St Mirren are set to open talks with manager Stephen Robinson in a bid to see him extend his stay in Paisley.
The Buddies boss has made a positive impact since replacing Jim Goodwin last February, keeping the club in the Premiership last season before reinforcing the squad in the summer.
With the rejuvenated club currently battling to seal an historic top-six finish after an impressive league campaign to this point, it’s now understood the Saints are looking to extend Robinson’s contract - which currently runs until the summer of 2024.
With key players Mark O’Hara, Trevor Carson and Marcus Fraser all signing extended deals recently, the St Mirren board are now looking to continue that trend of building for the future by tying their manager to a longer contract.
The Buddies went into the international break on the back of an eventful 1-1 draw with Dundee United, which allowed top-six rivals Livingston to replace the Paisley side in the top half of the table.
The pair meet at the SMiSA Stadium in the first Premiership game back on Saturday April 1, with Robinson insisting a top-six finish is still firmly in the Saints’ hands.
He is adamant his players cannot afford another sluggish start though, which has cost them points against the Terrors and Motherwell in recent league fixtures.
Speaking after St Mirren’s draw with Dundee United, Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “The start was disappointing as a collective and a group. We know we can’t start games like that.
“Every game is a big game now and we need to start better. The message wasn’t to start slow! The message was to turn them round, play in their half of the pitch, they’re a team fighting for their lives.
“We just didn’t do that. We didn’t land on second balls and it took the jolt of the goal to liven us up.
“We didn’t run beyond them, we didn’t turn them around. That’s our DNA and we didn’t do that to start with. Sometimes that happens, for whatever reason.
“When you go 1-0 down that early it makes it an uphill task. Dundee United camp in then and try to hit you on the counter-attack.
“It takes good teams to break people down when they have nine men behind the ball.
“We broke them down several times but didn’t take our chances. I can only credit the players, the fans for their support throughout the game.
“The reaction to it was fantastic, we just missed that finishing touch.”
Robinson, who stated last month this season has been the most challenging of his managerial career to date, continued: “We gained a point on people above us. Obviously a couple of teams won as well.
“But it is still very much in our hands. We have Livingston next at home and an opportunity to take three points.
“I’ve nothing but praise for these players. They are fantastic boys.
“To be in this position at this stage, after what has gone on at this club this year, is nothing but a credit to these players.”
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