Stephen Robinson admits he’s “worried” about wealthy clubs snapping up his star players when the January transfer window opens.
But the Buddies boss insists he’ll try to keep the majority of squad intact, even though buying low and selling high remains the club’s model as they look to stay out of the financial red.
Several Saints players are likely to attract attention in January, not least Keanu Baccus after his World Cup exploits with Australia.
His midfield teammate Ethan Erhahon is also likely to have plenty of suitors after his impressive start to the Premiership season, having shone in a trio alongside Baccus and Mark O’Hara.
While selling players ultimately helps St Mirren to balance the books, Robinson is determined to keep hold of as many of his key players as possible.
And if they do depart Paisley, he hopes to see money reinvested back into the squad after a very successful summer of recruitment.
Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “I’m worried about every day of January because when you’re a club like ourselves, you are always at the mercy of bigger clubs with more money. They can come and take your players.
“We only changed around 30 per cent of the squad in the summer and I think every signing we’ve made is attracting attention. That means we’ve recruited very, very well with a limited amount we can change.
“It’ll be an interesting window. Obviously we will not sell people or get rid of people for money we don’t believe reflects their value.
“But at a club like St Mirren you have to accept we do have to sell footballers.
“Unfortunately we’re not in a position to say ‘no, we don’t sell players’. We are and we have to. It’s the model the football club is built on and we have to accept that.
“There has to be a realism that our model is we have to bring players in and then sell them on.
“It’s frustrating as a manager, because you want to build on success and sign more players. You want to continue to bring players in and keep the better ones too, but I understand the parameters of the football club.
“I understand how we have to work and it’s not a complaint from me. It certainly doesn’t make the job easier, but it’s something you have to deal with.
”Hopefully, if we did sell anyone, we’ll get the money to replace them. Hopefully that would happen.”
While currently not in a position to look for more new recruits this January due to a slight overspend in the summer, Robinson expects some natural progression with fringe players pushing for more game time - either in Paisley or elsewhere.
He is planning for every eventuality, adding: “At the minute we won’t be able to recruit anyone else in January.
“But if I could turn my phone off for a month, we’d be happy with the squad we’ve got.
“It’s more a case of trying to hang on to the current squad and keep everyone together, because we’ve got a small squad but a good squad. We’ve got good players and good characters.
“There’s always a natural progression in the January window anyway. Boys that aren’t playing are maybe a bit restless and maybe want to look at getting more game time elsewhere.
“That all comes at you and you deal with it as a manager.”
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