St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson says he would 'be jailed' if he managed the way he was treated as player

Stephen Robinson has lifted the lid on the mental challenges facing Premiership players – and joked he would be in the jail if he managed how he had been treated.

The St Mirren boss believes the psychological aspect of the game is more crucial than ever with what’s going on between the ears playing a key role in getting victories on the pitch.

Some of the Buddies players have spent time in the company of a psychotherapist with Robbo’s partner’s mum, Kirsteen Templeton, talking things through with them.

The game has changed dramatically since he pulled on his boots – something he sees as a huge positive – with stars able to access some support when they need it most.

Speaking yesterday at Saints’ Ralston training ground, as preparations for the weekend visit of title-chasing Rangers continued, Robbo said: “We have used people with individuals, not as a team.

“You’re dealing with young men that have lives outside football, that have problems outside football and we’ve used that at times. It’s actually my partner’s mum that we’ve used.

“She’s been fantastic for us – I have to give her a very special mention because two or three of the boys have seen her and benefitted massively and that’s in terms of things sometimes that go on outside football.

“It was unheard of when I played. When I played, you were looked upon as a weak person if you needed help and outside help and, thankfully, society’s moved on from that and everybody needs help. The mental side of football is massive.

“Everyone’s got ability, everyone’s got good athletic qualities but mentally you have to be so strong to deal with a lot of criticism...when you have success, not to drop those standards.

“Social media now puts so much more pressure on individuals, teams, managers and families. So, we use every resource that we can to help them be the best they can be.

“If I managed the way I was managed I’d probably be in jail now! Society’s changed, times have changed. You used to get told exactly what people thought of you. Now you have to manage it a lot differently.

“You evolve as a manager, you evolve as a society. It’s become a generation that wants answers. They want answers to why they’re doing well, why they’re not doing well and how they can improve.

“You have to do it with a more softly, softly approach. Ultimately, I tell them the truth. I’m the only person that tells them the truth. Their agents, their mums and dads, their girlfriends, boyfriends, whoever it may be, never tell them the truth.

“We do it in a way that is constructive criticism and trying to improve people. That’s what we’re all out to do here at this football club.”

Robbo – whose side are fifth in the table and dreaming of Europe as the post-split fixtures begin – also believes the days of giving a dressing room the hairdryer treatment are largely over.

He added: “There is still a place for it. It doesn’t come very often but I think those days have gone, they’ve changed.

“It’s never actually quite serious – it’s premeditated to maybe get a jolt at half-time or something. But I don’t believe that people respond to criticism.

“If you go to work and people tell you you’re rubbish every day and they don’t encourage you, you become disillusioned and you stop believing in yourself. I want my players to walk onto that pitch on a Saturday and believe they’re the best players in the country.”

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