St Mirren targeting more signings despite slashed budget

St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin is targeting at least another four signings before the Scottish Premiership kicks off.

Goodwin admitted that his playing budget has been ripped up due to the Coronavirus shutdown but he is confident he can still improve his squad.

St Mirren have added defender Richard Tait and goalkeeper Jak Alnwick so far but Goodwin said his defence in particular still needed to be bolstered.

He said: “We are constantly in dialogue with agents and players. I would like to get another four, maybe even five, in.

“We still have a number of key positions that I think we need to fill. Defensively I think we are quite light.

“We have a couple of players who are recovering really well from cruciate knee injuries in Ryan Flynn and Kyle Magennis but we are going to have to start the season without them.

“Up front and midfield we are not too bad in numbers. If I could bring in another striker to compete with [Junior] Morias and [Jonathan] Obika then I’ll try and do it.”

Finances across the sport have been squeezed by the shoutdown due to the Coronavirus crisis and St Mirren are no different.

Goodwin admitted the plans he drew up in the winter have had to be binned as his budget has been slashed.

But the Buddies boss said it was not making his job impossible as all corners of the industry adapt to the situation.

Goodwin said: “I have to say the board have been a great support up to now.

“I am not one of those managers who is going to demand something that is not there.

“Obviously the budget we discussed in January has gone out the window which I can completely understand.

“Of course we have had to re-adjust things slightly but I think players are now having to adjust their demands as well.

“The majority of the players and agents I have spoken to are realistic about the contracts that are on the table.

“I do think it is important we don’t try and take advantage of the situation – it is not a case of trying to lowball players and get them in for peanuts.

“We are trying to be fair and making respectable offers.”