Exit at Saints for Millar and Watson
BY GORDON BANNERMAN CHRIS MILLAR will not have his St Johnstone contract renewed beyond the summer as he prepares to leave during his testimonial year.
The 35-year-old will depart McDiarmid Park at the end of the season along with Keith Watson who is also not having his deal renewed.
Midfielder Millar joined from Morton in 2008 and has gone on to make 321 appearances for Saints.
Defender Watson, meanwhile, has been at the club for two years.
Manager Tommy Wright paid tribute to Scottish Cup winner Millar and said: “Chris is obviously the most notable of those being released as he has been here since the summer of 2008.
“He has made a huge contribution to the club’s success over the past decade, not least the Scottish Cup success in 2014, top-six league positions and European campaigns.
“Like Alan Mannus and Steven MacLean, Midgey has given me everything as a player and will always be well thought of and welcome back to McDiarmid Park.
“We’ve also decided not to renew the contract of Keith Watson, who has been so unlucky with injury in his two years here and that’s the main reason he hasn’t made the impact we all hoped, although anyone who saw him in his half-dozen starts would understand why we were keen to secure his services.”
Injury-plagued striker Callum Hendry has won a new two-year deal. Wright confirmed veteran striker MacLean, 35, will bow out at Motherwell tomorrow before switching to Hearts.