Wright enjoying ‘brilliant chat’ with fans

Phoning elderly season ticket holders has been as therapeutic for St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright during the early days of the coronavirus shutdown as it has for them.

The Perth boss knows fans are missing their football as much as the players and staff at McDiarmid Park and he is a subscriber to the theory that they will all get through the pandemic lay-off together.

“It has been really good and people that know me, know I can talk,” said Wright of the calls he and his squad have been making.

“I enjoy listening as well. It’s a communication line for people. I spoke to a supporter on Friday morning called Margaret who is 85 and is on her own. She is missing the company.

“The fans are really appreciative of this but, at the same time, it is having a positive effect on me and on the players as well. It’s good to have the direct contact by phone.

“It’s also good to remind supporters that we are thinking about them.

“We are all asking is if there is anything they need or if we need to get in touch with anybody for them. “Everyone seems to be coping really well.”

Wright added: “Last Monday, my first three calls were to gentlemen who were all out on the golf course. I couldn’t get hold of them until later in the week. When I eventually did get them, they weren’t only unhappy with no football, but they also now can’t play golf.

“We have a lot of senior season ticket holders and it’s good we can reach out to them. It has been brilliant chat.

“Listening to them reminiscing about old times at St Johnstone has been quite therapeutic for me. It really is a two-way thing.”

Meanwhile, keeper Zander Clark has had to postpone his summer wedding.