Stephen was star material
my bit for our younger players now. Make it an environment they can enjoy but teach them about the standards expected.
“The biggest thing for the club over the last seven or eight years is we’ve dealt with it whenever big, influential players have left.
“Dave Mackay, Frazer Wright, all the way back to the likes of Jody Morris. Fran Sandaza, Stevie May. Michael O’Halloran is another.
“Time and again we’ve lost players. We’ve been fortunate that boys have come in, done a job for us and fitted in.”
Saints finished the season unbeaten in their final four matches and Craig insists anyone who thinks the doom has set in at Perth hasn’t been paying attention.
He said: ‘ People talk about this being a disappointing season for St Johnstone.
“But falling five points short of the top six isn’t a lot when you take into account it has been a transitional season.
“Whenever we needed a result, more often than not we got it – going to Ibrox and beating Rangers, winning 4- 0 at Dundee when, if we’d lost, we’d have been looking over our shoulder at relegation.
“We played Hibs three times and didn’t lose and were unbeaten twice at Celtic Park.
“We want to get back to the top six and if we improve our home form and cut out the mistakes there’s no reason why we can’t. “But it’s important to win games we should be winning.
“It’s okay talking about Rangers, Hibs and Celtic.
“But Partick and Dundee took six points off us before the split and we drew twice with County.
“We need to go and win those games to give us the opportunity to get to the top six.” Steve Jones always knew Stephen Robinson would become a top boss – even when they played together for Northern Ireland.
And he’s delighted it has happened at a club where he had a brief love affair.
Jones, 43, carved out a journeyman career in the English lower leagues and Ireland and won 29 caps for his country.
But a loan move brought him north of the border to Motherwell for 12 games back in 2011.
He watched on with interest as Robinson worked his magic at Fir Park last summer, recruiting 14 new players and axing a series of fans’ favourites.
He was vindicated as Well f inished seventh in the league and reached both domestic cup finals for the first time since 1952.
Jones, who is still playing at the age of 41 for Nantwich Town, could see Robinson’s managerial attributes from an early age.
He said: “When you’re a player you know exactly who’s going to make it as a coach or a manager.
“Stephen was demanding on the pitch and already acting like a manager .
“You just knew he would go on to have a successful career after playing.
“He was great at decision making and a good talker which are important skills for management.
“He has the respect of his players at Motherwel l . That’s really important to be a good manager.
“I played for Well briefly when Stuart McCall was boss and made a lot of friends in Scotland.
“They all say Stephen’s doing a really good job.”
Jones also believes his former team- mate can take his career to the international stage.
He said: “If he keeps doing well, he’ll be there for the taking. He definitely has a bright future. I don’t see why he couldn’t take over the Northern Ireland job.”