THE 7 YEAR HITCH
TOMMY: NO CHAT SINCE McCANN SPAT
ST JOHNSTONE No.1 Alan Mannus feared he would only last a year at McDiarmid Park rather than enjoy a “magnificent” seven.
The 35-year-old is returning to Ireland with wife Leanne and two-year-old son Mason for family reasons at the end of the season and will join up with Shamrock Rovers in the summer.
But Mannus is taking a host of great memories with him from his time with Saints including a top-three finish in the league, European football and a stunning Scottish Cup win.
The Northern Ireland keeper has become a firm favourite with Perth fans since arriving in 2011, although at the start he didn’t believe he had a chance of sticking around in Scotland until 2018.
Mannus said: “When I first came over I joined in the August, signing a one-year contract. By February I still hadn’t played and I was planning what I was going to do that summer.
“I was thinking about going back home as I felt I wouldn’t get a new deal if I wasn’t playing. Then I got my opportunity, started playing and signed another deal – I’ve been here ever since.
“Being at St Johnstone for seven years is more than I ever expected. The way me and my family have been BY STEVEN BEACOM treated by everyone at the club has been magnificent and the supporters have been amazing.
“Being with St Johnstone isn’t just a big part of my career, it’s a big part of my life and I have nothing but positive things to say about the club. I wish them well for the future.”
Mannus lists Scottish Cup glory in 2014 as the greatest success he has been involved in, adding that playing every game when Saints finished third in the SPL in his first full campaign in 2012/13 was another highlight.
And carrying his son out on to the pitch before a game on a family day at McDiarmid Park last season against Rangers will forever remain a cherished moment.
Saints boss Tommy Wright was very understanding when Mannus informed him of his decision to leave and the keeper admitted he is shocked TOMMY WRIGHT has revealed he hasn’t spoken to Neil McCann since the bust-up between the Dundee boss and St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark.
McCann and Clark clashed at the end of Saints’ 4-0 win last month and although the goalie that his gaffer has not been a target for bigger clubs in Scotland or south of the border.
He said: “Look at what Tommy has done since coming to Saints five years ago. Apart from this season we have always finished in the top six, he has won the Scottish Cup, qualified for Europe and we’ve punched well above our weight.
“He has been linked but not as often as other managers who haven’t achieved as much. I’ve seen Scottish managers go to Championship clubs in England who didn’t deliver like Tommy.
“Some people don’t see St Johnstone as an attractive or glamorous club and maybe they see the manager in the same way which is strange.
“He can’t do much more accepted his two-match ban, the Dens gaffer got just a onematch penalty after an appeal.
He will serve that tomorrow against Saints and when asked if he has spoken to McCann, Wright said: “Why would I? No chance. Everything has been sorted out.” really. I am surprised nobody has made a move for him.
“He has had a good run of successful seasons. This season we’re in the bottom six and, even though it’s really where we should be finishing every year, people see it as a disappointment.
“Our budget is the second or third lowest in the league and we consistently finish above teams with bigger wages and bigger squads.”
Asked if Wright would be a good choice to manage Rangers, Mannus said: “After what has happened at Rangers with recent managers maybe they are thinking they need a ‘big’ name who has managed at an equivalent level.
“Are Rangers going to want to be seen taking a manager from a club who finished outside the top six even though Tommy has proved himself as a manager?
“I don’t know what being at Rangers is like but from the outside I think Tommy would do a good job.”