalkeeper gloves (if appropriate) in addition to a light healthy snack and plenty of water/non-fizzy drinks.

Those who book, and pay in full, 14 days before the camps take place will receive a 20% discount off the full price. Day rates are also available. For more information email communityadmin@stmirren.com 

Bookings can be made by downloading and printing the booking form, completing it in full and returning it to info@stmirren.com 

To download the booking form please click HERE.

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce that Josh Todd has agreed a one-year contract extension. 

The midfielder joined the club in January after leaving Dumbarton and went on to make 11 appearances scoring once. 

He joins Adam Eckersley and Jack Baird in extending their stay at the Buddies.

Speaking to stmirren.com, Todd said: "It's good that the manager has seen something in me over the last six months. I'm happy to get it done and ready to kick on.

"The way we finished the season - staying up - I just can't wait to get started and try to get in the team and stay in the team. 

"I want to put my stamp on the game, try to get goals for the team and hopefully be a part of something special."

St Mirren Football Club can announce that Stephen Mallan will leave the club to sign for English Championship side Barnsley.

The 21 year-old made his Saints debut in a 3-0 loss to Hamilton Academical back in November 2014.

Since then the youth academy graduate has gone on to make 112 appearances for the Buddies scoring 29 times and playing a pivotal role in securing St Mirren’s league status this season.

He joins the Yorkshire side on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Chief Executive Tony Fitzpatrick said: "I understand supporters will be sad to see Stevie go but we feel it is the right time. Stevie has played over 100 games for the club and deserves a chance to prove himself down in England.

"Without going into the specifics of the deal, with a year left on his contract, it’s a good offer for the club and one we will hopefully benefit from a few years down the line also."

All at St Mirren Football Club wish Stephen the best on his move.

Jack Baird admits he almost wanted the season to keep going as he was enjoying his football so much. 

The Buddies stopper came back into the team in March and started the final nine games of the season as Saints secured survival, ending the campaign in seventh.

And, after signing a one-year contract extension last week, the 21 year-old says he's happy to be back on board for next season.

I'm delighted," he said. "As soon as the season ended and I had spoken with the manager I was delighted to get it signed and get sorted before the summer started. 

"You're happy to get a couple of weeks off but you want to be playing football. If you didn't want to play all the time you wouldn't be a footballer.

"We want to get a good start and it would be nice to get a couple of wins at the beginning."

St Mirren secured their status in the Ladbrokes Championship with a final day draw against Hibernian at Easter Road.

While the defender knows there was a lot of pressure on the team, he believes there was a confidence about them that they could stay up.

Obviously when the whistle goes against Hibs you are delighted to be safe," he said.

"But in a way I wanted to play more games because I felt like I had found a bit of form in the push to keep us in the league.

"You want it to be finished because you know the club is safe but for myself I wanted to play a few more games. 

"As the games were going on, as a team, when we were winning we knew we could do it.

"As soon as that whistle went it was more relief than celebration and a big weight off our shoulders. You're feeling a lot of pressure.

"When it's happening it's a very stressful time. But when you look back at it you'll struggle to find a better feeling than coming from the position we were to the position we finished in.

"We were always quite quietly confident," he continued. "We have players that can win you a match at any time and that's key. We were never going to doubt ourselves because we had a good squad."

The academy graduate impressed Jack Ross enough to earn himself a new deal and Baird praised the gaffer and James Fowler for the job they have done since coming into the club in October.

He's made a massive difference to the team and me personally. I feel like I have improved as a player since he and James Fowler have come in. The two of them have made a massive difference."

St Mirren midfielder Kyle Magennis has been called up to the Scotland U20s for the upcoming Toulon Tournament in France. 

The 18 year-old academy graduate made his Saints debut against Hibernian in October 2016 before going on to make 32 appearances for the Buddies.

His form for the side earned his St Mirren's Young Player of the Year for 2016/17 and he'll now represent Scot Gemmill's side for the first time in May/June.

Congratulations Kyle!