JASON SHORN EXPERIENCE
Wright resigned to losing Kerr but Saints will cash in
Tommy Wright reckons Jason Kerr can be the next million-pound export from Scotland’s growing treasure trove of talent.
The St Johnstone boss believes the Premiership has picked up in his five years in charge – and so has the value.
Now, as Saints prepare to face a John McGinn-less Hibs this afternoon, the Northern Irishman insists the Scotland midfielder won’t be the last to attract big-money interest.
Kerr has already played in every division in the league, racking up more than 100 games through loan spells with East Fife and Queen of the South before becoming a regular in Perth.
And Wright revealed defender Kerr, 21, is already on the radar of big clubs.
Wright said: “I genuinely think the league has got stronger.
“Celtic doing well in Europe, Brendan Rodgers coming up, Steven Gerrard coming up – all that has lifted the profile of Scottish football.
“Those are not the only reasons our players are getting moves but people are seeing value in the players in Scotland – value in terms of quality for the kind of fees they have to pay.
“I don’t know what John went for but if Aston Villa try to get somebody from an English Championship club then it could cost them double. “So that’s where value is. “We’ve already had two big sales in terms of Michael O’Halloran and Stevie May, while Celtic took Jack Hendry from Dundee and there’s young Scott McKenna at Aberdeen.
“But I think Jason will be the next one.
“Up here, young players are exposed to some massive games.
“They’re having to go to Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, and that experience helps them when they go down south.
“But the quality of the league has improved and the quality of player has also improved.
“Last week we saw McGinn’s move but there will be more to come.
“Derek McInnes has talked up McKenna as an English top-flight player and rightly so.
“When the big boys coming knocking,
then clubs – even ones like Aberdeen – just can’t refuse.
“From our point of view Jason just needs more experience, maybe another six months, in the top league.
“There are already clubs who have made tentative inquiries about him. Nothing concrete – but people are keeping an eye on him.
“If he can get that wee bit more experience I think we’ll find it hard to hold of him.”
Incredibly, despite his stellar record in Perth, Wright has yet to spend a single transfer fee assembling his team of over-achievers.
So while he sees today’s opposite number Nei l Lennon look to reinvest their haul from McGinn, he insists he’s not jealous.
Wright shrugged and said: “I know where I am. I’ve been at this club five years now but I’ve never paid a transfer fee – I’ve never even paid £5000 for a player.
“I know the market I work in and how difficult it is to work in that market.
“I’ve got value for money way beyond the resources we have. I’ve sold two players for £ 850,000 and £ 400,000.
“This year I think we’ve got value for money again in terms of the players we’ve signed.
“I probably need one more signing but I fully understand the workings of the club. We are sitting in a good financial position but I know how they want to work and go forward.”
The gaping hole in Wright’s team so far in his summer’s recruitment has been in central midfield, a slot he’s still looking to fill before the month is out.
He admitted: “We’ve missed out on one or two.
“At the minute it’s a balancing act in terms of finance – I either have to get somebody out or progress in the cup.
“But there’s no panic. There are still three weeks left in the window.
“I could probably go out and get someone tomorrow – but would they improve the squad? No.
“So I want to wait and see. There is time and things will happen to help me do that over the next three weeks.
“The English window closing will help too because there will be guys floating about, although that will probably help the bigger clubs more.
“I’m happy with what we’ve done. We’ve done really well in the market.
“We’ve a smaller squad, which has helped me to bring in quality. “But we’ve also got a much younger squad.
“We’re down to an average age of about 24 now, when before it was probably touching 30.
“I thi nk the club deserves a bit of credit for that because such a change doesn’t happen just by luck.
“We’ve been able to develop our younger players, especially using the loan system.
“Kerr is probably a perfect example of that, playing over 100 games in the lower l ea g ues then coming back physically developed and full of confidence.
“He has done really well and we have others who are pushing to get into the first team.”
I’ve been at Saints for five years now but I’ve never paid a transfer fee for a player