Reid Stays, Hinchy Goes

Reid is a versatile player who seems capable of playing in defense or midfield on the right or the left, so it's no surprise Saints were so keen to keep him. He's a decent player who hasn't let us down and, while his departure wouldn't have been a major loss, I'd rather we'd kept ahold of him.

Hinchcliffe has left because he wants first team football, which he was unlikely to get at Saints. Since being injured in the early days of the successful 2005/06 season, he hasn't featured for the first team - although has been a goalkeeper coach. It's a shame he missed out on last season's glory, as he'd done well in the previous two seasons since signing from Arbroath.

With Hinchcliffe and Tony Bullock both leaving, it leaves Saints with just Chris Smith on the books, so a new goalkeeper - and possibly a new goalkeeping coach - is a necessitity. One with first team experience would be good, and already the likes of Paul Gallacher and Neil Alexander - who are both available - are being banded about.

Hinchy, meanwhile, is being linked with a move to Partick Thistle. This would make sense as he played under their new manager, Ian McCall, during a loan spell with Queen of the South last season. He's also being linked with a move to Morton!

There is no news on the contracts of John Sutton, Billy Mehmet or the younger players offered deals, although there could be by the end of the week. Everyone else is under contract until the end of next season, including the likes of John Potter and Hugh Murray, who many people (incluidng myself) thought were out of contract.

Story source: The Official St. Mirren Website