Buddies Identify Former Wales International For Hotseat

St. Mirren are in advance talks with Carl Robinson over the vacant manager's job

St Mirren are in advanced talks to name former Vancouver Whitecaps and Western Sydney boss Carl Robinson as their new manager. St Mirren are hopeful of finalising a deal for the Welshman next week. #smfc #buddies pic.twitter.com/aeKw9evlxX

— Pete O'Rourke (@SportsPeteO) March 22, 2026

St. Mirren are believed to be closing on Stephen Robinson's replacement in Paisley as according to Pete O'Rourke, Footy Insider's Transfer Correspondent, the Buddies are in advance talks over with Carl Robinson.

The 49-year-old is a former Wales international, capped 52 times for the Dragons between 1999 to 2009, and has formerly played for the likes of Wolverhapton Wanderers, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Norwich City during his playing career.

In 2012, Robinson retired as a player and joined MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps as an assistant manager. But got the head coach role in 2013 where he managed just under 200 matches for the club. Robinson then swapped Canada for Australia in 2020, as he became manager of the A-League club Newcastle Jets but only lasted six months as he left the club for Western Sydney Wanderers where he remained until 2022.

He joined Wayne Rooney's coaching team in the MLS with D.C. United and also followed the former Manchester United forward to Birmingham City but was dismissed when Rooney was sacked in January 2024. He then went back to the MLS to join Atlanta United as an assistant manager to Ronny Deila.

The Buddies are without a manager since Stephen Robinson left the club to join Aberdeen earlier this month and have been under caretaker manager Craig McLeish who managed the club in their 2-1 Premiership win over Falkirk on Saturday.

The goals for Robinson, should he eventually land the managerial hotseat at the club, is to keep the Buddies in the Premiership as the club are currently in a battle to avoid the relegation playoff spot in the table. And the club are also looking to win both domestic cup competitions this season as they face Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals in April, looking to add to the Premier Sports Cup triumph back in December.