St Mirren Football Club has carefully considered proposals made for a newly created Conference League that would sit in the Fifth Tier of the Scottish Football pyramid. 

All 42 SPFL clubs were invited to express an interest in enrolling a B Team into a newly created league, due to start in season 2024/25. However, we have decided that the club does not feel it can support these proposals and will not accept the invitation to be involved. 

The club has spent a considerable amount of time assessing the advantages and practicalities of being involved in such a league as well as engaging with a number of stakeholders including a fans survey via SMiSA and its members. In the survey, 83% of respondents told SMiSA they would not be in favour of the Conference League proposal. As a fan-owned club, we feel it’s vital that we listen to the views of our supporters. Given the significant resource that would be required, including a mandatory financial contribution and staffing a B Team, we do not feel this current proposal works for us as a club.

While we would always look to support proposals that we feel aim to improve the development of young Scottish players, we are unconvinced at this time that a Fifth Tier Conference League system is the best way to achieve this.

The club would support calls for a review of the current loan system to allow for more strategic partnerships within SPFL clubs and give more of our younger players the opportunity to play across various levels within Scotland. 

Meantime, we aim to re-establish a development side to bridge the gap between our U18s and first-team and continue to utilise the loan market to optimise the player pathway into our first team. 

Having achieved his personal objectives of a successful transition to fan ownership, and a return to the top six, Director and former Chairman Gordon Scott has decided to step down from the club Board.

Gordon has made a massive contribution to the recent progress of the club and served for 14 of the past 20 years on the Board. He personally oversaw the building of the stadium at Greenhill Road, had a key role in the creation of the training centre at Ralston, and as Chairman, negotiated and facilitated the successful transition to fan ownership. Gordon leaves a lasting legacy of progress having dedicated countless hours in leading and managing the club through the various challenges we’ve faced during his time on the Board.

I am deeply indebted to Gordon for his support and advice over the past couple of years and he leaves with our grateful thanks. His experience and knowledge has been invaluable and he will always be welcome at the stadium on match days.

The SMiSA Board will now work with the remaining SMiSA nominated Directors to appoint a replacement.

There will be a full interview with Gordon on St Mirren TV in the coming days. 

SMISA members and fans will be aware that an election process is underway to fill vacancies on the SMISA Board. One of the candidates referred to a grant application, initiated by Kibble, for funding under the auspices of the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF). Given the nature of the wording within that candidate statement, the Club Board wish to clarify the details regarding this matter, including the diligence undertaken in September/October 2022.

During the September 2022 Board meeting the Directors became aware of, and discussed, a proposal to build a Wellbeing Centre in Ferguslie Park and a funding application to the RCGF. All St Mirren Football Club Directors were in attendance. A Stage 1 Application had been submitted for RCGF funding and it was successful in moving to Stage 2 of the process. The application cited Kibble, The St Mirren Charitable Foundation and Renfrewshire Council as leading the application, the Club nor the Charitable Foundation had been engaged prior to the submission as this was very early stages of the process. It should be noted that historic discussions and meetings around the development of the Ferguslie Master Plan, including the potential development of a Wellbeing Centre, had taken place with Club Board members, Renfrewshire Council senior officials and other stakeholders.

From the discussions that took place at the St Mirren Football Club Board meeting on 29 September 2022 it became clear that the matter would require further conversation with the Charitable Foundation and that the Club should maintain interest in this matter to establish if the project offered any tangible benefit going forward. It was agreed that timely and appropriate discussions must take place regarding any potential projects in future to ensure that all stakeholders, directly involved or otherwise, were aware of the approach that was being taken.

Regarding the suggestion that St Mirren Football Club was expected to offer its land for the proposed Wellbeing Centre, this was not the case. The application was unspecific as to the precise location of the proposed building, but a crucial element of the plan was that the Wellbeing Centre would be built on one of several long-term derelict sites in the Ferguslie area, not on land owned by St Mirren.

Given the need to align other stakeholders, a meeting with the Charitable Foundation took place, and subsequently the Charitable Foundation Board agreed to support the Stage 2 application for RCGF funding, given the complementary nature of the establishment of a Wellbeing Centre in the area.

The Club Board, having confirmed that alignment on the proposal had been achieved, was content that the matter had been concluded appropriately from a St Mirren Football Club perspective. As highlighted, a watching brief on the progress of the application was applied to establish it there were any opportunities for the Club arising from the initiative. The Club Board will always be supportive of any regeneration and development of the area surrounding the stadium if it is complementary to the best interests of the Club.

Notification that the application was unsuccessful was received in January 2023, and the matter is now closed.

It is also worth noting by way of background information that the Club own a parcel of land adjacent to the stadium. Any sale or transfer of that asset, or any other element of the St Mirren estate, would require to be subject to a robust process. This would include being professionally valued, recommended by a majority of the Directors and approved by Club Shareholders as part of the legal Shareholder Agreement.

To reiterate the information outlined above regarding the RCGF application, no St Mirren Football Club land was ever part of the application or discussion hence these arrangements were never required.

There have been other parties who have proposed the development of the stadium facilities and these, when they have been suggested, have been treated in a similar manner to the RCGF application by the St Mirren Football Club Board.

Like all fans, the Club Board are looking forward to the next five games that see our Club in the Top Six of the SPFL for the first time, we want everyone to enjoy the games, get right behind the team and are looking forward to a positive end to one of the most successful seasons in our Club's history.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within St Mirren Football Club. We are looking for a physiotherapist to work alongside our first-team and academy to join our ambitious team.

Reporting to Head of Medical, Gerry Docherty and Academy Director, Allan McManus, your role will see you provide the highest standard of evidence-based care, in line with the department's strategic plan.

You will provide effective Physiotherapy to the Under-18s squad and Youth Academy, while assisting the first-team when required as directed by the head of department and contribute to the overall success of the Medical and Football Science department.

The role will be on a full-time permanent basis. To download the job description please click HERE.

If you’re interested in this exciting & challenging role please send an up-to-date copy of your CV and cover letter to: keith.lasley@stmirren.com by Friday 7th April 2023. 

Interviews will be held at a date to be confirmed and only those invited to interview will receive return notification.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within St Mirren Football Club. We are looking for a physiotherapist to work alongside our first-team and academy to join our ambitious team.

Reporting to Head of Medical, Gerry Docherty and Academy Director, Allan McManus, your role will see you provide the highest standard of evidence-based care, in line with the department's strategic plan.

You will provide effective Physiotherapy to the Under-18s squad and Youth Academy, while assisting the first-team when required as directed by the head of department and contribute to the overall success of the Medical and Football Science department.

The role will be on a full-time permanent basis. To download the job description please click HERE.

If you’re interested in this exciting & challenging role please send an up-to-date copy of your CV and cover letter to: keith.lasley@stmirren.com by Friday 7th April 2023. 

Interviews will be held at a date to be confirmed and only those invited to interview will receive return notification.

St Mirren Football Club has marked International Women’s Day 2023 by agreeing to match Kibble’s sponsorship deal with the St Mirren Women’s team. 

Kibble's recently announced sponsorship agreement with St Mirren Women’s team is a multi-year deal, which will enhance the team’s day-to-day operations as the Scottish Women’s League One side seek to reach Scotland’s top-flight in the years ahead. The club has now matched this support as we look to help grow the Women and Girls Academy.

St Mirren Football Club Chairman John Needham said: "We are delighted to announce our support for the women’s team over the next three years.

Our aim is to help create stability which will enable the Women's team to push to the next level. As a board, we recognise the value the Women and Girls Academy brings to our football club. This aligns with our desire to make our club more diverse and inclusive. 

"In the coming months we will continue to develop the partnership, exploring opportunities and areas to grow the women and girls' programme and the club overall."

Janette Swanson, Chairperson of the St Mirren Women’s team, said: "The club committing this funding is excellent news for the Women’s team. Women and girls’ football is at an exciting time as the growth and participation continue to explode.

The investment will bring stability and the basis from which we can grow our pathways and opportunities for female players across our region. It’s also an opportunity to become more integrated into the football family of St Mirren."

St Mirren Football Club chairman John Needham with St Mirren Women's Chairperson Janette Swanson

ST MIRREN FOOTBALL CLUB LTD. (THE) (the “Company”)

Company Registration No. SC005773

Notice of Annual General Meeting

NOTICE is hereby given that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Company will be held on the 26th day of January 2023 at the SMISA Stadium, St Mirren Park, Greenhill Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA3 1RU at 7:30pm for the following purposes:

Ordinary business

1. To consider the Accounts for the year to 31 May 2022 and the reports of the Directors and Auditors.
2. To transact any other ordinary business of the Company. 

By Order of the Board

Date: 11/01/2023 

………………………….

Secretary

Registered Office: SMISA Stadium St Mirren Park, Greenhill Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA3 1RU

Notes

A Member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy, in the terms set out on the attached, to attend and vote in his place. The proxy (in accordance with the terms of the existing Articles of Association) should be deposited at the Registered Office of the Company not less than 48 hours before the time of the Annual General Meeting.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within St Mirren Football Club. We are looking for a new Head of Academy Coaching and Player Development to join our ambitious team.

Reporting to Academy Director, Allan McManus, this role will see you support and assist in the development of all coaches and players within the Academy at St Mirren Football Club. You will help shape our new Academy strategy for the coming years as we look to develop our young talent and give them the best possible opportunity to have a career in football.

We are passionate about player and coaching development, and we want you to come and help us develop that next crop of talent. You will be given the platform to work in a vibrant, intelligent and challenging sporting environment with the potential to become the best at what you do.

Our Academy has become well-renowned for producing talent with the likes of Ethan Erhahon, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Lewis Morgan, Kyle Magennis, Stephen Mallan and more coming through our ranks over the last number of years and we want to continue cultivating the next crop of talent to the highest standard in an ever-changing sporting environment.

You will be a highly reliable and enthusiastic individual who is able to motivate and enthuse others. You will have a flexible approach to work and be able to work evenings, weekends and match days as required. This is a challenging, but ultimately rewarding position. 

The role will be on a full-time permanent basis. To download the job description and personal specification please click HERE.

If you’re interested in this exciting & challenging role, and wish to play a huge part in taking the Academy to the next phase of its journey please send an up-to-date copy of your CV and cover letter to: keith.lasley@stmirren.com by Friday 20th January 2023. 

Interviews will be held at a date to be confirmed and only those invited to interview will receive return notification from us.

St Mirren Football Club Chairman, John Needham has released the following statement after the news that Director Alan Wardrop will stand down from the Board of Directors. 

It’s with mixed emotions that I announce that Alan Wardrop has intimated that he wishes to step down as a Director on 19 November after over six years service on our Board. Pleasingly, whilst he will no longer be part of the Board, he has indicated willingness to continue his involvement in our St Mirren Charitable Foundation and running the 1877 Club.

"Alan has been a dedicated and hard-working member of our Board throughout his tenure firstly as an independent Director then co-opted as a SMISA nominated Director during the past 15 months. I have enjoyed working with him and witnessed his significant personal commitment first hand.

"On behalf of the Board I want to record our thanks for everything he has done, and continues to do, for the Club. As part of the St Mirren family, Alan has been a loyal fan all of his life and leaves with our best wishes for the future."

The stadium and ticket office is closed today.

It will re-open tomorrow as normal.