SAINTSTRYTO KEEP MATTY Wright reveals club made improved offer
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has stated he wants Matty Kennedy to stay at the club as Hearts attempt to derail Aberdeen’s bid to sign the winger.
The Perth club tabled an improved offer to the Northern Ireland international over the weekend in a bid to keep him at McDiarmid Park.
But boss Wright fears it may not be enough for him to remain in the Fair City, with Aberdeen currently leading the race for Kennedy’s signature.
Wright said: “We made him an improved offer over the weekend.
“But I don’t think that’s going to be enough. As I said previously, if we had made this offer last January I think we probably would have got him.
“But now Aberdeen are in and Hearts are interested. I took a phone call off Craig Levein and he said that [Daniel] Stendel wants him.
“The situation is quite clear – I don’t want him to leave in the window.
“The two clubs can agree pre-contracts with him, but I informed Kirsten (Robertson, head of football) that I don’t want him to leave.
“I fully understand that if either club make an offer that we can’t refuse then it could happen this window. But I am planning for him to stay.
“I don’t see any problem with him staying. We don’t need the money, we are financially sound.
“And we have a player who I know really well, is competitive, and doesn’t like losing. So there will be no problem [if he stays].
“Anybody that knows the club knows we have cash in the bank. It’s a well run club and is one of the best run clubs in the country financially.
“There is no panic to sell or cash in.
“I expect both Aberdeen and Hearts to try and get him this month. He has, I think, agreed in principle with Aberdeen.
“I don’t know what stage Hearts are at but I know they spoke to him last week but they only contacted us yesterday (Sunday) to tell us.
“It looks like we are going to lose him at the end of the season, but the scenario is I want him to stay.
“It is up to other clubs to change that scenario if they really want that to happen.”
Wright said there would be no new arrivals this month unless he can move players on but pre-contract enquiries are already underway, including an approach for Inverness Caledonian Thistle full-back Shaun Rooney.
“Players who are in the last six months of their contract that we think could do a job, we put the necessary letters in to their clubs,” Wright added. “Shaun Rooney is one and there are others at other clubs.”