Season 2013-14

With memories of the previous season still fresh in mind, the League Cup sitting proudly in the boardroom, Saints had to rebuild for season 2013-14 with several top players leaving. Loan stars Dummett, Newton and Goncalves returned to their parent clubs and Samson, Chris Smith, Parkin, Carey and Puri left when their contracts ended. Along with these departures, Adam and Imrie had their contracts ended by mutual consent.

So ten players out, including all of the clubs senior keepers meant a long close season was in order.

First new signing was Gary Harkins who arrived from Dundee. Paul McGowan gave the club a boost when he rejected the possibility of a lucrative move south and signed a new deal at Greenhill Road. At the beginning of July goalkeepers David Cornell and Christopher Dilo arrived from Swansea (loan) and Blackburn respectively, along with young midfielder Kealan Dillon from Hull City to bolster the squad.

As the season got underway cup hero Conor Newton returned for a further season long loan along with Jake Caprice (Blackpool) and Stephane Bahoken (Nice) who signed loan deals and Danny Grainger who arrived from Hearts.

The fans first glimpse of the new players was not a happy one as Morton took the Renfrewshire back to Greenock for the first time in eight seasons with a 4-2 win in Paisley.

The doom descended further when the defence of the League Cup ended at the first hurdle with a 2-1 defeat at Queen of the South.

Early into the season it was clear that having two inexperienced keepers was going to be a potential problem for Saints and this was compounded when first Cornell then Dilo picked up injuries, leading to a move for ex Slovakian international Marian Kello who quickly settled in and made the number one shirt his own. However, the season continued poorly with few highlights and a continuous position around the play off spot.

By the end of January no fewer than five of the new signings had departed Paisley after failing to impress. Bahoken would have made it six, however a technicality with the French FA meant he had to return to play out his loan deal despite being told he could leave. He never played for the club after the New Year!

Adam Campbell arrived from Newcastle in another loan deal and former Cameron international Eric Djemba-Djemba came on board to try to rescue the season. As it turned out, none of the new signings made much impact and it was down to the old guard to up their game to secure an eighth place finish.