Transfer situation ‘beggars belief’

Frustrated Wright feels role now more like head coach than manager

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has laid bare his frustrations regarding a transfer situation that “beggars belief”.

The Perth boss pulled no punches when assessing the lack of any signings for a side in a Premiership relegation battle.

With less than a week left in January, Wright, whose team host Kilmarnock today, has washed his hands of what has happened up until this point.

Targets have been identified but the Northern Irishman has got to the stage where he believes “honesty is the best policy” as he contemplates the worst transfer window he has experienced with the club.

With Murray Davidson ruled out of action for six weeks, Wright would like to bring in another central midfielder.

But he hasn’t been told that will be possible.

“Murray broke his arm in training and he will be a huge loss,” said Wright, speaking before the Matty Kennedy transfer to Aberdeen was completed. “It was just an unfortunate accident. “Everyone knows what he gives us in terms of physicality.

“But he is also good in both boxes, he can nick a goal and he is a leader who gets the team going in quiet moments in games.

“It is hugely disappointing for the club and the player, especially at a time when we have so many games coming up.

“We have gone with a smaller squad this season, certainly the smallest in the last eight or nine years at this club.

“It is getting even smaller now. “I have two or three replacements lined up for Murray I think I can get.

“But I haven’t been able to get a player in during this window yet.

“I have put the question to the necessary people but I am waiting for answers.

“But I have already been waiting for answers on getting players in.

“All I get told is: ‘Get players out’. That’s all there is.”

Wright added: “There are only seven days of the window left and I don’t think I have ever been in this position before.

“I have to be honest, it just beggars belief. We have done a pre-contract (Jamie Mccart from Inverness Caledonian Thistle) but that is all.

“This window can be good because it gives players a lift to see people coming in. I think everyone else has made signings, apart from Rangers and they don’t really need them.

“I am not really worried about anyone else, though. I am worried about us because we have done nothing. I have lost out on players because we are not in a position at this moment in time to make offers.

“The hope seems to be that I’ll keep pulling rabbits out of the hat in the last week of the window. But I know one thing: I’m not taking responsibility for this transfer window.”

Wright believes there has effectively been a change in his job description at Mcdiarmid Park.

“There have been changes made here and in general I thought the club was going in the right direction,” he said.

“But there has been no change in terms of planning for the transfer window. I feel a lot of the football decisions are being taken away from me. You could basically change my title to head coach, rather than manager.

“It is a frustrating time. I can only give recommendations. That’s my job.

“But in general my proposals in football matters have been overlooked.

“Maybe the club should change my title to head coach.

“Look, I am at a point where I think honesty is the best policy. It has not been a good window for us. And it goes beyond anything I have had to experience before.

“If people take this as me lashing out then so be it. But the one thing I am is honest. You can’t kid people. I haven’t been given the authority to go ahead and sign anyone. End of story.

“So the next week is critical for us. Let’s see what happens. But I am not a defeatist. I will fight and fight. That is what I do. It is what I have always done.” “And that hasn’t changed.” Killie have not won a league game since beating Hearts on November 23 but Alex Dyer, who may hand a start to new striker Nicke Kabamba from Hartlepool, is looking at the second half of the season with optimism.

He said: “The togetherness is back. Since we have come back after the break, everyone is at it, everyone is working hard and pointing in the right direction.”

Picture: SNS. Tommy Wright, opposite, has been able to bring in Jamie Mccart, top right, on a pre-contract but has lost the services of winger Matty Kennedy to Aberdeen.