Manager Jim Goodwin insists he only wants “winners” and “grafters” at St Mirren .
The former club captain has brought in three new players this week, with Akin Famewo joining on loan and Conor McCarthy and Jamie McGrath linking up on permanent deals.
Goodwin revealed he wants to bring in as many determined players who are hungry for success as he can to raise the standards at the Saints.
“I’m big on characters and I’m big on mindset,” he told Express Sport.
“I just want to get as many winners in the building as I can get.
“I know I’m a bit biased about the Irish boys, but the lads that I’ve worked with over the years, you know what you’re getting with them.
“They’re grafters and they’ve got a good work ethic.
“I always get my background references from people regardless and everyone I’ve spoken to about the boys we’ve brought in just now have had nothing but good things to say about them.
“You can get great footballers in any squad but it’s really about trying to get the right people together.
“It doesn’t matter what environment you’re in. You need to have good people around you with a similar mindset.
“These guys are winners and they want to improve as well, which is a big thing for me.”
Famewo, who links up on a six-month loan deal from Norwich City, and former Cork City skipper McCarthy were both unveiled to the media yesterday having trained with their teammates at Ralston.
Goodwin believes the fact previous managers have deemed them fit to wear the armband at their respective clubs show they’ve got the right attitude to drive success in Paisley.
Goodwin said: “Conor McCarthy was captain of Cork City last season and young Akin Famewo, who has come up from Norwich, was the captain of their Under-23s.
“That speaks volumes of them.
“They’ve got good leadership qualities in them at a very young age which ticks a lot of boxes for me.
“They’re good boys and they’ve settled in well already.
“They’ve played a lot of first team football, especially the Irish boys.
“Akin had a season out on loan last season at Grimsby so he knows what it’s all about as well.”
