JIM GOODWIN has hailed the 'brave' St Mirren board after bids for star midfielder Jamie McGrath were thrown out.
The Ireland cap has been attracting attention from clubs on both sides of the border after a stellar season in the stripes.
But Goodwin has assured fans the playmaker won't be allowed to leave for a small fee as he revealed a couple of bids have already been rejected by the club hierarchy.
Discussing the interest in the 17-goal midfielder, Goodwin said: "We had a bid a couple of weeks ago. We are very transparent with Jamie and his representatives, they know what is going on but we want to hold onto him hence why he is in the starting eleven.
"We don't need to sell anyone but we are always fair to any player that comes here or comes through the academy.
"If a bid meets our valuation and it's a club that Jamie quite likes the idea of then we are not going to stand in anybody's way of going and earning some really good money but also getting a move to possibly a bigger club.
"We have to be realistic about the situation, Jamie has done great for us last season. He is a senior international now which is great.
"And that's how I sell this place to the young players that I bring. We ask them to come and give us a good year or two and if they do the business for us then we are not going to stand in their way, and that is always going to be my mantra going forward."
And while interest in McGrath continues to develop, Goodwin said it will take serious money for a move to happen.
He also hailed the midfielder's conduct throughout the transfer window with the player not making any transfer demands.
"Jamie is a really good character and really level headed", Goodwin said.
He is not in kicking my door down demanding that we accept bids, he understands the situation. There is plenty of time to go before the window shuts but there are some serious clubs interested.
"We've only had maybe two or three concrete bids on the table but at the same time the club have been brave, the board have been brave and threw those bids out because they don't meet our valuation of the player.
"For us to replace a 17-goal midfielder is going to be very difficult, a couple hundred grand here or there is not going to cut it."
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