The African

Just listened to that and (my first MFC Podcast) have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, so thanks and congratulations to all involved for an excellent product. As for Maurice Ross and what he had to say, I have to say that he comes across as a very impressive individual. If he walks the walk as well as he talks the talk, and I have no reason to think that he doesn’t, then we are seriously lucky to have him with the club. I think he gets what our club is about and seems to think that we are heading in the right direction. I wish him the best of luck with his endeavours.

The people with the type of money required to get him are not going to hang around for a year to get him on the cheap. He will be making a genuine step up and not joining Celtic or Rangers.

Personally hope that we realise as much as possible from the sale of Turnbull. As such, we have to expect that his stock is set to rise and that now is not the time to cash in. All things being equal, another season with us will increase his value and get him the move he deserves.

I know I am biased, but this is a thoroughly deserved award to a very impressive young man. I really hope he can go on to have a stellar career and we can be proud of the significant part our club played in his development.

Departures, injuries, loss of form all conspired against us this season. The upside is that some of the new players brought in did well, Gorrin, Gillespie and we brought through a couple of our own in Turnbull and Hastie. Unfortunately, it seems that keeping hold of such successes is sometimes beyond a club of our means. I would suggest that we were spoiled by last season's cup tie heroics and would say that this season was almost par or the course.

Tait, Dunne and Grimshaw are part of next season's equation. They may not be the complete players that we crave but they have shown in the past that they are more than capable of playing at our level. The key is playing them in the right position with the right players and in the best system to bring out the best in them. Do that, and we hopefully get the best out of these players on a consistent basis. There is a substantial rebuilding job ahead, so no point making it more difficult by just discounting some of the assets already in the squad.

The only valid argument I can come up with is that Robinson did not want experiment too much when seventh place was still up for grabs. As it is, I agree with you that he should have been given a couple of starts since the split.

Robinson has, in my opinion, earned the right to have a go at another rebuild next season. He has shown the ability to bring in journeymen and build a team capable of survival in our league. He has learnt how to bring in young players and generally get the best out of them. I think that he genuinely buys into what our club is about and realises that each season is going to be a struggle, but, if he gets things right in recruitment and development then we shall see improvement. Realistically, I struggle to see a better option elsewhere. The question that he will have to ask himself is whether he is up for the fight, because the manager's position at a club like ours is one of constant struggle against the financial odds. The day when the answer to that question is no is when he should leave.

Adam Livingstone has a great chance because, with the make up of the squad as it stands for next season, it is between him and Jake Carroll for the left back spot and this season has convinced the management that it is worthwhile giving youth a chance. It is now up to him to go and take the opportunity. Good luck to the lad.

Close to a must win game for us. A draw doesn’t completely scupper our chances, but it takes it out of our hands. We should play it like the cup tie that it is and go for it. In Turnbull we have a genuine match winner and if the rest of the team are up for it, we can get the required result. Two one to the good guys!

Losing both Aldred and McHugh would highlight the elephant in the room - what, currently, does Peter Hartley offer the first team squad?

Obviously still in the running for this award next season. Not something you can expect from Jake Hastie. Seriously though, Kent being nominated for the senior award must have made him favourite for the young player award. One cannot help but wonder what young David’s chances would have been, had he put in performances like he has for us while playing for either of the ugly sisters? Perhaps I am being paranoid, but it seems to me that you need to be substantially better to scoop one of these awards while playing for a provincial club.

Would certainly take that. Not sure if they are capable of replicating each other, but if Aldred is away, it will leave a gap that needs filling.

Given what he brings to the table, you would have to say that McHugh’s future at Fir Park(if he has one) is at centre back.

Excellent. The lad deserves a change in his luck. A fit Tanner will be like a new signing, given the time he has been out. Hopefully he can recapture the form we saw glimpses of before the injuries!

No point dwelling too long on what might ave been. We now have two games and, if we win them both we scoop an extra £60k. No excuse in not taking it seriously and not having a real go., especially next week, because if we lose at Perth then we are out of the running for this particular prize.

Disappointing to lose a late equaliser, but Livi scoring late against St J keeps us in the hunt for seventh. Next game is obviously now key to our chances in that regard.

We have very little, in the scheme of things, to play for and they should be fighting for their lives. Advantage St Mirren. Having said that, with the right attitude and the freedom that our position affords us, there really should be no reason why we cannot win this.

Any further comments regarding Hastie should be in the former players thread. The wording of the official statement suggests that he has annoyed a few people with his actions over his move. As an aside, I sincerely hope that, as a club, dealing with any player, we act with honesty and respect and look to achieve what is in the best long term interests for both parties.

Well he was certainly no Garrincha.

Couple of thoughts. If, hopefully, Trevor Carson comes back fit and able, we will be in a position of having two first team keepers which is probably one too many for a club our size. I doubt that we would be able to get much of a fee for either but moving one on would free up a wage. I also cannot see either of them being happy to warm the bench for too long. Maybe one for January rather than immediately. Depending on who we can get to resign, I think it is likely that there will be a fair turnaround in our squad. I can see the newcomers being split into two categories- proven professionals who should hit the ground running and young players, mainly from within the club, who will get their chance when ready. In the second category I would include the likes of Mbulu, Maguire, Livingstone, Semple and Scott. Some of these may benefit from a loan period away from the club to get genuine first team experience. We have brought in two players with plenty of experience already. If we lose Cadden, Frear, Main, McHugh, Johnson and Gorrin together with the guys on loan, we suddenly look to have serious holes in the squad. There will be a fair bit of cash freed up in terms of wages and some money eventually from development fees for Cadden and Hastie, but it will be quite a job. We do have a few senior professionals who have not been part of the game plan in recent months, the likes of Hartley and Donnelly. The question that has to be asked is, do they have a future at Fir Park? I wouldn't discount their chances completely, but they have to either prove their worth or manoeuvred out to save cash and create space for those that do have a future.

If his body can take the strain, I'd be tempted to offer Tanner a one year deal and look to loan him out to a Championship side until January. At least give him a chance to play Dundee twice.

Don't think any of the offers will be referring to Aldred. He is currently not contracted to us. I would be surprised if there have not been conversations, and I would hope that he would be made an offer if and when he becomes a free agent. Then it is up to him. I would imagine that's will have a few options though, based on his performances for us.

Most likely, though you never know what is around the corner as a ' well fan.

Turnbull, because we should enjoy I'm while we can!