Stephen Robinson: Chance for other St Mirren players to step forward following Shaun Rooney departure

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson admits that Shaun Rooney’s departure is not ideal from a football perspective but says it creates an opportunity for other players to step forward and claim the position.

The Saints confirmed on Friday that the 28-year-old right-back has left the club by mutual consent after being charged with assaulting a woman in Glasgow last month.

Rooney, who signed in the summer, hasn’t played since the accusations came to light and the manager revealed it has left them “slightly short” in that position with Charles Dunne and Richard Taylor both out injured.

But he is confident that someone in his squad will be able to fill the void at least until January when they will be able to bring in new signings.

Speaking to the media on Friday as St Mirren prepare to take on Hearts at Tynecastle, Robinson said: “The club have issued a statement and I don’t have anything to add to that.

“The club made a decision and I think that’s pretty clear in the statement, I’m not allowed to say any more on that with it being an ongoing investigation.

“I concentrate on the football, my job is a football manager and to focus solely on football and that’s what I’m doing and what we have done for the last few weeks now aiming to get results and move forward.

“The situation has been ongoing for about four or five weeks now, players deal with it, they are very robust, and as I say you only control the things you can control and we can control what happens on the pitch.

“There are lots of things we can improve on and continue to be good at and that’s my sole focus.

“The statement makes it clear that it was the club’s decision and a mutual decision between Shaun and the club.

“It’s not an ideal situation having lost a player that we can’t really replace until January so that is an issue for us with the injuries that we have, with Richard Taylor having surgery, Charles Dunne coming off a couple of weeks ago and he is a big doubt for Saturday’s game.

“So it leaves us slightly short, but we will be fine, there’s other boys doing well and we have some younger players coming through so it’s up to the boys to step in.

“I always believe that it gives other people an opportunity when injuries and other situations arise that takes people out of the team.

“So it’s up to other players to embrace that and take that opportunity.”

Earlier on Friday St Mirren released a statement confirming Rooney had departed the club by mutual consent.

It said: “St Mirren Football Club can confirm that Shaun Rooney has left the club by mutual consent.

“The club will make no further comment.”