AN ARGENTINIAN consortium is expected to continue to try to buy St Mirren even if they are successful in their attempts to secure a club in Spain.

The group, led by lawyer Ricardo Pini, have been in discussions with Girona, currently pushing for promotion from the Spanish second division, and hope to conclude a deal soon. Given the Scottish Football Association's strict guidelines on dual ownership, that would seem to end their interest in St Mirren but Herald Sport understands the group will not be discouraged by that, and will look to establish a European chain similar to that run by the Pozzo family who own Granada in Spain, the Italians Udinese and Watford in the English Championship.

Pini was due back in Girona yesterday to conduct further due diligence ahead of the purchase of a 51% stake in the Catalan club. He is expected to remain there until the 29th when he will return home to Buenos Aires, with a deal expected to be concluded within that timeframe. Pini, who owned the Chilean club Rangers until last year, was also expected to finalise a deal to assume 75% ownership of St Mirren this week but the transaction is taking longer than expected. Sources in Spain, however, are confident Pini still intends on buying both clubs.