The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Europa League qualification would tick last box for Wright, says Mackay
‘Cuptie’ praises Wright’s ‘incredible job’ – and reflects on Minsk disappointment
Dave Mackay is mystified that Tommy Wright’s capabilities continue to be overlooked when big managerial jobs become vacant.
But the former St Johnstone captain believes that if his old boss manages to guide the Perth club into the Europa League group stages “he would certainly be away”.
“It’s probably the only thing missing from Tommy’s time at the club,” said Mackay. “All it takes is a good draw. “You’ll get a stronger seeded team at some point but if they could get into the group stages fantastically it would be amazing and the prestige for the club would be amazing too.
“He’s done an incredible job to finish fourthandgetintoEuropeagain.Hedoes it every year.
“People keep saying that the bubble has to burst and they’re going to have a poor season but it just doesn’t happen. There are too many good players.
“It’s a good club that just continues to do great things. If he got to the group stages he would certainly be away. It’s a mystery why he’s never had a bigger club already. But why couldn’t St Johnstone do that? It’s happened to Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers.”
Saints never managed to advance further than the second qualifying round in Mackay’s years at Saints – either with or without him in the team.
One match in particular is a source of regret.
“Of all the games, the Minsk defeat (in 2013) was the hardest one to take,” he recalled.
“If we’d won that we’d have been through to the third round and it was probably the worst team we played in Europe. To go out to a side like that after a couple of great results was disappointing. We battered them at home and they scored with a deflected corner. Then it became a lottery in the penalty shoot-out.”
Mackay added: “I missed the Alashkert game two seasons ago and I only came on as a sub in the return leg of the Eskisehirspor match in our first campaign.
“So I basically missed those two campaigns. I played Rosenborg and Lucerne. There were a few highs.”
Danny Swanson has still to be replaced but Mackay believes Saints are in the perfect place to hit the ground running when the qualifiers get under way at the end of the month.
He explained: “The good thing about St Johnstone over the last few years has been tying players up well before the end of the season, rather than left to the last minute. It’s important that you keep the players who have done really well for you.
“One or two will go. Danny Swanson will have to be replaced but I’m sure there will be players lined up to come in who could give the team creativity.
“There have been a few times when big players have left that people have thought they might struggle but they always get replaced. It’s all about the team there. I’m sure they’ll replace Danny – as hard as that will be.”