Dylan Reid's Celtic transfer rejection explained as Stephen Robinson insists St Mirren starlet 'backed himself'

Stephen Robinson insists Dylan Reid has backed himself by rejecting Celtic and choosing football over finances to remain at St Mirren.

The Paisley club had accepted a £125,000 offer from the Hoops for the Scotland U17 captain but Reid this week knocked back the Parkhead giants and committed to his boyhood Buddies. Saints boss Robinson reckons the 17-year-old midfielder could have been quids in had he made the switch to the east end of Glasgow where Ange Postecoglou admitted he was earmarked for the club’s B team.

But Robinson is adamant Reid, who has five top team appearances under his belt, is in the best place possible to grow into a proper first team player before moving on much like David Turnbull did under his guidance at Motherwell. He said: “I don’t know the finances but I’m sure it would have been a lot more rewarding than at St Mirren. Credit to Dylan he has backed himself because he believes he will break into the first team here.

“If he does he will be an asset to ourselves and if he does leave he will go as a first team player as proposed to a B player or under 23 player. It wasn’t a surprise to me. His mum and advisors have their heads screwed on and know what they are doing. If you look at St Mirren and myself as a manager then I play young players if they are ready.

“That’s up to Dylan to be ready. Look at Ethan Erhahon he is 21 and played over 100 games. We have Jay Henderson and Kieran Offord involved. It’s a good statement from him. It doesn’t guarantee him first team football - that’s up to Dylan.

“If you go to some of the bigger clubs they are under a lot more pressure instantly and you maybe don’t get any chance to develop. Players need a platform to play and if you are training with the first