BY KYLE GUNN

ST MIRREN boss Oran Kearney says he hopes to have an update on the future of Anton Ferdinand today.

The 33-year-old defender is out of contract this month and Kearney is keen to find a resolution one way or the other.

Ferdinand, brother of former England captain Rio, has played 14 times for the Buddies so far this season. 

He said: "We’ll probably get a definitive answer on that within the next 24 hours.

"It has been drawn out longer than all parties would have liked to but hopefully by close of play on Friday we’ll have an answer on that."

The Gazette: Jim Goodwin returns to Hampden for the first time since lifting the League Cup in 2013

Jim Goodwin led the Saints to League Cup glory 

Kearney also looked forward to the Scottish Cup fourth round, where he gets set to welcome Alloa to Paisley tomorrow.

And although he’s not yet met Jim Goodwin, he’s been impressed with the former Saints League Cup winning captain’s knowledge of the game.

He continued: "It’s a huge test. Alloa are probably the form team in the Championship at this point in time.

"I’ve had quite a few dealings with a lot of managers in Scotland over the last couple of weeks and Jim has been one of those with Jordan Kirkpatrick going back.

The Gazette: Alloa's Jordan Kirkpatrick, left, celebrates his opener

Former Saints player Kirkpatrick returned to Alloa at the start of January 

"I can’t wait to meet him on Saturday because he seems like a really good guy. Not only in the dealings of getting Jordan sorted but also about football in general, we’ve had some great chats.

"He’s one of those people you get a really good feel for.

"I know he’s got a really big presence and a good history here so I’m sure he’ll want to come and show that, so it’s important that we’re right on it from the start."