St Mirren chairman Gordon Scott insists the club will do all they can to bring back fan favourite Kyle McAllister next season.

The midfielder returned on loan from Derby County for the second half of campaign, two years after making the permanent switch to the Rams.

McAllister scored three goals in 18 appearances as the Buddies sealed their Premiership status with a play-off final victory over Dundee United and Scott insists the club plan to enquire about the 20-year-old’s availability for next term.

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He said: “I would like to think there's a good chance, and I think the player would come back as well.

“But Derby bought him to play football and I think in his own mind he wants to play with Derby County next season, understandably.

“I think a lot would depend on how his pre-season goes.

“We've expressed an interest and told them we'd love to have him back but that's all just now.”

Scott, however, is less optimistic of recruiting Mihai Popescu after the Dinamo Bucharest defender impressed on loan during the second half of last season.

Asked if there was an option to buy the players, Scott added: “Yes. If we want to give away about a third of our budget.

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“We'll talk. We can't afford to buy him at the price that's in his contract. “Nowhere even near it.

“But if you think that if bought him for x then you sell him for y then there's a decision to make.

“But I think it's too rich for us, to be honest.”

Scott, meanwhile, believes manager Oran Kearney is relatively happy with life in Paisley despite the 40-year-old previously admitting that it is difficult being away from his young family back in Northern Ireland.

Scott, speaking to STV, said: “I think he has settled to a degree.

“He wants to continue commuting back and forward occasionally back home.

“It's hard for him. He's got a wonderful family and a wonderful life back home.

“I would like to think he's settled now and in the long term would move over here.”