The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
New perspective on a flying start for Booth
Defender adjusts to fresh philosophy but he’s still raring to go as big kick-off nears
“It was worrying times so for the club to come to us and give us a bit of security was really good of them,” added Booth.
“They could have said they were waiting for a new manager and dragged it out but they sorted us out. It was appreciated by the boys.
“Six months is plenty of time to impress the new gaffer and get an extension.”
In light of his Bury experience this time last year, when the League One club was on the slippery slope towards EFL expulsion, Booth doesn’t struggle for perspective.
“To even get six months of security is something I appreciate after what went on down the road at Bury,” he said.
“I’m getting used to it and shortterm deals will probably be the norm in Scottish football.
“The coronavirus period has actually been a lot easier to deal with than what happened at Bury. This time everybody has been in the same boat.
“And things have worked out not too bad for me.”
Another test of Booth’s positive mindset is playing under a manager who was a Scotland international in his position.
“It has to be a good thing, I suppose,” said the 29-year-old. “He was a very good one, that’s for sure.
“To be able to learn off a manager who has played your position to a really high standard has to be a positive.
“Robbie Neilson (his United boss) was a full-back as well.
“The gaffer has had a great career and I’m sure he’ll have plenty of advice to pass on to the left-backs as the season goes on.”
The last few weeks have been about putting down a marker ahead of Callum Davidson’s first big team selection for the Premiership opener at Tannadice.
“There are only a couple of us who haven’t worked under him before,” said Booth.
“We’re the ones who don’t have a problem calling him gaffer because we don’t know anything else. It’s not been as easy for some of the other boys, who have been slipping up.
“He was assistant manager for five years so old habits die hard, I suppose.
“For me, it’s been a case of trying to make a good first impression – with the gaffer and Macca (Steven MacLean).
“Training has gone really well. The sessions have been great.
“When we were talking about old players and coaches last season, the boys who played under the gaffer all spoke about how good his sessions were.
“I’d even heard it from mates in football who weren’t at St Johnstone. They’d heard about the gaffer as well.
“Training has been high tempo and really enjoyable.”