Clubbing together to fight virus

Hendry hopes next boss has same steel as Wright after it helped youngster thrive

Callum Hendry reckons Tommy Wright’s tough love approach got the best out of him – and he hopes the next manager will be of a similar ilk.

The young forward was required to be patient to make his St Johnstone breakthrough but, when he did, became a key piece of the Perth jigsaw.

His goals undoubtedly assisted Saints in pulling away from any threat of the Premiership’s danger zone and he looked set to add more before the coronavirus lockdown stopped action.

While Wright’s departure was a bitter pill to swallow for Hendry, he will not forget the man who gave him his chance in professional football.

“You are always going to remember the manager who gave you the big break,” the 22-year-old told the PA this week.

“He had been at the club for so long. I knew we had to expect it would come at some point, but I never actually thought it would happen.

“It’s strange for me because he gave me the opportunity. He was the one who took a chance on me.

“Tommy gave me the start to my professional career and hopefully it goes on for a long time.

“He dealt with me in the best way possible. He didn’t rush me into the team and I had to earn my spot.

“If I ever had any problems or queries about why I wasn’t playing, he would let me know. I would understand where I was and why.

“I remember going to his door a few times – he basically said I wasn’t ready and that he couldn’t trust me fully to start a game. But I have always thrived off something like that… someone saying I’m not ready or

I still need time.

“It makes you work harder.

You don’t throw the towel in and it makes you hungrier than ever.

“It could have taken two weeks or until next season, but he told me to keep working hard. It was the same with Alec Cleland and with Callum Davidson when he was at the club.

“Tommy knew when the best time for me was. I always had so much respect for him as a manager.

“If I wasn’t plugging away right, he

King James VI Golf Club is pulling together amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Members and fans of the popular Perth course have been chipping in with donations to alleviate the loss of income due to no play being allowed.

Yesterday, a crowdfunding page figure smashed through the £7000 mark.

“We are not rich in reserves, but the history is rich and the members are a tight bunch,”said club captain David Angus.

“I’m really buoyant and encouraged by the support we have been getting and the positive messages from the membership about what we are doing.”

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would tell me. The tough love side of it that Tommy gave me was massive for my improvement.

“It was the best way to get the best out of me. I hope the next manager is someone like that.”

Saints will take their time with the new manager search and that was confirmed by head of football operations Kirsten Robertson to the PA last week.

“It will be such a tough job for someone to come in to,” said Hendry, son of former

Blackburn, Rangers and Scotland defender Colin.

“But I know the board will make the right decision. They have everyone’s best interest at heart.

“Whoever comes in will be the right person for the job. The new boss won’t need to worry about getting the best out of the boys.

“We all work as a unit and will give 100 per cent as soon as we start back.”

Hendry has had time to reflect on his performances this season and was gutted that football was shutdown when he was starting to pick up more momentum.

He said: “I was gutted because I was getting a run of games, building up confidence and enjoying it. I was scoring goals and was lasting longer than an hour on the pitch.

“It was frustrating for the season to stop, but I can’t complain about how it went for me.

“It’s what I have dreamt of.

“It’s good to hear how important my goals were. They are not only important to me, but to all of the fans and the club.

“I just want to see the club and myself be successful. I didn’t feel like one of the kids in the dressing room anymore.

“I felt I had earned my place every day in training and to be in the starting 11.

“That is what I had wanted ever since I signed for Saints.

“I know it can change and a new manager coming in might not like the way I play. I need to make sure I am ready and that, whoever it is, can have no complaints.

“I want to hit the ground running when we get going again. I want to take my chance straight away.”