Next manager has massive shoes to fill Legend Nick hails Tommy Wright’s Perth success
St Johnstone’s manager search has been likened to Manchester United trying to replace Sir Alex Ferguson.
Club legend Nick Dasovic reckons the next person coming into the hotseat at McDiarmid Park has massive shoes to fill following Tommy Wright’s departure earlier this month.
Dasovic was a real fans’ favourite during his six-year spell in Perth and continues to be remembered fondly by supporters.
The Canadian was impressed with how Northern Irishman Wright brought seven years of success to the club in the top-flight of Scottish football.
“First and foremost you have to applaud the job Tommy has done over the last seven years,” Dasovic told the PA.
“You look at what he achieved in the Scottish Cup, getting to Europe and finishing in the top half of the table.
“Even this year when there was a bit of a wobble at the beginning, if they won the game in hand they were in the top six again.
“The job he did was remarkable, it really was and you have to applaud him.
“It’s exciting for the fans of Perth to see who the next guy is going to be. Whoever gets that job, they have some massive shoes to fill.
“Anybody taking that next job, it is kind of like taking Sir Alex’s job. There are some big shoes to fill, for sure.”
Dasovic’s name always tends to be mentioned when a vacancy arises at St Johnstone - and that is very flattering for him.
The 51-year-old is currently development squad head coach at Vancouver Whitecaps and has previously been involved with the Canadian national team.
“Anytime there is a mention of a job I think there are a group of people linked with it,” Dasovic said.
“If somebody asks me: ‘Would you be interested?’ Of course there is always that interest in it.
“The other side of it is I’m in a great job right now, working for a fantastic club in the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps. I am very fortunate.
“It is a professional game and we are in it to continue to develop ourselves as coaches.
“If the phone call came, I’d definitely accept the phone call.
“What would happen after? Who knows. But like I said, at this stage in my life I’m in a good spot with Vancouver.”
Former assistant manager Callum Davidson, now assistant at English Championship side Millwall, is among the frontrunners for the Perth position.
Dasovic played with the full-back during his time at Saints and said: “If I’m not mistaken Callum Davidson is probably the number one guy.
“I played with Callum during my time at St Johnstone before he got sold to Blackburn.
“I know Callum quite well and he is a very intelligent man. He has experience and is a good, good candidate.
“The flattering part for me is when your name gets bounced around a bit amongst circles like that. It is definitely flattering to say the least.”
Dasovic expects the Saints board will be dealing with a barrel-load of applications and notes of interest.
He said: “Tommy has built a very young squad so whoever is taking that job has to know they have a good, young, energetic group that is ready to take the next step.
“There will be a lot of guys saying: ‘Let me have a go at this’”.
First and foremost you have to applaud the job Tommy has done