Lex Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 With Saints top flight status secured for yet another season, it's time to begin preparations for our 9th consecutive campaign in the top flight. It's going to be a summer of pretty big change in Paisley, several first team regulars and the management team are all out of contract. The place to start is Danny Lennon, and his situation. He had a terrible summer and pretty much every one of his summer signings bombed directly leading to our worst start to a league campaign for a century and us falling at the first hurdle in the League Cup. Harkins, Graiger, Cornell, Bahoken, Caprice all failed and all left the club early. Many people thought he would be sacked after a home defeat to Thistle in August, but he somehow survived. Even as soon as a few weeks ago, over 80% of 300 or so of our fans wanted him sacked immediately after our home loss to the Saintees. Our league campaign never really got going much better and we never got near the top 6, and spent most of the season hanging around between 8th and 11th. However, as we always seem to do, we got the job done at the business end of the season and got safe with games to spare. Will he get a new contract? Personally i don't think he should, he's had 4 years, a long time in football, i think it would be best for both parties to get a fresh start. That opens the whole new manager debate. We could either go for experience (Levein, Houston etc) or take a punt on an in house promotion like Teale or Thommo or go for Ian Murray from Dumbarton. We would certainly have plenty of willing applicants! The following first teamers are out of contract: Goodwin Djemba-Djemba Thompson McLean Kello Dilo Van Zanten McGregor McGowan Teale Magennis (loan expiring) Campbell (loan expiring) Newton (loan expiring) Pretty much a full team then! I think McLean and Newton will get better offers and will be away, but we could retain the rest if we wanted too. I'd certainly offer Kello, Dilo, McGregor, Goodwin and Thompson new deals. I'd like to see Teale stay as a player/coach. I think Van Zanten and Djemba-Djemba will be released. That leaves McGowan, not sure about him. He's had a very poor season by his high standards this time around, and he's one of the top earners at the club. I wouldn't be too fussed if we let him go. As for new additions, apparently Adam Armstrong is a done deal and he will be the next Geordie to arrive on a season long loan. Would like to see us move for Hemmings from Cowdenbeath or Loy from Falkirk, and i'd take Stevenson from Hearts. We also need some defensive reinforcements. Would take someone like Will Haining (currently playing for non League Hyde) back, we need an experienced defender at this level. Going to be an interesting season either way, can't wait Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confidemus Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Write us a postcard to tell us what it's like, won't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulysses Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Not going to vote until after the Hearts game. Agree with most of your points though, I don't want another summer of total rebuilding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergie's no1 fan Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Most importantly we may have new owners! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulysses Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Most importantly we may have new owners! Could turn out to be crucial in regards to Danny's future. Could secure 7th but still be out the door because the new owners want their own man in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeato Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I think that's a solid core of a team right there. If we can renew the majority of those players contracts then I don't see what else we should build in the team other than bring in a solid Centre half and get some cover at Full-back for injuries. Building a team around McGinn, Mclean and Thommo seems like the way to go. When they play at full capacity it's scary how good we can be. I would like another striker brought in. Thommo can't play forever and shouldn't be playing every game of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussellV1 Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Thought the 1 year option on Thommo's contract kicked in weeks ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddie06smfc Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Unless McGowan drops his wage demands he should be binned. Big disappointment this season. Most important player to get tied down has to be McLean, unfortunately I think he will be off to bigger things down south and you can't blame him at all. Is Harkins still here for next season? If we can tempt Oldham into parting with a nominal fee for him then we'll be laughing. Either way get him punted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waffelz Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Mclean at united, ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergie's no1 fan Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 400k then ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Really don't know what will happen with the manager. Until the split the season was an utter disaster. His summer transfer activity was a joke, players were being played out of position and, aside from the wee run around October/November we were dire. The run since the cup final was horrific and twice - after losing to Thistle in August and to St Johnstone in March - it looked as if he'd passed the point of no return. A big rebuilding job will need done this summer - do we really trust a guy who made such a bollocks of his last summer transfer window? On the other hand, he could well have taken us to our highest placing in 25 years. He has us safe before the final day of the season, just as he has done in our last three years. He's previously had us into eighth and won us a cup. He's brought some terrific young players into the team and has finished this season with a tremendous run of form. I've said all along I thought the board would keep him and I still think they will. I think they'll look at what has happened at Killie, who sacked a manager who won them a cup because he failed to get them into the top six and then have had a shocking season, and decide it's better to stick with what you know and give Danny an extension. Who is there that is a realistic option that could replace him? Ian Murray is the only person in a job I'd consider - then you're looking at guys like Houston, Levein, Coyle and Calderwood - who, worryingly, has been spotted at lots of our games. After that it'll be a punt on an unknown from England or a rookie manager. Whatever we do I hope they do it this week as the manager - be it Lennon or someone else - needs as much time as possible to sort the squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossC93 Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Mclean at united, ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergie's no1 fan Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I think Avril and Coyle would be decent for a club our size. Murray seems to be the up and coming manager , problem with that is he is still learning the game and do we have the time to bed him in? Few fans suggesting Teale . If we keep the same board I reckon DL has a good chance of a new deal, new board means new manager IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamaroSaint Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I think Avril and Coyle would be decent for a club our size. Murray seems to be the up and coming manager , problem with that is he is still learning the game and do we have the time to bed him in? Few fans suggesting Teale . If we keep the same board I reckon DL has a good chance of a new deal, new board means new manager IMO. I heard Murray would want to bring Jack Ross as assistant......... I'd be happy to see DL staying - I think he's still got more to offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints Bevy Squad Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I'd only get rid of Lennon if we could Ian Murray in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrappy coco Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I'd only get rid of Lennon if we could Ian Murray in. A 33year old barking orders at thommo, goody, and teale,,,, nah don't think so.. Danny deserves at least another year.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
govansaint Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 was rory loy of Falkirk not on our books a couple of seasons ago ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepItOnTheDannyLennon Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I'd only get rid of Lennon if we could Ian Murray in. Last season the in demand, up and coming manager everyone wanted at their club was Alan Johnston...look how that worked out for Killie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie88 Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 was rory loy of Falkirk not on our books a couple of seasons ago ? Yeah we had him on loan. Think he made 2 or 3 appearances from the bench from January till the end of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
govansaint Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Yeah we had him on loan. Think he made 2 or 3 appearances from the bench from January till the end of the season.yeah thought so cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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