The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Three Saints legends make an emotional bow after playing last game for club
Dull final game of season overshadowed by sendoff for celebrated Saints
It was a day for reflection and celebrating past glories rather than dwelling on the nitty-gritty of a wearisome final 90 minutes of the campaign.
While the game itself is best forgotten, fans of both sides lingered to mark a milestone which felt suspiciously like the end of an era for their respective clubs.
As the curtain came down on the careers of three St Johnstone cup winners with more than 750 appearances between them, the hapless Highlanders were sent tumbling out of the top flight.
Perth goalkeeper Alan Mannus was joined for the closing 32 minutes by midfielder Chris Millar. Suspended striker Steven MacLean, a scorer in the historic 2-0 cup final win over Dundee United four years ago, was given clearance to join them for an emotional bow after the final whistle.
While his immediate future is uncertain, Millar has been rewarded with a testimonial year for a decade of sterling service spanning the second tier, Premier League and forays into Europe.
MacLean had already signed off with a hat-trick at Motherwell before he heads for Hearts and in the next few weeks Mannus will be returning to former club Shamrock Rovers.
But all three players have given the best years of their careers to the McDiarmid cause.
And that was reflected in the warmth of post-match scenes as supporters, team-mates and loved ones provided a memorable send-off.
“I wanted to go out with a good result. It was good to get out on the park and say goodbye to the fans. They have been superb to me,” said Millar. “All-round, it was a good day and I felt I played well and helped the game change.”
Keeper Mannus, who paid tribute to fellow keepers and coaching staff at McDiarmid, heads back to the Emerald Isle after a successful seven-year stay, with the luggage including a photographic montage from the club.
“It was an emotional week coming up to my last game. I didn’t want to end my career here with a defeat,” he said. “I will miss the people. This feels like my home in Scotland. I couldn’t have been treated any better here.
“There is a sense of disappointment not getting top six but we always set out to avoid the relegation fight and we have done that.
“I don’t think the club needs me. They will be fine without me. They have good goalkeepers here.”
Seventh place may have evaded a Perth side which failed to trouble County keeper Scott Fox until David Wotherspoon followed up an 89th minute strike with an unlikely stoppagetime leveller but it was past glories rather than a nondescript 90 minutes which warranted a poignant lap of honour at full-time.
Stalwarts Steven Anderson, Brian Easton and Wotherspoon still linger from the 2014 cup final line-up, but with young stars Aaron Comrie, Liam Gordon and debutant Ali McCann handed starts alongside Jason Kerr, the season has witnessed a changing of the guard.
Like several of their colleagues, Mannus and Millar were eager to share the occasion with offspring, before and after their final game for a club which has taken them to their hearts.
County got off to the perfect start, with Craig Curran raising hopes of a great escape with a back post tap-in.
Full-back Jason Naismith’s shot was deflected into his path and the winger was presented with the simplest of tasks.
But their efforts were to no avail, with Partick Thistle’s win at Dundee consigning them to relegation after a six-year stay in the top flight.
They should have had the points secured long before Wotherspoon’s stoppage-time equaliser, which was crafted superbly by another promising youngster, substitute Callum Hendry, out on the right flank.
I will miss the people. This feels like my homein Scotland. I couldn’t have been treated any better here. ALAN MANNUS
Earlier the woodwork had been rattled by Mattias Kait, Mannus backpedalled to tip a Curran effort over the bar and the lively winger squandered a late chance to seal the deal, even if victory would not have prevented that sinking feeling.
Perth manager Wright sympathised with the opposition’s plight after branding his side’s performance “brutal”.
But mindful of the bigger picture, he said: “The fans stayed at the end to say goodbye to the three players and I’m glad we got the goal because that sent them away happy.
“It would have been a shame if we’d lost the game in the last appearance for the lads because they have been such an integral part of the success we’ve had here.
“They have been brilliant for me and have given me everything over the years so I wish them well for the future.
“The managers who get them will get players who have character in abundance and are the right kind of people you want at your football club.”
Recently installed County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell, who followed on from departed Jim McIntyre and Owen Coyle during a season of turmoil in Dingwall, has been entrusted to guide the club back to the top tier but he accepts that will be no easy task.
“Nothing will ever prepare you for this or make it any better.
“We need to regroup and think about how we move forward as a football club,” he said.
“We have won only six games all season and it has not been good enough.
“It’s hard to take but we will come out fighting. We won’t shirk from it.
“The whole journey has been a bit of a fairytale so it hits you hard.
“But we have to write our own chapter now.”
The former Staggies midfielder is under no illusions just how difficult it will be to lead the club back into the top flight, with clubs such as Dundee United still struggling to escape the Championship.
He said: “It’s very difficult. I have been a player in the league and it’s exceptionally hard.”
Kettlewell conceded there will be decisions made on certain players who are likely to move on following relegation but says the club will “come out fighting” despite the inevitable cuts.