No favours for my Wright good mate
STEVEN MacLEAN admits Tommy Wright was more his mate than manager during a six-year stint at St Johnstone.
So close that the striker joked he could give his ex-gaffer’s team talk before a ball is kicked today.
Wright will equal a milestone set by legendary gaffer Willie Ormond 45 years ago when he leads Saints into top-flight battle for the 197th time.
But the old pals’ act won’t have a bearing on whether he marks it by becoming the first boss to beat Hearts’ Craig Levein this season.
Telling Wright he was swapping Perth for Edinburgh in the summer was one of the hardest things MacLean has had to do.
However, he reckons riding high at the top of the league and competing for trophies vindicated his decision to make the switch.
He said: “It was difficult to leave St Johnstone because we’d spent six years together– a good six years – and we had a lot of success.
“Tommy wasn’t just my manager, he was my mate. Well he wasn’t my mate sometimes!
“He was like a friend as well so if I ever had a problem he was somebody I could speak to. I still do even now. I have a lot of respect for him. It was difficult but it wasn’t in a way because we had such respect for each other we could tell each other anything.
“I have a good relationship with Tommy and I still speak to him although I’ve not spoken to him this week.
“He understood my reasons for coming here. It’s a chance for them to move on as well. They’ve got a squad they can change up and put their own mark on it.
“I could probably tell you Tommy’s team talk – he’ll be saying they’re underdogs, nobody expects them to win and stuff like that.
“He’ll be getting them wound up and trying to use the crowd against us, keep it tight.
“He’ll know if they can turn the crowd against us it will be harder.”
Hearts’ perfect start ended with a stalemate against Livingston last weekend although a 4-2 League Cup win over Motherwell offered solace. And MacLean admits the Jambos are now playing to cement a spot for the semi against Celtic.
He said: “This place can be rocking and it’s important we give the fans something to create a good atmosphere. We didn’t do that against Livingston but we did on Wednesday.
“That has gone now and we’re basically playing for places in the semi-final as well.
“I wanted to come and play in big games and in front of big crowds. I didn’t think we’d be in this situation – I don’t think anybody did. We’re top of the league and in a semi-final. “It’s great but it’s important we keep our feet on the ground. We’ll do it because we’re a good group.” MacLean hasn’t made up his mind as to whether he’ll celebrate scoring against his former club. Although his old boss will rack up a feat of his own as he matches the post-war top-flight record set by Ormond. Wright said: “I’m not the type to get overexcited about landmarks. “But longevity in the modern game is rare and this is a wee bit special, something to be proud of. “I suppose I am only still here because I have done a reasonably good job. It’s public knowledge my contract is up at the end of the season and we have been talking about a new deal. I’m hoping to be here a lot longer but nothing has been agreed yet. “From a club’s perspective you have the January window coming up so stability is important.”