3/10
LEAGUE: 8th, 39pts (2012-13 - 11th, 41pts)
SCOTTISH CUP: Fifth round
LEAGUE CUP: Second round
MOST USED FIRST XI: Marian Kello, Jason Naismith, Marc McAusland, Darren McGregor, Sean Kelly, Conor Newton, John McGinn, Jim Goodwin, Kenny McLean, Paul McGowan, Steven Thompson
OVERVIEW: The Buddies dabbled with eleventh place all season, before finally finding a semblance of form in April that saved them. The eighth place finish matched Danny Lennon's previous best as manager, but don't be fooled - they scored fewer points than last season and this was not a good campaign. Lennon's problems were largely of his own making, having made too many dreadful signings - out of all the outfield players brought in, only Gregg Wylde and the much maligned Gary Harkins are still at the club . Attack was a particular problem, with Harkins unable to fit into the system and Paul McGowan seemingly distracted by off-field problems. The only bright sparks were the good performances from youths and the evergreen Steven Thompson.
HIGH POINTS: Coming from two down to beat Motherwell just before the split. Lennon's job looked on the line, with the team having won only one of the previous ten. But two goals in the last four minutes turned the match on its head and sparked the revival that kept them out of relegation danger.
LOW POINTS: Their defence of the League Cup only lasted one game - a defeat at Queen of the South. Thumpings in Dingwall in August and Dundee in October will live long in the memory as two of the worst and most disorganized performances by the team in recent years.
STAR MAN: It's a sad indictment of the senior pros that the young players were probably the most impressive performers this season. John McGinn, still only 19 stood out in midfield, and has the skills and temperament to go a long way.
ONE FOR THE FUTURE: Both full-backs look like real prospects. Neither Sean Kelly on the left nor Jason Naismith on the right were anywhere near first team consideration in August, yet both are now cemented as first choices. Given that Kelly is 20 and Naismith 19, there's still plenty of room for improvement. Chris Dilo was also excellent in goal at the end of the season.
WASTE OF SPACE: Transfer business was so dreadful that there are no shortage of candidates - David Cornell, Eric Djemba Djemba and Harkins would all have been acceptable choices. But I called Stephane Bahoken the worst signing of the season for good reason. The French striker has been surplus to requirements since about the end of September, but St. Mirren's attempts to get shot of him failed.
THE BOSS: I wasn't surprised that Lennon was let go. The board's decision to let his four year contract run down turned him into a bit of a lame duck in the last few months. Their concern will be that plenty of new faces are needed, and that the manager cannot be trusted to sign the right players. It took him until the final weeks of the season to find his best eleven - and that included only two players who weren't at the club last season. So what does that say about the other dozen signings he made? In the last 2 years, ICT, St. Johnstone and Ross County have all made the top six, which makes it rather galling that St. Mirren have never been close to that achievement. That said, the appointment of Lennon's assistant, Tommy Craig, isn't the radical alternative I'd expected, which is a shame as I think a radical alternative is exactly what the Buddies needed. At 63, Craig is hardly a long-term answer either...but I suppose there's no such thing these days?
PROSPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON: There will be considerable squad turnover yet again - even if the likes of McGinn can be retained. Thompson and Gary Teale, both of whom will be 36 at the start of next season, are surely living on borrowed time now; Teale will probably concentrate more on the coaching side now. The good news is that all the dead wood will depart in the summer, so there is plenty of scope for making the signings required to improve the team. The bad news is that Kenny McLean, who finished the season in fine form, will also probably leave. Retaining McGowan would be a big boost, as would be the return of Conor Newton on a permanent deal. But it will be the quality of the newcomers who will determine whether the Buddies are embroiled in a relegation battle in 2014-15.
FIRST TEAMERS DEFINITELY LEAVING: Stephane Bahoken (end of loan), Anton Brady, Adam Campbell (end of loan), Eric Djemba-Djemba, Josh Magennis (end of loan), Conor Newton (end of loan), David Van Zanten.
L.
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