St Mirren making contingency plans with uncertain future for Australian duo

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson is looking for potential replacements for Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus as the Australia internationals keep their options open over their futures.

The pair are both in the second half of their two-year contracts and have made a big impression during their time in Scotland.

Chairman John Needham this week stated St Mirren were speaking to the players' agents and working hard to try to persuade them to sign new contracts, but that prospect appears unlikely.

Robinson said: "That was a verbal conversation that myself and Jim Gillespie have had with the boys and their representatives and as yet both boys are keeping their options open at this moment in time, which they are more than entitled to do.

"We will continue to try but also continue to look for other people. We have to be a step ahead of other people so that's what we are trying to do.

"Players have the right now to decide what they are going to do. We want both boys to sign, we have made that very, very clear and we will still chase that but it's up to me and the club to be prepared if they don't sign and we have to sign replacements. It's still very early."

St Mirren rebuffed interest in Baccus from Aberdeen last month but the Paisley club could have big decisions to make in January on whether to cash in or enjoy having both players for another few months.

"There's a balance," Robinson said. "We have got ourselves into a position where we won't sell players for buttons. We had an offer in the window which we just didn't think met the value we thought the player was worth. Fair play to the board, they stuck by that.

"We also have to weigh up whether keeping players would get us an extra two or three positions in the league. You get extra prize money for that as well. Certainly it will be a calculated decision.

"From the minute I know players are in the final year of their contract, I am looking at replacements. Myself and (chief scout) Martin Foyle are already doing that, not just in those positions but every position."

Both players' energy levels, and those of fellow internationals, will be assessed ahead of St Mirren's top-three encounter against Motherwell at Fir Park.

Robinson said: "Keanu and Strainer have come back from Dallas after a game against Mexico so it's a case of how they feel and how their bodies are. I will pick a team with the most energy to go and get points.

"Conor (McMenamin) had a journey from hell from Kazakhstan, the charter didn't work as planned, so a few long journeys."

Robinson has former Motherwell pair Mark O'Hara and Mikael Mandron available again after injury.

"Mark has trained, as has Mika," he said. "Mark has been out three and a half weeks so it's a judgement call on whether we put him back in again."

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