Teale issues rallying cry

Pic: Jeff Holmes

Gary Teale has done his best to shield his St Mirren squad from the strains of the relegation fight - but now believes it is time they faced facts.

The Buddies sit rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership, four points behind Motherwell in the play-off slot and seven away from outright safety.

But time is fast running out for Saints if they want to claw themselves to safety, with champions elect Celtic the first daunting task to be overcome on Friday as they prepare for eight make-or-break fixtures.

Interim boss Teale has been through the agony of demotion as a player with Derby in 2008 and knows the toll it can have on a club.

He says he has tried to protect his squad from the pressure bearing down on them.

However, he now reckons it is time the players faced up to the reality that backroom staff at the Paisley outfit - which has been up for sale for five a half years - are also relying on the players to save their jobs.

Teale said: "I've told the lads what I went through at Derby and told them that it's not the sort of thing they will want on their CV.

"I've also told them that they are not only playing for their own contracts. With relegation, there are a lot of knock-on effects that impact on the other staff at the club.

"So the players are also playing for the futures of those people.

"You don't want to burden the players too much with that sort of stuff but that's the problem. I will take all the pressure and the stick that comes my way and I try to take it away from the players as much as I can because you don't want them going into games with a fear factor.

"But reality has to kick in at some point too.

"We are sitting bottom of the league and the players need to take some personal responsibility. They need to stand up and be counted.''

Saints could do without having to host Ronny Deila's rampant Hoops this Friday but Teale is praying recent international exertions may have taken their toll on the table-topping Parkhead side.

The Buddies boss - who has handed a new three-year deal to 18-year-old midfielder Lewis McLear - said: "I love everything about the way Celtic play.

The pace, the energy and the ability within their side is excellent.

"A lot of credit has to go to their manager. They had a lot of success in the past but he has come in and tried to do something different and now it is bearing fruit.

"But hopefully coming off the back of the international break they might suffer a wee hangover. I saw Nir Biton played the full 90 minutes for Israel last night, so you never know.

"They've got an embarrassment of riches, though. No matter who they put in, they will all be quality players.

"We just need to frustrate them as long as we can and then try to nick something at the other end.''