Manager Stephen Robinson says St Mirren 'probably won't be able to' make deals for key duo to stay

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson admits the club “probably won’t be able to come to an agreement” to renew the contract of Toyosi Olusanya or Richard Taylor.

The players are a key duo for the Buddies, however, their deals are set to expire at the end of the current season. It now seems inevitable that both 27-year-old forward Olusanya or 24-year-old defender Taylor will leave Paisley come the conclusion of the current Scottish Premiership campaign.

Robinson has backed them to continue to perform for the club though and give “absolutely everything” before they depart. The club are also lining up targets for the upcoming January window to refresh the side, and host Aberdeen on Saturday in what will be a tricky fixture.

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“No, there’s been no progress on that at the moment,” he said when asked about negotiations with the pair. “We’ve made further offers to both players, but it looks at this moment in time that we probably won’t be able to come to an agreement, which we respect.

“We know both boys will give absolutely everything. We won’t give up. We’re still very early. We’ll see where we are come the end of January, if we can go any further than that, but they’re very good offers for the football club so I’m not sure we can.

“We understand their position. They’re two very, very good players and super boys.”

Robinson felt this month’s international break was a good chance for St Mirren to reset after a turbulent period in which three players – Kevin van Veen, Shaun Rooney and Jaden Brown – all had their contracts terminated early by the club on the back of separate criminal proceedings.

“It was a situation nobody wanted to be in and it was a tough period,” Robinson reflected. “We were a small squad and then we were reduced by another three players, first-team players, not boys on the outskirts of things.

“They were players that could have played an important part. It’s tough to deal with, but the squad have adapted to that. It’s a chance to draw a line under it now and just positivity going forward.”

On the January window, he added: “We’ve got people in mind, people we’ve spoken to,” he said. “Obviously we’re trying to build that squad back up again after the loss of three players. But we’ve got targets in mind that we’re not far down the line with but that we have made contact with.”