According to a report this afternoon in the Scottish Sun, St Mirren’s first choice goalkeeper Craig Samson is set to sensationally retire from professional football in order to take up the vacant position of goalkeeper coach at Sunderland as part of Jack Ross’ youthful-looking backroom team.
Samson has made 17 appearances for The Buddies this season in the Scottish Premiership but, with the opportunity apparently too good to turn down, he looks set to prematurely end his playing career in order to take up a prominent coaching role at the Academy of Light.
The article claims that Samson has played his last game for the club, and after talks this morning with their manager Oran Kearney he has decided he’s ready to ‘hang up his gloves’.
It apparently hasn’t been an easy decision for the 34-year old, but the report claims the deal between the two clubs is as good as done and an announcement will be made at some point this afternoon confirming his appointment.
Samson is set to take up the role left by the hugely popular former Lincoln City goalkeeper Jimmy Walker, who left the club to join Ipswich Town last week after citing ‘family reasons’ for why he decided to move on so suddenly after only joining Sunderland in the summer.