St Mirren Offers New Contracts to Olusanya and Taylor Amid Retention Efforts

The question of whether defender Richard Taylor and striker Toyosi Olusanya will remain with St Mirren in Paisley beyond next summer is currently open. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has characterized the club’s contract proposal to Toyosi Olusanya as “one of the best” the club has ever presented, as they aim to secure the striker’s future. Both Olusanya and defender Richard Taylor, whose current agreements are set to expire next summer, have been extended new terms. Olusanya, 27, has accumulated 13 goals, including six this season, across 62 appearances since joining the club from Middlesbrough in summer 2022. Taylor, a 24-year-old centre-back who initially arrived on loan in January 2023, along with Olusanya, played a role in Saints achieving a fifth-place finish last season, which secured the club’s first European football qualification in 37 years. Manager Robinson stated: “We’ve offered him [Olusanya] a new contract, one of the best the club has offered anybody.” He added: “He has deserved it, he has worked ever so hard, he’s a terrific boy and is getting better and better and causing teams massive problems.” Robinson continued: “If he took every chance that he had he wouldn’t be playing for St Mirren. We wouldn’t have been able to recruit him and we wouldn’t have been able to keep him, but we are trying to keep him, as we are with Richard Taylor. We are trying to make sure we have a solid base to build on.” He further commented: “Everyone has got choices in life, they are both very good offers for the level we can pay.” Robinson also said: “But they are young men, they have decisions to make. They are both very happy to be at the football club and if they don’t sign I know they will give absolutely everything and I hold no grudges, unlike I used to have when I was a younger manager!” Concluding his remarks on the players, Robinson stated: “There are riches beyond St Mirren that both boys could be tempted with and I’m sure they are getting a lot of interest with their performances, but we are doing our very best to keep them here and we are desperate to keep them here.” While Robinson expressed his desire to retain Taylor and Olusanya, he indicated that other players might depart at the beginning of the new year. “When we get to Christmas there will be a little shake-up, we will bring more boys in with pace and energy and some will have to sacrificed as well,” he added.