Saints cup win boosts bids for Newcastle kids

The agent who helped strike the deal to take Newcastle United youngsters Paul Dummett and Conor Newton to St Mirren claims the Buddies’ Scottish Communities League Cup triumph has convinced the Geordies to send more promising 
recruits north.

Spencer Downey helped negotiate an “affiliation” agreement between the two clubs last summer. The pact saw 21-year-old left-back Dummett arrive in Paisley on loan last August, while midfielder Newton, also 21, followed on another temporary switch in January this year.

The pair played key roles in the club’s 3-2 win over Hearts on Sunday as the Buddies ended a 26-year wait for silverware with their Hampden success.

Downey said: “We’re already looking at the next batch to send north. What St Mirren have achieved has been unbelievable and it’s made the people at Newcastle sit up and take notice.”

The the duo are out of contract at the end of the season and Downey added: “St Mirren are very keen to keep them around but we have had enquiries from clubs down south. There’s one club chasing promotion from the Championship and another at the bottom end of the 
Premier League.”