Jim Goodwin has spoken out about the club's policy to bring young players Kai Fotheringham through the academy into the first team squad.
“I am in regular dialogue with Luigi Capuano, the CEO, and it is really important you tie up the good young prospects.
"You really don’t want to leave yourself in a difficult situation in the summer when someone can come along and take them on the cheap. There are a number of really good young players here.
“I know over the years that the academy has been an important part of the club and its make-up. When I was a player at St Mirren, it was a conveyor belt of talent coming through here, with Ryan Gauld, Stuart Armstrong and John and Harry Souttar.
“They also helped Andy Robertson along with his development after he came in from Queen’s Park. As a club we want to get back to that.”