New St Mirren midfielder Ryan Edwards admits he is relieved to hear that he is still wanted at the club after signing just three days before Alan Stubbs lost his job as manager.

The Australian made the season-long loan switch from Hearts on transfer deadline day and watched Stubbs’ final game in charge – a 4-1 defeat to his parent club, from the stands on September 1.

Former Coleraine boss Oran Kearney was appointed to the dugout last Friday and Edwards, who only joined Hearts from Partick Thistle in June, has been reassured he remains part of the Buddies’ plans.

The 24-year-old, who is hoping to make his debut in tomorrow’s visit of Celtic, said: “It’s been hectic and manic but I appreciate the opportunity St Mirren have given me to come to the club to get some games and hopefully help the club move forward.

“I obviously spoke to the previous manager, and now the current manager as well as [chief executive] Tony Fitzpatrick, and they made it known to me the club as a whole wanted me to come to St Mirren so they made me feel welcome and the boys have been great as well.

“After having conversations with the previous manager, you want to go and play for him so it was a bit of a shock to myself, him losing his job.

“But then you hear that the club wants you to come and play so I’m quite happy that’s still the case.”

Edwards signed a two-year deal with Hearts following Thistle’s relegation and admits he has only just settled into a new home in the capital.

He added: “For myself it’s been crazy; I moved from Glasgow to Edinburgh and now I’m travelling back through to Glasgow at the moment.

“The situation at Hearts allowed me to come here and play games and I’m more than happy to do that.”

Edwards is desperate to play his part in helping the Buddies end a four-game losing sequence after being a keen observer in the latest set-back to Hearts.

Speaking to Buddievision, he added: “Hearts are playing really well at the minute and Tynecastle is a great place to play.

“As a St Mirren and Hearts player, I got to see both my parent club and my loan club perform.

“It was good to see how I can help the team, especially in the midfield.”