Club icon Tony Fitzpatrick has backed St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson to clinch top six and launch another Euro campaign next term.
The Buddies legend was part of the team that helped lure Robinson to Paisley back in 2022 after Jim Goodwin left the club for Aberdeen.
After staying up, Robbo has delivered back-to-back top-six finishes in the Premiership – an achievement Fitzpatrick says shouldn’t go unnoticed.
With domestic action taking a break at the weekend, the former St Mirren player and manager has reflected on the job that the Northern Irishman has done so far.
“People know what I think of him as I was part of bringing him in before I left,” he told the Paisley Daily Express. “He is an experienced manager and is someone that I rate very, very highly. When you look at the squad he has built up and on the park, the way the team play is really impressive.
“Yes, it hasn’t been great at times this season but what business runs smoothly in any industry, especially in football? To be fair, he lost his assistant manager [Diarmuid O’Carroll] but it was a great move in my opinion to promote Brian Kerr.
Download the free Renfrewshire Live app today
Renfrewshire Live, the new free app dedicated to bringing you around the clock breaking news, is now available to download.
Powered by the Paisley Daily Express, Renfrewshire Live is your go-to source for news, features and sport with live coverage provided direct to the app, seven days a week.
The dedicated team of experienced journalists, responsible for the publication of the award-winning Express, will focus on breaking news, day and night, across Renfrewshire’s towns and villages.
There is also a dedicated St Mirren section that will follow every kick of the ball with the Buddies.
Available on both Android and Apple. Download here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
“There have been a lot of wee changes that have been happening but that is why you get someone like Stephen in – he is experienced and he has led the club to two top-six finishes.”
And the 68-year-old believes the club can achieve a hat-trick of top-six finishes under Robbo when it comes to the end of this season.
Teams like Motherwell and Dundee United – who are in the top six currently above St Mirren – are no better than the Buddies, according to Fitzpatrick.
He added: “I just think that Robinson is a fantastic manager who says it as it is. He also takes the blame for when it goes wrong which many managers don’t do.
“The team is one I am really pleased with, and I am not trying to put pressure on them, but we are a top-six club now. When you look at the squad, the manager, too, we are lucky to have that quality throughout the team.
“It will always be hard against your Rangers and Celtics – and Aberdeen have started the season flying. But I don’t believe that your Kilmarnocks, Motherwells and Dundee Uniteds are better than us.”
Don't miss the latestRenfrewshire headlines –sign up to our free daily newsletter here
