ST Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick has admitted that there are unlikely to be any additional funds available to Jack Ross when the January transfer window opens.

Ross took charge of his first game since taking over from Alex Rae in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Dundee United. Saints had a free weekend after the Renfrewshire Derby was postponed due to Morton’s Betfred Cup semi-final clash with Aberdeen on Saturday.

Thoughts will soon turn to January when Ross will have the first opportunity to bring in his own players.

The Buddies have loan players Ryan Hardie and Tom Walsh due to return to parent club Rangers at the turn of the year. Defender Ben Gordon’s loan at Alloa has ended and he has returned to Saints.

However, club legend Fitzpatrick admitted Ross is not likely to have extra money to shape the St Mirren squad as he sees fit, as the original budget from the start of the season was spent and isn't likely to be altered.

Fitzpatrick conceded Ross would have to make some shrewd moves to stay within the financial restraints at the Paisley 2021 Stadium, but stopped short of saying the board had ruled out the prospect of making further funds available for the new boss.

He said: “It will be working within what is there just now. The budget was spent, we brought in a lot of new players in the summer. Jack will be creative, he’ll look at the squad and see what he wants to do.

“I’m sad to say there is no treasure trove of riches for us to go and bring players in. We’ll not rule anything out yet, you never know.”