SMiSA is proud to launch The Way Forward, a bold new strategy designed to reinvigorate our organisation and strengthen our role as the custodians of St Mirren Football Club.
Since the success of our Buy the Buds campaign, which secured majority fan ownership of St Mirren in 2021 through the purchase of Gordon Scott’s shares, SMiSA has continued to evolve. Over the past year, we have been working closely with our Club Board representatives and St Mirren COO Keith Lasley to shape the next stage of our journey.
This new strategy has also been shaped by the invaluable feedback we received from members during our consultation campaign in October 2024. The result is a vision that reflects the ambitions of our supporters while ensuring St Mirren continues to thrive as a competitive force in Scottish football.
Our Ambition: 3,000 Members in 2027
At the heart of The Way Forward is a clear and ambitious target: to grow SMiSA’s membership to 3,000 by October 2027, in time for St Mirren’s 150th Anniversary. Achieving this milestone will not only strengthen the voice of our supporters but also dramatically increase our ability to support the club.
Introducing Build the Buds
Central to the strategy is our new campaign: Build the Buds. This campaign introduces a revised funding model that greatly enhances the way SMiSA can contribute to the success of the club.
-
50% of all subscription income (once our cash reserve threshold is met) will go directly towards club projects. At 3,000 members, this could amount to almost £250,000 being invested into the club each year.
-
The remaining 50% will be distributed across the Youth Academy, Charitable Foundation, Women’s Team, and maintaining a sustainable cash reserve.
Alongside this, Build the Buds will also bring:
-
Updated member benefits packages, designed to increase value for supporters.
-
A new “Refer a Buddie” initiative, giving members the chance to have their 2026/27 season ticket refunded by referring new people to become SMiSA members.
This campaign will make joining SMiSA more rewarding, while ensuring we deliver tangible benefits for St Mirren Football Club.
Strengthening Governance
Another important part of The Way Forward is ensuring SMiSA’s governance remains transparent, accountable, and refreshed with new ideas.
From now on:
-
One of SMiSA’s nominated Club Board directors will stand for re-approval every year, meaning each director will require to stand for re-approval every four years.
-
A maximum 8-year term limit will be introduced for directors.
These changes have been created in collaboration with SMiSA’s current Club Board directors, who fully support the new policy.
Reaching Supporters Worldwide
SMiSA also recognises the importance of engaging with St Mirren’s growing international fanbase. Over the coming months, we will explore new membership offerings specifically tailored for supporters overseas.
Have Your Say
Given the scale of these proposed changes, we want to ensure they carry the full backing of our members. A members’ poll will open on Wednesday 22nd October and run until Saturday 1st November, asking two key questions:
-
Do you approve or disapprove of restructuring SMiSA’s funding model as set out in The Way Forward?
-
Do you approve or disapprove of the changes to SMiSA’s governance – specifically, re-approval every 4 years and the introduction of an 8-year maximum term for SMiSA's club board directors?
For each motion to pass, it will require 66.67% of votes cast (2/3 majority) - a higher threshold than our usual 50% majority - reflecting the importance of these decisions to our future.
Information Evenings
To help supporters understand The Way Forward and the Build the Buds campaign in more detail, SMiSA will be hosting two information evenings:
-
Online session: Monday 20th October, 7–8:30pm (via Zoom).
-
In-person session: Tuesday 21st October, 7–8:30pm at the SMiSA Stadium.
Both members and non-members are welcome, with representatives from the SMiSA Board, SMFC Board, and club staff in attendance. Details on how to register will be announced shortly.
Find Out More
-
The full The Way Forward strategy document will be embedded below for supporters to read in detail.
-
Check out the FAQ section contained at the bottom of this article.
-
Any queries can be sent to [email protected]. A member of the SMiSA Board will respond directly, and your question may be added to the FAQ to help inform others.
Thank You
We would like to thank all supporters for their patience and backing over the past year as we worked to ensure this strategy is robust enough to achieve our shared goal: ensuring that St Mirren thrives in Scotland’s top division.
With The Way Forward, we believe we are giving SMiSA - and all Buddies - a new lease of life. Together, we can grow our membership, build the buds, and continue to strengthen the future of our club.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know supporters may have questions about The Way Forward and our new Build the Buds campaign. Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common queries.
If your question isn’t covered here, please email us at [email protected] and a member of the SMiSA Board will get back to you. We’ll also keep this page updated by adding new questions and answers, so be sure to check back regularly.
Why is SMiSA launching a new strategy now?
Why is SMiSA launching a new strategy now?
After achieving majority fan ownership in 2021 through the Buy the Buds campaign, SMiSA has reached a natural point to look ahead. We want to reinvigorate the organisation, grow our membership, and ensure we are making the biggest possible impact on St Mirren. The Way Forward sets out how we will do that.
What is “Build the Buds”?
What is “Build the Buds”?
Build the Buds is the new campaign at the heart of our strategy. It introduces a revised funding model which will see 50% of SMiSA’s subscription income (once our cash reserve threshold is met) directed to club projects. At 3,000 members, this could amount to nearly £250,000 every year to build our club. The other 50% will continue to support the Youth Academy, Charitable Foundation, Women’s Team, and maintaining our financial stability.
Why are governance changes being proposed?
Why are governance changes being proposed?
We want to ensure SMiSA’s Club Board representatives continue to have the backing of the supporters they represent and that new ideas are regularly brought forward. The changes mean each nominated director will stand for re-approval every four years, with a maximum term of eight years. These measures are fully supported by the current directors.
Why does the members’ poll require 66.67% approval?
Why does the members’ poll require 66.67% approval?
Normally, decisions are made by a simple majority. However, because these proposals are fundamental to SMiSA’s future, we want to ensure they carry the support of the vast majority of members. That’s why the threshold has been raised to 2/3 of votes cast.
Can international supporters join SMiSA?
Can international supporters join SMiSA?
Yes. While SMiSA membership is already open to anyone, we are working on a tailored offering for international Buddies that better reflects their needs and allows them to play a part in building the club’s future. Check out www.smisa.net/international for our current international sign-up process.
