WRIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB Ex-Saint says his old boss would be great for Northern Ireland

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has been backed as the perfect replacement for Michael O’Neill as Northern Ireland boss by a club legend.

Scottish Cup-winning Saints defender Frazer Wright reckons the irish Football Association would be mad not to have Tommy at the top of their list, despite bookies placing him as fourth favourite.

Ex-Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough is the front-runner – having impressed as NI under-21 coach – to replace O’Neill, who stood down from his role earlier this week after eight years at the helm.

Current Fir Park boss Stephen Robinson and O’Neill’s Northern Ireland assistant Austin MacPhee are the other fancies.

But Frazer Wright, now second in command at Lowlands League side BSC

Glasgow, believes his old Perth manager is a perfect fit for Windsor Park.

He said: “Tommy is a proud Northern Irishman. He captained his country back in his goalkeeping days and spent time as a coach with Michael.

“Saints fans have been through this before when Michael was linked with Scotland, when he looked set to go to Birmingham and then again when he did join Stoke City.

“So they will be bracing themselves for more speculation about their manager.

“But it’s not surprising given Tommy’s track record. He has regularly finished top six and in 2014 we won the Scottish Cup for the first time in Saints’ history.

“But what he has done this season must rate among his best ever achievements.

“It can only push him further up the pecking order.

“He had to show a different side to his managerial qualities to take a team that was bottom of the league and favourites for relegation at the start of December to be seventh and looking good for another top six finish when the virus kicked in.

“People don’t see what a manager does behind the scenes day after day to get the best out of his players.

“He obviously had confidence in them but what a turnaround it has been over the last few months. And Tommy has the trust of the players.

“That is important whether you are managing a club or a country.

I can’t imagine Tommy won’t be under consideration to follow on from Michael, who has done a great job there.”