St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas is unsure what kind of team he will be able to field next season, irrespective of European qualification.

The Northern Irishman told STV earlier this week he may have to bring in as many as 13 players over the summer with several of his star men out of contract.

Captain Jody Morris’ future remains unresolved, top scorer Francisco Sandaza is free to leave while loan deals for Cillian Sheridan and Lee Croft expire this summer.

The Perth side were beaten 4-0 by Rangers on the final day of the season, meaning they will only play in Europe if Hearts win the Scottish Cup.

However Lomas says his main task is building a squad for league duty next year.

He added: "We can still get Europe if Hearts win so let's hope we can put a team out. We will watch that game and see where it takes us.

"European football could be a hindrance. If we get there, and the game is on the July 16, we might not have a team.

"We'd maybe have to play the youth team and if that's the case that's what we'll do.

"It will be a massive rebuilding programme in the summer.

"We are probably looking at 13 players coming in so it's going to be a busy summer for myself and the chairman.

"We are sitting with 10 players re-signed for next season so it's going to be a busy summer."

The defeat to Ally McCoist’s men ensured Saints lost all of their post-split matches, scoring just one goal and conceding 14.

But the former West Ham midfielder hopes there’s no over reaction after a successful campaign.

Lomas said: "Overall, it has maybe been a reality check in terms of where we are.

"We have made the top six and maybe expectations went up out of sight.

"We've got to be realistic. If we don't have the worst budget, we are certainly down there.

"At the start of the season the fans would have bitten your hand off for top six.

"We wanted to do better, no doubt about that, but things went against us."

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