St Mirren striker Craig Dargo has signed a new two-year contract, but Will Haining and Gary Mason have been released. Boss Gus MacPherson told the club's official website: "We're delighted that we have got Craig to re-sign again, as I spoke to him before he left for the close season and said to him that a fit Craig Dargo is a major asset to our team. There is absolutely no doubt about that, I think we have all seen that from the performances we got.

"Craig has been frustrated at the amount of goals he has scored but we have got to look at the amount he has helped to set up for other players and when you do you can see that he has contributed greatly to the side when he is fit and getting a run in the team."

MacPherson added of Haining and Mason: "I appreciate that there has been a lot of rumours and speculation regarding other players.

"Because of the Setanta situation and the financial difficulties that we are all suffering, we at St Mirren are no different from other SPL clubs. Some people seem to be thinking that St Mirren are all right in all of this. Like other teams, we have got to cut back accordingly.

"Therefore, we have had to take a contract off the table, which is never easy to do, but purely for financial reasons we have had to withdraw the contract offer to Gary Mason.

"Will Haining's situation was similar to Gary Mason's. At the time when the Setanta television deal was obviously in trouble, we hadn't spoken to Will who was to make contact with us but then it became apparent that our budget had been cut so no new deal was offered.

"We would like to thank Gary and Will for their time at the club and wish them well for the future."