So sorry Lenny but I’ll be a Dons fan for a day
TOMMY WRIGHT knows that declaring his allegiance ahead of next weekend’s first Scottish Cup semi-final is likely to drive a wedge between him and his summer golfing partner.
But the inescapable fact is that if Aberdeen beat Hibs, who are managed by his close friend Neil Lennon, St Johnstone will be in the box seat to qualify once more for the Europa League.
With fellow semi-finalists Rangers, Celtic and the Dons all occupying European places through their current league positions, Lennon’s Hibs are all that stand between fourth place meriting a trip to the continent.
Wright is desperate for another European adventure with Saints, even if it means golfing alone on his annual trip to Portugal where he normally meets up with his fellow Northern Irishman.
‘Lenny is my mate but I don’t want him to win the Scottish Cup,’ said a grinning Wright. ‘When he hears that, he probably won’t golf with me in the summer. That would be a shame as he is learning to speak Portuguese. Mind you, the only two words of the language Lenny needs on the golf course are: “Fore, right”.
‘I don’t think our friendship will change. Lenny will understand my thinking. He would be exactly the same in my position.
‘In an ideal world we would beat Aberdeen at home this weekend to strengthen our position in fourth place.
‘Then we will look for Aberdeen to win the semi-final with Hibs next week. And everyone would know that fourth place is going to get a place in Europe.
‘But if Hibs reach the final we will all have to wait until May 27.
‘The first Europa League qualifier is at the end of June — so it would be better for clarity and planning for us and (fourth-place rivals) Hearts if it was Rangers or Celtic versus Aberdeen in the final.’
With a budget more suited to a relegation battle, Wright has Saints flying high in the Premiership once more.
But, with Lennon’s Hibs waiting in the Championship departure lounge, the top flight is going to be even more cut-throat next year.
And if St Johnstone are to find top gear again in the race for the top six next season, Wright feels he will need greater funding.
‘A lot is made of budgets,’ he said. ‘Celtic can go out and buy a Ferrari. Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts can go and get a top-ofthe-range Mercedes, but we are shopping in the used-car market.
‘To be fair, you can get bargains and good value in there. You can still get quality and we have managed that consistently here.
‘The only thing that will help my budget is if the chairman gives me more money.
‘I will be speaking to the chairman over the next few weeks and I think he realises we have to move the budget a bit.
‘It would be nice if it can get back to something like it was before Rangers went out of the league. That would be good. But if we can’t afford it, fair enough. We will just get on with it.
‘If we budgeted for eighth this year and we finish fourth, and if we get into Europe again, there could be a financial kick-back.
‘It also looks like Hibs will be coming back into the league and I will point to all these things.
‘The chairman has been good
over the last few seasons but I think he realises we might have to expand the budget and spend a little bit more.
‘His argument is that it doesn’t always guarantee success.
‘But given how well we have done over the last few seasons, it is important we try to help the squad by adding a bit of quality.
‘I have a list of targets — strikers and wide players.’
Aberdeen, who have only beaten Saints twice in their last nine meetings, will be hurting after losing at home to Rangers on Sunday.
But Wright is not reading too much into recent history between the sides or that surprise 3-0
Pittodrie loss last weekend. ‘We have a decent record against Aberdeen over the last couple of years — but you can look too much into what happened in the past,’ he insisted.
‘What you have is two teams who have had another great season. Aberdeen will be hurting from the Rangers defeat but I don’t read too much into it.
‘They were actually the better team on the day last week despite losing 3-0.
‘I don’t think that defeat will have any bearing on what happens between now and the end of the season.
‘Nine points to make up at this stage of the season would be very difficult for Rangers with the top teams playing each other. For me, Aberdeen will finish second.’
“When he hears that, I will be in Portugal alone”