The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Saints pair told they can move on
Watson and Coulson no longer part of Wright’s first team plans
Keith Watson and Michael Coulson look to be on their way out of St Johnstone.
The pair have both suffered an injuryplagued first season at McDiarmid Park and manager Tommy Wright does not now see them in his first team plans.
Watson has been particularly unlucky, as he picked up an injury before the league season had started, at which point Richard Foster was signed as cover.
Coulson has never really shone when given a chance, but will also rue a disrupted first few months of his time in Perth after arriving from York City.
“I have told Michael Coulson and Keith Watson they can find new clubs,” said Wright.
“Keith has been hampered by injury, although he’s well on the mend now.
“It’s never nice but you have to make those decisions and I think it’s in the best interests of the club and for them.
“Both players need to be playing and they have not had the amount of games they would have liked or we would have liked.”
He knows it is a long shot but Graham Cummins admits it would be a dream draw for him if St Johnstone are paired with his home town club Cork City in the Europa League qualifiers.
Saints will be in the hat when the draw is made on June 19 with everyone associated with the club keen to see where they will be heading on their travels once again.
In recent seasons, the Perth side have faced trips to Turkey, Norway, Belarus, Switzerland, Slovakia and Armenia.
Now, though, Cummins, who scored his side’s goal against Rangers on Sunday, is looking for some home comfort – and has even offered his services as a scout for manager Tommy Wright if his dream is realised.
The 29-year-old striker said: “I would love us to get Cork. That would be the dream draw for me.
“I’m not saying that because it would be easy, it wouldn’t because they’re flying in the league right now.
“But I’d love to get them so I could go back home with St Johnstone and play them in a competitive game.
“I’ve had a look at the fixtures and they’re away from home at Dundalk when I’m back at the start of next month.
“But my dad goes to see them home and away, so if we do draw them then he’ll be able to fill us in about who’s playing well.
“If it happens and the gaffer wants to pay me a few quid extra then I’ll happily go home and scout for him!
“It would be great for me if it happens but the chances of it happening are pretty small.
“It’s all hypothetical at the moment. We’ll just have to see who we get when the draw comes round.”
No matter who Saints are ultimately paired against, Cummins believes the opposition will face a team much better equipped to deal with the demands of European football compared to the last time St Johnstone were on their travels two seasons ago against Armenian opposition.
He added: “We were favourites going into the Alashkert game but look what happened there.
“That was a bit of an eye-opener for me because I hadn’t played at this level before and it was a step up.
“I thought they were a really good side, especially across there, and it showed us the level we have to be at to compete with teams from across Europe.
“I think we’re a better team now than we were then. That day we had a few new players but we have a more settled squad now.
“We have finished fourth in a tough league this season, a league that was stronger this year.
“We are a tough side to beat – that’s what we do first and foremost – and we’ve had a great season.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt we’re a better side now than when I first joined two years ago.”
Being back in Europe means that Cummins and the rest of the Saints squad will not have much of a summer break before returning for pre-season.
However, the front man admits he would not have it any differently.
Cummins said: “We are getting three weeks off and then we’re back in again.
“It’s good for me because I think the older you get the more you appreciate things.
“You want to look back at things like playing in Europe because who remembers getting six weeks off and playing some friendlies?
“These are the kind of games you want to be involved in and to do that you have to come back early.
“The other good thing about it is that because we’re only off for three weeks, pre-season won’t be as tough.”
Cummins’ goal against Rangers was nothing more than a consolation with the Glasgow side winning the final game of the season 2-1.
The striker admitted it was disappointing that they could not finish with a flourish but it has still been a campaign to be proud of.
He added: “I thought we started the game really well against Rangers and right up until they scored we were on top of them.
“It’s disappointing to lose the final game but I think it has been a fantastic season.
“We have picked up a record amount of points and are in Europe again so nobody can complain.”