MACCA GOES OUT A LEGEND
Hearts-bound striker will leave with Saints’best wishes
Steven MacLean plants a kiss on the Scottish Cup Steven MacLean will leave St Johnstone with legendary status, according to manager Tommy Wright.
The experienced forward has committed to a pre-contract agreement with Hearts which is set to bring an emotional end to his time in Perth this summer.
MacLean will always be remembered for slotting home Saints’ second in their Scottish Cup final win against Dundee United in May 2014.
But his overall influence, both on and off the park, undoubtedly helped the McDiarmid Park side carve out a successful period in the club’s history.
“Hearts contacted us to keep us informed about speaking to Steven so I am resigned to the fact he’ll be going there,” said boss Wright.
“We can’t compete with what they’ll be able to offer wages-wise and also a two-year deal.
“I am delighted for him, he doesn’t owe me anything and he doesn’t owe the club anything either.
“I am pleased he’s getting an opportunity like this at this stage of his career.
“It has all been handled the right way so when he does leave he will go with everyone’s good wishes.
“He has played the most here than he has at any other club and will quite rightly be regarded as a legend at St Johnstone.
“Macca doesn’t look upon it like that, the way he thinks is he’s just done his job but he’s been key to the success we’ve had. Tommy Wright knows how influential Steven MacLean has been
“He’s been in the top six with us, played and scored in Europe and obviously the biggest goal of all was in the Scottish Cup final.
“It has probably surpassed anything he thought of when he signed.
“But time moves on for everyone and it’s unfortunate that it’s coming to an end.
“He has four games left to play for us and we will get plenty out of him before he leaves.”
Wright is aware that the 35-yearold will be missed. But he is also aware that pivotal players have moved on previously.
He said: “Macca leaving will leave a void but while he is a strong character in the dressing-room we do have other ones.
“His experience has been important for us, he’s not slow to give his opinions on and off the pitch.
“So there will be a void when he leaves but that’s football and it’s up to us to find someone else to come in.
“We have lost a lot of players from the cup final squad now but that’s a natural thing, the game moves on.
“Things change and it’s about how you manage it happening.
“We already have David McMillan, Chris Kane and Callum Hendry here but we will have to look at the attacking area.
“A lot will depend on who we can get in, we might look for someone who can play wide as well as up front.
“We have options and are looking at them, so we will be recruiting someone for next season.”
MacLean will have a big part to play in the remaining games of the Premiership season.
The post-split fixtures were announced last week with Wright saying:“Everyone has a moan at the fixtures but the anomaly is always there.
“People know about it at the start of the season, it hasn’t changed so there’s nothing you can do about it.
“We haven’t got the games we expected but you just have to get on with it.
“It’s a difficult thing for the league to sort out at times, it is what it is.”