Stephen Robinson says he won’t wait forever for St Mirren’s unsigned first-team stars to commit their future to the club.
Captain Joe Shaughnessy, fellow centre back Charles Dunne and bustling striker Curtis Main have all been offered new deals as their current contracts tick down to expiry next month.
While Robinson is keen to keep the experienced trio in Paisley, the Buddies boss is already eyeing up replacements if they decide to move on – with four offers already made to players elsewhere.
The gaffer insists he will always act with the club’s best interests at heart, which includes ensuring they aren’t left short over the summer if key players do depart next month.
Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “Listen, the offers have been there for the boys.
“Obviously, the risk the players take is that I’m actively looking at other players.
“I’ve put contract offers to two other strikers and I’ve put contract offers to two other defenders as well and that is irrespective of
the decisions.
“The boys are coming to the latter end of their careers, so to speak.
“They are in their prime of when they can maximise their potential of money and I have no problem with that whatsoever.
“But I also can’t wait forever. My sole job is to look after St Mirren Football Club and I’ve got other options and I am currently pursuing other options.
“That does not mean those boys won’t give me a million per cent every time they walk onto the pitch, whether they sign or not.”
St Mirren have recently been linked with a permanent move for 23-year-old former Aston Villa and Burnley defender Jacob Bedeau, who currently plays for Robinson’s former club Morecambe, as well as a loan deal for young Fulham and Scotland under-21 striker Kieron Bowie.
Robinson hopes the fact the club finished in the top-six this season will help persuade his key targets to move to Paisley, admitting qualifying for Europe would make his job to turn prospective signings’ heads even easier.
Robinson said: “It’s difficult because the people that you want in are under contract. They are boys that we want to make the squad better with.
“That’s hard because you only need four to make it better. And attracting these players, it helps when you are a top-six club.
“It would help even more if we were in Europe.”
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