OFF the pitch it’s already been a successful season for St Mirren. The Buddies moved to fan ownership during the week with the St Mirren Independent Supporters Association (SMISA) becoming majority owners of the Buddies.
But that’s not to say supporters are content to rest on the joy of becoming a fan-owned club, instead the Paisley side have set lofty ambitions for the upcoming season.
Finishing 7th in the Scottish Premiership, reaching the semi-final in both the Scottish Cup and Betfred Cup, and being the only club to defeat Rangers and Celtic last term was a start.
For Jim Goodwin though, backed by chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick and the Buddies’ new look boardroom, that is just the beginning with a top six spot, and national final targeted this term.
It was a season of close misses last time out despite claiming the club’s highest league finish since 1989.
For all the joys of completely avoiding a relegation scrap, fans watched through the gaps in their fingers as a top six spot slipped away on the final day before the split.
A last-gasp leveller from Hamilton, partnered with St Johnstone bagging a late win over Ross County saw the Buddies drop into seventh where they would remain come the end of the season.
Goodwin, a League Cup winning captain with the Buddies in 2013, has always made clear his desire to progress in cup competitions. And he made it a reality last term.
Providing both a financial and morale boost the club journeyed their way to two trips to the national stadium.
But both Hampden run-outs ended in the same fashion, narrow losses. Livingston pipped the Saints 1-0 before St Johnstone won 2-0 in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
This term Goodwin will be aiming to go one step further and take St Mirren supporters to Hampden for a final showpiece, the road to a shot at silverware already underway with the Buddies coasting through their Premier Sports Cup group.
Much to the dismay of the Buddies support, players and staff the campaign began with a non-contest 3-0 win over Dumbarton after the Sons forfeited the match through Covid troubles.
Goodwin made sure his players maintained their fitness with an earlier trip to Belfast to play Linfield partnered with friendly wins against Ayr, Annan and an intra-squad match.
When it came to competitive action the Saints started with a 1-0 win over Dunfermline, before a 3-1 victory away to Stenhousemuir. They rounded off their cup group stage with a 2-0 over Partick Thistle to secure a flawless opening to the season.
Coming through the cup matches unscathed either through injury of result upset is made more impressive when five new signings featured in a number of the clashes.
Goodwin, often hailed for his clever recruitment of Irish players and those from the Irish league, refreshed his squad with proven Premiership players.
Eamonn Brophy completed his permanent move to Paisley after a loan spell from Kilmarnock which was riddled with injury niggles after arriving with a broken foot.
Alongside Brophy, much like a new signing himself after his false start, come Alan Power and Greg Kiltie from relegated Killie. Power acting as the new defensive midfielder after Jake Doyle-Hayes’ exit.
A surprise signing was Charles Dunne from Motherwell. The defender has barely played in two years but appears to have put his injury worries behind him after a strong start endearing himself to the Saints support.
Curtis Main has returned to Scotland in the black and white stripes and has already bagged two goals, with Scott Tanser switching the Perth Saints for Paisley.
Goodwin is keen on adding a winger to his options, after Dylan Connolly and Ilkay Durmus left the club, but just as important could be holding onto Jamie McGrath and Conor McCarthy.
The Irish duo have been attracting interest from down south with six-figure bids for both rejected in recent weeks.
Should Goodwin add to his shrewd signings already this summer there is every chance the Buddies can break into the top six and make it a season to remember.
Maybe this time the Buddies will be able to back up the infectious belief from their manager and chief exec, a good start and a top half position and decent showings in both cup competitions appear well within the club’s grasp.
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