Trevor Carson firmly believes Saints boss Stephen Robinson is destined to shoot to the top of the game one day.
But the Buddies goalkeeper hopes the Paisley club can hang on to him a little longer as they aim to build on their top-six success next season.
Carson knows exactly what the manager is capable of in the dugout and on the training pitch, having worked with him now at three clubs – Motherwell, Morecambe and St Mirren – and at international level with Northern Ireland.
And the Saints No 1 is convinced Robinson could cut it at the top level if he was handed the opportunity.
Carson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “We are so lucky to have him here, he is that good.
“We are fully aware of that and we talk about it as players. I have worked at international level and we have boys who have played at the top level and they all say he is destined for the top.
“He needs that break, just like a player, someone to take a chance on him.
“I hope he stays here. I am here for another two years and selfishly I want him to be here with me.
“He would say he wants all of his players to play at the top level and I want the same for him.
“I would love to see him get a massive job. I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone, but I would love to see him manage at the top level.
“I know he is capable of that and he deserves it.”
Robinson’s intensity and work-rate is now well-known in Scotland after his spells at Fir Park and the SMiSA Stadium.
Carson doesn’t think the tactically astute gaffer could work any other way, having seen his determination and drive to succeed at close quarters for so long.
He said: “I think the gaffer is still the same in terms of his intensity. I don’t think he could change.
“If we are doing set-plays and he has forgot to do a throw in against but he has already brought us all in, then he will take us all back out again to do it.
“He always says he wouldn’t sleep that night if he didn’t get us to do it. He’s that sort of guy and goes into so much preparation about things.
“He is a perfectionist, but I think he has mellowed a little bit.
“We used to be a loggerheads twice a week in the past, now it is just once a week!
“Tactically he has always been superb. He has a way he wants to play but he looks at what he has and he changes it accordingly.
“At the start of the season we were 4-3-3 and he wanted to be on the front foot playing attacking football.
“But in the League Cup it didn’t go to plan and he looked at it and decided to change it all around. We went 3-5-2, we were hard to beat and a hard-working team and it has worked for us.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him. He has been fantastic and he is a massive reason why we have had success.”
The St Mirren keeper also feels the type of characters Robinson targets to bring into the dressing room play a key role in success on the park.
Carson added: “His teams always have a great bond and he is a massive part of that.
“He brings in boys who have the right type of character and he doesn’t want big time Charlies in the team.
“The first thing he says at the start of the season, he has a rule that we have no d***heads.
“He lets the senior pros run the dressing room and has trust in us.
“If someone gets too big for their boots, it isn’t tolerated. That comes from him.”
READ MORE:
Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
