ST MIRREN gaffer Danny Lennon is wasting no time in plotting a successful course for next season – with a new striker top of his wish-list.
The Saints boss has already signed 26-year-old former MK Dons hitman Lewis Guy on a two-year deal, with Cowdenbeath skipper Jon Robertson also nailed down for next term to bolster the Paisley engine room.
But he is determined to beef up an attack that has managed to notch just 27 times in 31 SPL outings – the lowest goals total in the top tier to date.
Lennon admits he is determined to hire another hitman to fire up his side's top-six bid next time around before the current campaign is complete. He said: "We are delighted to have added Lewis Guy, and the priority now for me is to add another striker before the current season is complete.
"We know exactly where our problems lie. We are not converting enough of the opportunities we are creating and I want that addressed before the season is out.
"Ideally, when you bring in new players you want a whole pre-season to work with them and mould them into your squad and that is the target.
"We are delighted to have Lewis in already and we are working hard to get the other striker we want in sooner rather than later. We have already surpassed the number of clean sheets we kept for the whole of last season and we have managed to turn games we would have lost last time around into draws.
"But for us to take the next step and start winning the games we have been drawing we need more up top. That is the absolute priority for next season."
Ahead of tomorrow's visit of Scottish Communities Cup- winners Kilmarnock, Lennon is determined to claim a first three-point haul since the Christmas Eve victory over Rangers at Greenhill Road a distant 12 SPL outings back.
The Buddies boss added: "We have to get back to winning games and with this being a home fixture it is vital we achieve that tomorrow.
"We are aware Killie will come here on the crest of a wave of confidence since their League Cup win, but we owe our fans a win.
"Now that we know the top- six opportunity has gone, we have to make sure that we finish as high up the table as we can and that means seventh place.
"We have a trip to Rangers after the Killie game and we need to get a platform to take there.
"In our first fixture with Killie, we won 3-0 and that was one of the best performances of the season from us and one where we took a decent proportion of the chances we created.
"If we can maintain the level of composure we have been displaying at the back and add that up top we will give ourselves a decent chance tomorrow."