Jim asks fans for patience of the Saints

ST MIRREN skipper Jim Goodwin has urged the Paisley club's support to be patient as they wait for the Buddies to strengthen ahead of next season.

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Saints boss Danny Lennon had already signed former MK Dons striker Lewis Guy and ex-Cowdenbeath midfielder Jon Robertson on pre-contracts at the turn of the year.

But in recent weeks eight-goal hitman Nigel Hasselbaink and outstanding left-back Jeroen Tesselaar have both knocked back new deals to head elsewhere.

Reserve keeper Graeme Smith has also exited stage left while veteran midfielder Stevie Thomson has returned South of the border to ply his trade in the English non-league game.

But Goody, who himself knocked back the predatory interests of Hibernian at the start of the year to pen a new two year contract, is confident that reinforcements will arrive in time for the start of pre-season on June 28.

The Buddies captain said: "I think the big thing for us now as a club is that the players who come in improve what we already have here and also gel and fit into the squad. The manager has a proven track record of bringing first rate players to the club when you look at the pedigree and impact big Stevie Thompson has had.

"You look at a young fellow like Darren McGregor who was unheard of and the manager brought from Cowdenbeath and look at the impact he made in his first season with us.

"Add Jeroen and Nigel to that list and you have to be confident that the manager will bring in the right players again in plenty of time for pre-season.

"The other thing here is that there are hundreds of players available now and I think the manger is picking from a position of strength. I would say that by making two cup quarter-finals and finishing eighth in the SPL we have become an increasingly attractive prospect to players."

Despite the arrival of Guy, whom Goody played alongside on loan at Oldham, he admits that additional firepower is vital for next season.

The former Republic of Ireland international said: "Having played alongside Lewis I am 100% confident that he will make a big impact up top for us.

"I think he could be the perfect foil for Stevie Thompson but that said ideally the gaffer will want four strikers to pick from.

"It was disappointing that young Nigel decided to move on.

"I think if he had stayed with us for another year or whatever, and how much he could have learned in that time from Stevie Thompson, then I think it would have made a big impact positively on the rest of his career.

"On top of that the work he was getting with the gaffer and Tommy Craig was second to none but you respect Nigel's decision and Jeroen too."

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