FROZEN OUT
ST JOHNSTONE v DUNDEE Kerr’s Dun with losing in Perth Saints will chill out at home as club bosses KO Tommy’s plan for warm weather training trip
TOMMY WRIGHT admits he’s disappointed plans for a warm weather training camp have been frozen out.
The St Johnstone boss envies rivals who will be heading for the sun during the winter break.
The Northern Irishman, who is looking to sign off another good year at McDiarmid with a Tayside derby win against Dundee today, had hoped to get the go-ahead to plot an escape to Spain or Portugal.
But chairman Steve Brown wasn’t convinced it would add up to a good investment.
Wright said: “I worked hard to get a trip because that is the most professional thing to do.
“It is something we should have been doing. I know there is a cost attached to going away but I firmly believe the benefits to the club would outweigh the costs involved.”
Wright feared he got a taste of what January holds in store as he prepared for the derby with snow sweeping across the all-weather surface at McDiarmid Park.
He said: “We run the risk with this bad weather in Scotland that our plans and preparations fall apart next month.
“But if the club can’t justify it for us then as a manager I have to accept that decision.
“It would have been something for the players to look forward to. We’d have had warm weather, good training facilities and games at the end of it. I can see why other clubs are going away.
“Mentally and physically it is great for players to get a bit of sun on their backs and play on grass.”
Saints have enjoyed bragging rights over local rivals Dundee and Dundee United in recent years and Wright wants that to continue into 2018.
He said: “Despite a bit of recent criticism it has been another great year for the club.
“We have a good record against Dundee here and over the last few years we have been the club that has been the most successful in this area.
“That’s something we want to try and continue.” CAMMY KERR admits he suffered his fair share of McDiarmid Park pain as a diehard Dundee fan.
But now he wants to give his Dark Blues pals something to celebrate in the Fair City.
The Dens defender will never forget the feeling of losing to their Tayside rivals on more than one visit to Perth after making the short journey to cheer on his favourites.
It was never the happy hunting ground Kerr would have hoped for growing up and the driven Dundonian is on a mission to make amends for those lingering memories.
The 22-year-old can’t wait for this afternoon’s meeting with Tommy Wright’s men and insists he doesn’t want the travelling support to feel the way he often used to.
Kerr said: “I’ve been through quite a few times with my mates at this time of the year.
“We always take a big support to Perth and the fans do hold that sense of expectation.
“They will be coming in their numbers again so it would be great to give them a victory.
“When I watched Dundee there as a fan, we probably didn’t do as well as we should have.
“I remember coming back up the road disappointed on a number of occasions. As a Dundee fan growing up, you kind of got used to it.
“That is something we want to change.
“We want to alter that into a winning mentality at this club.”