‘John likes to talk a lot’: Wright dismisses Hughes
TOMMY WRIGHT had been the Premiership’s longest-serving manager when he stepped down at St Johnstone last summer, writes Ewing Grahame. Having returned to the fray with Kilmarnock in February, he is currently the oldest boss in Scotland’s top tier. He’s seen and done it all during a playing career which saw him keep goal for Newcastle United and Manchester City and win 31 caps for Northern Ireland. He’s also been a boss for 18 years and claims he’s immune to mind games.
Kilmarnock occupy the playoff position, one point above bottom club Hamilton Accies. This afternoon they host third-bottom Ross County, who are one point above the Ayrshire club. Two days ago Hughes claimed that all the pressure was on the home team today while last weekend Accies manager Brian Rice claimed that the authorities and officials had it in for his club. Wright is having none of it.
“I couldn’t listen to John,” he said. “John likes to talk a lot but I don’t listen to it. I think he’s trying to be an amateur psychologist or something but he can say what he wants: it doesn’t bother us. I think he’s maybe trying to influence referees.
“We’ll concentrate on what we’ve got to do and we know what that is. We know that we’ve got ourselves in this position – it’s not because of referees or budgets, it’s the fact we haven’t done well enough but there are three points up for grabs in this one and it’s one we believe we can win.”
Wright shrugged off Hughes’ attempts to wind him up with his comments. “Nothing surprises me in football anymore,” he said. “We’re just preparing as best we can for a tough game.” Injured pair Clevid Dikamona and Greg Kiltie return for Kilmarnock.