St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has brushed off speculation linking him to the vacant Aberdeen job, insisting his focus remains on keeping the Buddies in the Scottish Premiership.

The 51-year-old Northern Irish coach, who guided St Mirren to three consecutive top-six finishes and a historic Premier Sports Cup victory over Celtic in December, is reportedly the early favourite to replace Jimmy Thelin at Aberdeen following the Dons’ five-match winless run.

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Robinson’s Calm Response to Managerial Rumours

Robinson, who took charge at St Mirren in February 2022, emphasized that external links do not distract him from his responsibilities.
“It doesn’t turn my head,” he said. “I’ve been linked with every job in Scotland, England, Ireland. I’ve been in the game a long time, so you just get used to it.”

The manager acknowledged the sensitivity of managerial changes, noting the difficult situation for colleagues who have lost their jobs:
“I’ve got a big enough job to concentrate on Tuesday night than concentrating on anybody else. And what you also have to remember is somebody’s lost their job, which is horrible. It’s a horrible industry.”

Robinson stressed that, unlike in his early managerial career when he might have been distracted by speculation, he now prioritizes staying grounded and focused:
“As soon as you take your eye off the ball, what’s in front of you, the game gets very complicated and I’m certainly not complicating the job. We need to do basics well here and that’s my main focus.”

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Career and Managerial Experience

Stephen Robinson’s managerial career has seen him work across several clubs, including Oldham Athletic, Motherwell, and Morecambe, before taking the St Mirren job. His extensive experience—over 400 professional games managed—has shaped his pragmatic approach to football management and ability to deal with external pressure.

Robinson reflected on how he previously allowed speculation to affect him as a younger manager:
“At that stage, I probably got a little bit excited and thought, ‘I’m really good and people want me,’ but I was a very young manager then.”

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St Mirren’s Current Challenge

Despite St Mirren’s consistent top-half finishes in recent seasons, the club is currently 10th in the Scottish Premiership, five points clear of Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off position.

Robinson emphasized that staying in the Premiership remains the club’s primary goal:
“The biggest thing that has to happen in this football club is staying in this division. People get carried away with what we’ve done, but that doesn’t change the fact that success is to stay in this division. So I certainly won’t be looking beyond that at this moment in time.”

With two games in hand, a win in upcoming fixtures could see St Mirren climb back toward the top six, highlighting the tightness and competitiveness of the league this season.

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Key Takeaways

• Stephen Robinson remains focused on St Mirren despite being linked to the vacant Aberdeen manager role.
• St Mirren are currently 10th in the Scottish Premiership, five points above the relegation play-off zone.
• Robinson emphasizes staying grounded and focused, prioritizing the basics to secure survival.
• The Northern Irish manager has over 400 games of managerial experience across Oldham, Motherwell, Morecambe, and St Mirren.
• Upcoming fixtures against Livingston and other rivals are crucial for St Mirren’s survival hopes.