LIONS TAMER
Ando’s joy as Callum makes Saints switch but defender is surprised Millwall let him leave
Steve Brown has backed another winner.
That’s the view of St Johnstone legend Steven Anderson after the Perth chief turned to Millwal l No. 2 Cal lum Davidson to succeed Tommy Wright.
Scottish Cup goal hero Ando wasn’t surprised that Brown earmarked his former team-mate and coach as the man to build on Wright’s legacy.
But with the Lions harbouring hopes of clawing their way into the Premier League via the play-offs, the former Perth defender was caught off guard by the timing of Davidson’s return to McDiarmid Park.
“I’m not surprised that the club wanted Callum but they have done really well to tempt him away from a club like Millwall,” admitted Anderson, who recently ended his 16-year ties to the Perth club after a loan spell with Raith Rovers.
“They still have a real chance of making the play-offs. But obviously there was the appeal of being his own man and at a club he knows inside out.
“It would be a tough task for anyone trying to match the success Tommy had down the years and Callum also has to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“But the squad is in good shape and he has gained a lot of coaching experience down south.
“He wi l l have learned from his experience at Stoke and Millwall, both the good and the bad.”
Davidson knows the club inside out, having started out with Saints before clinching a club record £1.75million move to Blackburn Rovers.
“Callum has had a great affiliation with the club since he was a youngster,” said Anderson.
“And once he made the transition from player to assistant manager under Tommy you could see he would be a manager in his own right one day.
“He worked very closely with Tommy. The players loved his high- tempo sessions and he had a great rapport with us.”
Anderson watched Wright thrive after stepping up to replace Steve Lomas seven years ago. And now he’s backing 43- year- old former Scotland star Davidson to make the grade.
He said: “As an assistant there’s not much pressure on you. So it will be different now for Callum.
“But he has a support network around him and Callum has the advantage of knowing the club and the players.
“He took in quite a few games last season. I’m sure he can call Tommy or some of the ex-players if he was ever looking for advice.
“But knowing Callum he will have his own plans and how to implement them. He is inheriting a young squad with one or two more experienced boys.
“I’d like to think there will be scope for bringing in a couple of fresh faces. Hopefully he gets a chance to stamp his own authority on the squad.”
Davidson is ready to draft in fans’ favourite Steven MacLean to join his coaching team.
Anderson believes the veteran striker – who was loaned out to Raith Rovers from Hearts last term – will jump at the chance to bag a return ticket to Perth.
He said: “Macca would be a great appointment.
“He would be ideal for of f e r ing an attacking point of view and working with the strikers.
“Macca’s a great motivator. He was hugely influential in the dressing room and guys like Stevie
May learned so much from him. I’m sure he’ll be eager to get going in his coaching career.”
The new St Johnstone manager has already started looking to bolster his squad but feels the players already at his disposal are good enough.
Davidson said: “I’m going to have to add. The chairman knows my opinion and what I’d like to bring in.
“There are good characters. A lot of players left at the end of this season. I will probably try to nail down two systems that they’re really good at and take it forward.
“People know what St Johnstone mean to me, that will help.
“People say, ‘ Why did you take it after Tommy, such a successful manager?’ I was there for five years with him, part of that success so I kind of know. I don’t feel pressure that way.”
I’m not surprised Saints wanted Callum but they’ve done really well to tempt him away from a club like Millwall