THE St Mirren chairman Gordon Scott has already conceded that major investment is needed at the club.
What might surprise some supporters, however, is that manager Jack Ross is not planning radical squad renovations when the transfer window reopens next month.
Scott said just over a week ago in his report that accompanied the club’s financial results that cash was needed to fund repairs to the training ground and undersoil heating.
With a nine-point gap to make up at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Falkirk, it could be argued that such resources need redirected to Ross.
But the former Hearts youth coach is steadfast in his belief that the club’s youngsters can help steer them away from trouble.
The front five that played most of the second half on Saturday had an average age of 19, with Lewis Morgan, Kyle McAllister, Kyle Magennis, Stevie Mallan and Lawrence Shankland all involved.
The weekend’s result, however, could have been very different had Jack Baird not been sent off in the 38th minute for striking Lee Miller when his team were in front courtesy of Morgan’s 18th-minute strike.
Three unanswered second half strikes from Miller, Bob McHugh and Myles Hippolyte ensured the hosts ran out winners.
At 31, captain Gary Irvine is an elder statesman in a team crammed with youngsters, but he is adamant that the rookies have been some of their best performers.
“You want the young players to go out there and express themselves, which they do, and they’ve been brilliant,” said the former Dundee player. “The new manager has given a couple of them an opportunity and in the last few games I would probably say they’ve been our best players.
“When results go against you, it’s up to the experienced ones that have been there and done it to get them through it.”
St Mirren remain without a league win to their name after 14 games, but Ross, who has been in charge of six of those, has faith in the kids he has blooded.
He said: “We’ve got a very young middle-to-front team at the moment who have been terrific for me. If they can get through this period as players, it will be fantastic for them moving forward.
“There’s enough good things about the way we’re playing to believe we can go on a run of results. We have a number of experienced players at the club at the moment but I like to play with a certain energy and tempo and that’s why these young players have come into the team. I would like probably one or two more (experienced players) in the team and that could increase that again.”
Saturday started so well for St Mirren after they took the lead in a league game for only the second time this term when Morgan drilled John Sutton’s knock down into the net from inside the area.
But Baird’s rush of blood to the head following a tangle with the prostrate Miller changed the whole dynamics of the match.
Falkirk restored parity little over a minute after the restart through Miller, before substitute McHugh netted the 78th minute.
Hippolyte compounded St Mirren’s woes in the 83rd minute on an afternoon that started so brightly for the visitors, who travel to Queen of the South tomorrow.
“It would be a bigger worry if we weren’t playing well and were getting beat,” said Irvine. If nothing was working at all it would be panic stations, but it’s not the case in the dressing room. We know we’ve got a good squad of players and we’re doing the right things in training. We honestly believe it's going to turn for us.
“Because of the position you’re in, you’re constantly seeing things going against you."
Credit must go to the loyal St Mirren supporters that stayed to the end and applauded their team’s efforts, despite witnessing a tenth league defeat of a wretched season.
Ross believes they have bought into what he is trying to do.
“Having played at the club I know the supporters are not shy in telling you if you’ve been poor or whatever, but I think their reaction at the end of the game told it’s own story with regards to what the players put into the game,” he said.
For Falkirk, Saturday’s victory has moved Peter Houston’s side back up to third, just six points adrift of joint leaders Hibernian and Dundee United.
“The boys were talking about us being third, that’s fantastic and we just need to keep the momentum and go unbeaten again,” said goal scorer Hippolyte.
“It was good with Dundee United beating Hibs the other night, we can still catch them but it’s going to take time.”
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