St Mirren

Kenny Crawford
For BBC Scotland

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Marcus Fraser "jumped at the chance" to take on the role of St Mirren captain.

Fraser, 32, takes over from Mark O'Hara, who has returned to first club Kilmarnock.

"I had a chat during the week with the manager and the coaching staff and they asked me if I'd like to take the role on - and of course, I jumped at the chance," said Fraser.

"I thanked them and I appreciate it. Since they've been in from the end of the season to now, they've really backed me and shown faith in me, so I'm just happy and hopefully I can reward them with performances on the pitch and gelling all the new guys together as well.

"Since the start of pre-season the manager's asked me a few questions here and there about different things to ask my opinion about stuff.

"That's been good from the players' point of view and it's good to get that connection with the manager and coaching staff early."

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Defender Henry Fieldson is St Mirren's fifth summer signing, with the 21-year-old joining as a free agent from Queen's Park.

The Paisley club say the "beat competition from clubs on both sides of the border" for the player who can operate at centre-back and left-back.

Having come through the academy at Sunderland, he joined Queen's Park in August 2024 and made 61 appearances for the Championship side over two seasons.

Fieldson has signed a two-year contract, with the club holding the option to extend for a further year.

"I'm just buzzing to get going," he told club media. "It's a real good project this year in terms of the new style of play and the ambition we have. I can't wait to be a part of that."

Fieldson will provide cover for the experienced Declan John, revealed head coach Craig McLeish.

"He's someone that we've been tracking for a long time," McLeish explained.

"He's played a lot of games for his age. He's got a lot of maturity about him as well. He's really fit, athletic and handles the ball really well.

"We're excited about him and it also gives us a little bit of breathing space to allow us to start exploring loan options for Thomas Falconer to give him the first team experience that he needs."

Meanwhile, right-back Callum Penman, 19, and midfielder Lewis Hodgkiss, 18, are to join Stenhousemuir on loan until January.

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Craig McLeish's chances of success with St Mirren will depend on the Paisley club recruiting players capable of playing the young manager's preferred system, suggests former Buddies midfielder Ryan Flynn.

McLeish took charge in March after Stephen Robinson moved to Scottish Premiership rivals Aberdeen.

"He is very assertive about how he wants to play," Flynn told the Scottish Football Podcast as he predicted that St Mirren would avoid another relegation battle while not challenging for the top six.

"I think he'll be aggressive, front foot, trying to press teams really high up.

"It depends on Gavin Miller and recruitment team and how they bring players to suit his style of play.

"There have got to be a lot more signings, especially at the top end of the pitch.

"They are needing ball carriers, width in attack and then everybody wants those goalscorers."

Flynn reckons the departure of captain Mark O'Hara to Kilmarnock and striker Mikael Mandron will be "a big loss", but he suggests the "fantastic" changes behind the scenes brought in by Robinson will help them transition.

"From top to bottom, it's been a complete overhaul," he said, pointing to improvements to the facilities, such the training ground and changing rooms.

"The form of the players and maybe the squad probably wasn't in a good place when he left, but the club as a whole is in a much better position moving forward."

Winning the League Cup last season after European football and top-six finishes was an example of a gradual progression for the club.

There was "a complete nosedive" in form after that: "But, luckily, the boys there pulled together and got over that line that makes it a memorable season because you can't be legends and get relegated in the same season.

"It would have really tarnished that."

The BBC Scottish Football Podcast's Premiership previews continue with a look at St Mirren, who had to come through the play-off final to survive after winning the League Cup.

Former Buddies midfielder Ryan Flynn and Pie & Bovril supremo Div MacDonald assess what lies ahead in Craig McLeish's first full season as the young head coach goes about replacing key players who have departed.

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Stevie Mallan has forced St Mirren manager Craig McLeish to consider giving him a contract after joining pre-season training following the midfielder's release by St Johnstone.

The 30-year-old only managed 11 starts and eight substitute appearances after joining the Perth club last summer after nearly two years out of football through injury and was released following their Scottish Championship title win.

"Stevie did pre-season with us last year as well off the back of a longer-term injury when I was taking the 19s," McLeish told BBC Scotland's Sportsound.

"The plan initially was that he would come in and train and then, when we were away to Spain, he would train with the under-19s.

"But he did that well in the first week that we thought we have to take a look at this and seriously consider it and he's been fantastic.

"He's come back and he's so fit and he's been really good around the place, really energetic and shows his quality on the ball has never left him.

"He just needs a run at it - a run of games."

Former Scotland youth midfielder Dylan Reid,the 21-year-old who was sold by St Mirren to Crystal Palace in 2024 but released this summer, is also on trial.

St Mirren have lost captain Mark O'Hara to Kilmarnock, sold defender Miguel Freckleton to LASK, while striker Mikael Mandron has rejected a new contract and moved on.

"We lost big players - Mark, our captain, decided to move on and Mika as well, they are big shoes to fill, but we still have a core group of experienced players," McLeish said.

"We are still in a really good place with where the squad is.

"We still have to add to our forward line and it depends on whether some of the boys move on - there's some interest in some of our players."

Stevie Mallan is on trial with former clubSt Mirren after the 30-year-old midfielder left promoted St Johnstone, but striker Mikael Mandron has rejected a new contract with the Paisley club. (Daily Record, external)

Leicester City and Charlton Athletic are among the clubs eyeing a move for striker Mikael Mandron, who is a free agent after leaving St Mirren. (Peter O'Rourke on X, external)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Mirren have held talks with Leon King after the centre-half was freed by Rangers, but manager Craig McLeish has told the 22-year-old they have to bolster other positions in the squad first before making an offer. (Daily Record, external)

St Mirren are set to win the race to sign 20-year-old Queen's Park centre-half Henry Fieldson on a free transfer. (Pete O'Rourke on X, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Miguel Freckleton has left St Mirren to join Austrian champions LASK for an undisclosed fee in a deal the Paisley club say includes "significant future add-ons and a sell-on clause".

The English defender, 22, joined Saints last year and leaves as a Premier Sports Cup winner after making 47 appearances for the club, scoring four times.

He was previously with Sheffield United, who loaned him out to four different English clubs before his move north.

"With a year remaining on his Saints deal, Miguel made clear his desire to take on a new challenge with the Austrian champions," said a St Mirren statement.

"We sincerely thank Miguel for his contributions. He departs with the best wishes of everyone at St Mirren."

Last season, LASK ended a 61-year wait to win the Austrian Bundesliga for just the second time. They also won the Austrian Cup for a second time, emulating their 1964-65 campaign with a league and cup double.

Dietmar Kuhbauer's side open the defence of their league title later this month and will enter the Champions League at the play-off round in August, the same stage and path as Celtic.

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Hearts have beaten Scottish Premiership rivals St Mirren 3-1 in the Edinburgh side's first pre-season friendly under new head coach Wouter Vrancken.

It was St Mirren's second game since former caretaker Craig McLeish was given the job permanently, the Paisley side having beaten Championship team 4-2 on Saturday.

Midfielder Sander Kartum, forward Rogers Mato and James Wilson, the 19-year-old striker who was on loan to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, scored Hearts' goals at their training camp in Spain.

St Mirren's goal came from 18-year-old substitute left-back Thomas Falconer.

Jacob Chapman, who signed earlier in the day from Huddersfield Town, started in goal for the Buddies along with two summer midfield signings - Samuel Ramos, previously of Zemplin Michalovce and Ryan Carr, who arrived from Ipswich Town).

Former Airdrieonians midfielder Chris Mochrie was among the substitutes.

Wilson started up front for Hearts along with Sabri Guendouz, the new signing from Beerschot, while MJ Kamson-Kamara, the defender signed from Lincoln City and midfielder Yan Dhanda, who has returned from his loan to Dundee, also started.

Former Versailles midfielder Tom Renaud, ex-St Johnstone winger Josh McPake and Calvin Miller, the winger signed from Falkirk, were among the substitutes.

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St Mirren have tasked themselves with turning Jacob Chapman into an Australia international after signing the 25-year-old goalkeeper from Huddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee.

Chapman travelled from his homeland to join the League One club's academy at the age of 18 and has since made 28 first-team appearances.

But he ended last season on loan to Crawley Town, keeping nine clean sheets in 20 appearances as they narrowly avoided relegation in League Two.

Now he has signed two-year contract with the Scottish Premiership club, who hold an option of a further year.

St Mirren manager Craig McLeish told his club website: "We've had loans for the last three seasons or so and it feels like we're developing goalkeepers for other clubs and not getting a long-term benefit from it.

"Our specific targets were to find someone at a really good age, like Jacob, who has development still to do. We get really good use out of him, but ultimately we want Jacob to get to the highest level that he wants to get to.

"He's been in and around the Australia national team squads and training camps. That's one of the goals that we've set, can we turn Jacob into a full international.

"We really like a lot about his game. He's an all-rounder and a very good shot-stopper. He's really comfortable on the ball and helps us build and helps us play."

Chapman had been told there was no guarantee of first-team football if he remained in Huddersfield and is delighted to accept "a fantastic opportunity" to join a club that won the Scottish League Cup last season.

"The league's great with the games you play and St Mirren's obviously a very good club," he said. "I know some of the boys and they gave me fantastic references on everyone here, coaches and people around the club, which is massive."

During his time with Huddersfield, Chapman also had loan spells with Ossett United, Gateshead, Salford City and Rochdale and sporting director Chris Markham told his club website: "Understandably, at 25 years old, Jacob wants regular first-team football, which is something we cannot guarantee here.

"We believe this move is in the best interests of the player and the club. It gives Jacob the chance to establish himself as a number one and rewards Huddersfield Town as he hopefully succeeds."

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Midfielder Fraser Taylor is relishing a "fresh start" under new St Mirren boss Craig McLeish after signing a two-year contract extension.

The 23-year-old academy graduate, whose deal now runs to summer 2028, made his first-team debut in 2022 and featured 13 times for the Buddies last season before joining Partick Thistle on loan in January.

"I'm really pleased, since the new manager has come in, he spoke to me on the off-season, and his ideas really suit the way I like to play," said Taylor.

"It was the right decision for me to stay here and it feels like a fresh start. I'm really looking forward to the next two years and hopefully I can keep developing as the player I want to be.

"This season is all about playing games and playing at the highest level I can. I want to be playing at this level more consistently and showing the fans and other people in the country what I can do.

"It's going to be a different season, changing the way we're going to play. It's really exciting and I think the club and all the fans should be excited."

Dylan Reid, the 21-year-old midfielder who left St Mirren for Crystal Palace in 2023 and has just been released, and 22-year-old Middlesbrough winger Micah Hamilton featured as trialists for the Buddies in a pre-season friendly against Arbroath. (Daily Record, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Mirren remain interested in George Abbott, with the 21-year-old former Watford defender being eyed by other Scottish clubs after leaving Górnik Łęczna following their relegation from the Polish top flight. (Rudy Galetti on X, external)

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara has departed the club and re-joined fellow Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old was out of contract after four years in Paisley. O'Hara scored 25 goals in his 142 St Mirren appearances, helped the club to three top-six finishes, European football and last season's League Cup win.

The midfielder began his career with Killie's youth academy and made 87 appearances for the first team before joining Dundee in 2016, where he worked with current Rugby Park boss Neil McCann.

"I'm delighted to be back and it's good to come back at this stage of my career when I'm a different player than when I left," O'Hara told Killie TV.

"This is the club that gave me my chance in football. I'm looking forward to a successful season ahead.

"I needed a fresh challenge. The club's in a good place and having had conversations with the manager, and working for him before, I knew he was somebody I wanted to work for again and that he'll get the best out of me. It's nice to be able to give a bit back to the club that gave me an opportunity."

Head coach McCann added: "He's an important signing for the team.

"As St Mirren's captain, he brings leadership skills. We lost Brad [Lyons], who had been a big presence around here, so it's important that we brought in another leader within the group.

"Mark I know well from my time at Dundee and he was absolutely brilliant for me. It was a long time ago but he's still got a lot to offer. He's a homegrown player with a massive connection to the club, which I'm sure the fans will appreciate and enjoy him being back."

Midfielder Mark O'Hara, 30 has rejected a one-year contract at St Mirren and agreed a two-year switch to former club Kilmarnock. (Daily Record), external

St Mirren are weighing up a return for midfielder Dylan Reid, 21, who left the Paisley club for Crystal Palace in 2023. (Daily Record), external

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Roland Idowu scored twice as St Mirren opened their pre-season programme with a 4-2 win over second-tier Arbroath.

New midfielder Ryan Carr started and Idowu netted both his goals in the first half as Craig McLeish's side when in at the break 2-1 up, Ryan Dow on target for the hosts.

New signing Chris Mochrie was among those who featured in the second-half XI.

Jayden Richardson netted St Mirren's third and Theo McCormick made it 4-1 before Gavin Reilly's reply.

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Chris Mochrie is eager to show "what I can do" after joining St Mirren on a two-year deal with the option of a further year.

The former Dundee United attacking midfielder, 23, arrives in Paisley following a two-year spell at Airdrieonians. He had been loaned to Montrose and Dunfermline Athletic by United before joining Airdrie.

All in all, Mochrie has made 206 senior club appearances, scoring 25 goals.

"I'm buzzing, really excited to get going," he told St Mirren media.

"It's a big club and I'm looking forward to getting started and showing what I can do."

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Former St Mirren midfielder Burton O'Brien has returned to the club to join Craig McLeish's coaching staff.

He joined Blackburn Rovers in 1999 and go on to have spells with Livingston, Sheffield Wednesday, Falkirk, Alloa Athletic and Cowdenbeath.

After retiring in 2017, O'Brien became the under-18s coach within St Mirren's academy for over three years.

Since then he's worked with the Scottish FA and has previously worked alongside head coach McLeish for the national team.

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Midfielder Ryan Carr is excited to be part of "something really exciting" after signing for St Mirren.

The Scotland Under-21 international moves to Paisley on a two-year contract, with a club-held option of a further 12 months, following his release by Ipswich Town.

"I'm very happy to get signed," said Carr. "I've had a couple of good conversations with the manager. What he's trying to build here is something really exciting and I want to be a part of it.

"Fans can expect that I will give 100% in every game. I'm energetic, hard working, love both sides of the game in possession and defending. Goals and assists are something I like to chip in with as well."

Carr, who previously had loan spells at Aveley, Gateshead and Ebbsfleet United, becomes new manager Craig McLeish's second summer arrival after Spanish midfielder Samuel Ramos.

McLeish says Saints' new head of recruitment Gavin Miller was the driving force behind Carr's signing.

"Ryan was brought to my attention by Gavin," he said.

"Gavin really liked him from watching him at Ipswich U21s and I then watched his footage from the Scotland U21s. I spoke to people that knew him, coaches, staff and players that worked with him at the U21 level.

"I think the fans will love his energy and his tenacity in the middle of the pitch and he can handle the ball really well too. He's one that we're really excited about."