St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick says club have been praised for a reduction in swearing at Ralston training ground

The Daily Record last week reported that residents near the club’s £1m training base in Ralston were upset that there had been no improvement since neighbours raised their concerns back in May.

The club was also criticised in the article for not putting up a sign to warn players not to turn the air blue during training sessions.

However Fitzpatrick says he recently received a letter from Ralston Community Council secretary Paul Masterton thanking the club for reducing the noise.

The CEO also pointed out that a planning permission snag had prevented the sign going up and the club would put banners up instead.

He said: “I was disappointed. I have a letter from Paul Masterton thanking us for the reduction in swearing. The banners will be going up. For the sign we needed planning permission so we couldn’t do that which caused a bit of a hold up.

“Myself and Allan McManus have had some of the older people round to have a chat, both positive and negative.

“We can never stop the noise. Football is a noisy game and we encourage boys to shout for the ball. Myself and Allan will go along to the meeting in January, with the banners up we have done what we said we would do.”

On the pitch Fitzpatrick has been impressed with what he has seen so far from new management team Jack Ross and assistant James Fowler.

Ahead of Saints’ trip to Easter Road on Saturday to face Hibs, Fitzpatrick believes there is plenty of positive signs that the Buddies will soon climb the table.

He added: “I think Dundee United was the best we have started a game, we have to remember the opposition, they’re a good side.

“I didn’t think there was much between the teams and we felt a bit aggrieved that we ended up losing.

“The crowd were magnificent, they were signing throughout the game, singing and encouraging the players. To clap the boys off the park after a defeat says a lot, it shows the effort that was put in.”