MAJOR HEARTS SURGERY GAVE WRIGHT HOPE
TOMMY WRIGHT watched Hearts launch a signing spree in January and knew it could open the door to Europe for St Johnstone.
Saints were trailing in the Jambos’ slipstream when Ian Cathro took over the Tynecastle reins when Robbie Neilson left for MK Dons.
But Perth boss Wright suspected the huge turnaround in personnel would leave the capital club vulnerable as Cathro desperately tried to bed in the new boys.
And never-say-die Saints secured fourth and a Europa League spot at the expense of tonight’s opponents Hearts with a 1-0 weekend win over Partick Thistle.
Wright said: “In January you would have got big odds on us qualifying for Europe and Hearts were second in the league at that stage.
“It has been a great turnaround from us.
“I said at the time we always plan to finish the season strongly. We have done that for the last four seasons. This was no different.
“We have been fairly consistent and haven’t gone on a bad run.
“We picked up important wins, particularly away from home at places like Aberdeen.
“There is always a danger when a manager leaves and I did look at the number of signings Hearts made in January and thought, ‘That can’t really work’. The only club who has benefited from that sort of turnaround in recent seasons was Ross County and they were in dire straits. They signed six or seven.
“I thought if we could put a run together it would be difficult for them to blend. I’m not saying the signings were poor but it is difficult making eight or nine signings mid-season.
“The players here sensed an opportunity and they went out and won games to make it happen in terms of fourth place and Europe.”
Wright was tightlipped on links with released Sheffield United midfielder Stefan Scougall but confirmed talks were continuing to hold on to keeper Alan Mannus and defender Tam Scobbie.
Saints striker Chris Kane admits he had to quickly re-arrange plans for a summer break in Mexico when another Euro adventure became a possibility.
He said: “I had to pay an excess to change the flights. But I’m not disappointed because I’d take qualifying for Europe every time over a holiday. You’d take the hit to play in the big games.”