Former team-mate Weir’s words of warning for new Saints gaffer Davidson
Jim Weir has warned Callum Davidson he will notice a world of difference on making the switch from No. 2 to boss in his own right.
Forty-three-yearold Davidson was unveiled as
St Johnstone’s new manager on Thursday, taking over the post left vacant by the departure of Tommy Wright last month.
It is a move that got the thumbs-up from his old Saints skipper Weir, who sees him as the ideal choice to lead the Perth club in uncertain times.
However, he cautions that his own experience of stepping up from being an assistant-coach under Owen Coyle, to leading Montrose in the lower leagues, tells him his friend is going to need to adopt a completely different mindset.
“Becoming a manager is a shock to the system,” said Weir.
“Basically, overnight you become the man who has to crack the whip, where before you just had to go fetch it.
“Suddenly the responsibility for how this group of players performs is on you.
“It is all-consuming. The job is on your mind, night and day, you are always thinking what would happen if I change the formation, or bring this or that player in?
“There is a good side to it. I like to be the one making the decisions, so it was a good fit in that respect.
“But it is intense and you do feel the pressure in a way that I just don’t believe you get as an assistant.
“There is a feeling of it being down to you, which doesn’t apply when you are there mainly in a supporting role.”
Weir, who went on to add spells as manager of Arbroath, Brechin City, Elgin City and Forfar, is frank in admitting that he doesn’t know how Davidson will take to what is the most-stressful position in the sport.
“At the moment, all we are doing is guessing,” Weir continued.
“What we can say for certain is that Callum has had the perfect preparation for the role.
“He had a great playing career. I remember when I first arrived at Saints, he was this teenager that they had high hopes for.
“He actually scored the winner against Ayr United in my debut.
“But then he dropped out of the side to concentrate on his exams.
“Of course, he got back in and did so well for Saints that he got his move down south (to Blackburn Rovers for £1.75 million) where he played for well over a decade before coming back to Perth.
“That all helps, and his coaching credentials are first-class.
“He was a big part of Saints’ Scottish Cup success, has worked back down the road with Stoke and has even helped out with Gordon Strachan and the Scotland national team.
“So Callum has ticked all the boxes. He is getting this opportunity on merit, and it is a good chance at a club who are very well-organised.
“Now we just have to wait and see what he makes of it.”