Stephen Robinson admits every manager's neck is "on the line" as St Mirren face under-pressure Hearts

The Buddies welcome the winless Jambos to the SMiSA Stadium this weekend.

Stephen Robinson insists comradeship will go out the window when St Mirren face Hearts on Saturday – because every manager’s neck is on the line.

All eyes will be on the SMiSA Stadium as the Buddies host rock-bottom Jambos who have lost seven in a row and are without a win all season.

Gorgie chief Steven Naismith is under huge pressure to turn things around despite only recently having signed a contract extension and leading his side to a third-placed finish last term.

And there will be no hiding place at kick-off with Hearts bringing a sold-out travelling support to Greenhill Road.

Saints boss Robbo lives alongside Naismith in Stewarton, East Ayrshire and keeps in touch with the former Scotland international.

However, this afternoon there will be no quarter asked or given with both gaffers recognising the importance of piling up Premiership points.

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“He lives in the nice part of Stewarton,” smiled Robbo. “I live in the smaller houses. But obviously we speak regularly as well so I have a lot of time for Steven.

“Listen, I speak to a lot of managers. We arrange games against each other and that as well. He’s a terrific manager.

“I’ve total respect for every manager that is brave enough to put their neck on the line. This industry is brutal. The narrative when you’ve lost a couple of games I find incredible when a manager’s got into Europe.

“You’re telling me there’s pressure, I don’t know about that. I don’t read Hearts media especially. But Steven I’ve got utmost respect for. He’s done a terrific job at Hearts and he’s signed some very good players.

“Saturday, you put that out the window because it’s your neck on the line as well and we’re all fighting for three points.”

Robbo has spoken several times about football’s hire-and-fire culture which was evident again this week when St Johnstone axed Craig Levein.

He believes no other industry is as ruthless when it comes to making changes after short periods of time but knows that’s the price on the ticket.

“That’s the world we live in,” he said. “That’s the industry we work in. It’s crazy. In any other walk of life or any other business, you put a business plan together on maybe three or four years and in football you appoint a manager after doing your due diligence.

“I expect that most clubs demand you go forwards and, within three results, a little bit of pressure comes from the stands and all of a sudden it’s not the right person.

“So, I find it incredible. It’s been proven over time that when clubs have stability, people are relatively successful in whatever they’re trying to aim for.

“Alex Ferguson, [Mikael] Arteta at Arsenal, Pep [Guardiola]. All the bigger clubs have stuck with managers who went through a little bit of a sticky stage to start with but they’ve had their rewards. But you need bravery for that. You need people to have real belief in that.”

Saints expect striker Toyosi Olusanya to be fit for the Jambos' visit with Killian Phillips also set to return but Alex Iacovitti, Greg Kiltie and Conor McMenamin are all out.

Meanwhile, Ellery Balcombe hopes a season with Saints can finally see him realise his Brentford boyhood dream.

The on-loan Bees keeper grew up in Hounslow, four miles from Brentford’s Gtech community stadium in West London, and is a fan of the English Premier League club.

The 24-year-old can move another step closer to his ambition with a strong show against Hearts today.

Balcombe said: “The loans manager at the club is going to come up in the next couple of weeks and they have been really happy with my progress.

“Hopefully I can be involved in the first team at some point. I’ve got four or five years left on my contract and my goal is to eventually play for them.

“I have been there since I was eight. Brentford’s my team so we will see. It’s probably too early to say what will happen. They have a strong No 1 at the moment and there are other goalkeepers there as well.”

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