Wright on the attack over window misery

ST JOHNSTONE manager Tommy Wright yesterday voiced his frustration at the club’s inactivity during the January transfer window.

And speaking before the club agreed to sell star winger Matty Kennedy to Aberdeen, the exasperated Saints boss is washing his hands of responsibility for the Perth club’s lack of new signings.

Wright, who clocked-up his 300th match at the helm in the 1-0 midweek loss to Livingston, had hoped the recent low-key appointment of Kirsten Robertson as head of football operations by chairman Steve Brown would signal an end to last-gasp wheeling and dealing.

But in advance of a clash with Robertson’s former club Kilmarnock, a frustrated Wright made it clear his hands are tied.

And the Northern Irishman admits Brown would be better changing his job description from manager to coach.

‘There’s only seven days of the window left and I don’t think I have ever been in this position before,’ said Wright, a Scottish Cup winner who enjoys the best track record of any St Johnstone manager in history.

‘I have to be honest, it just beggars belief. The hope seems to be that I’ll keep pulling rabbits out of the hat in the last week of the window. But I know one thing, I’m not taking responsibility for this transfer window.

‘Maybe the club should change my title to head coach. Look, I am at a point where I think honesty is the best policy. It has not been a good window for us.

There have been changes made here and, in general, I thought the club was going in the right direction. But there has been no change in terms of planning for the transfer window.

‘I feel as though a lot of the football decisions are being taken away from me. It is a frustrating time. I can only give recommendations. That’s my job. But, in general, my proposals in football matters have been overlooked.

‘And it goes beyond anything I have had to experience before. You can’t kid people. I haven’t been given the authority to go ahead and sign anyone, end of story. So, the next week is critical for us. Let’s see what happens. But I am not a defeatist. I will fight and fight. That is what I do. It is what I have always done. And that hasn’t changed.’

Kennedy had already agreed a pre-contract deal to move to Aberdeen in the summer but that switch will happen now after the Dons yesterday agreed a fee for the winger, who has scored five goals this season.

A Saints spokesman said: ‘It was agreed by the manager and the board that it would be in the best interests of all involved for the offer to be accepted.

‘The club will continue its efforts to aid the manager in strengthening his squad in this registration window.’

Wright, who yesterday secured Inverness defender Jamie McCart on a pre-contract for next season, has already shipped out fringe midfielder Ross Callachan to Dundee. And he had targeted an experienced defender to help the club maintain their top-flight status. His troubles have been exacerbated by a broken arm for Murray Davidson, which will rule out the midfielder for up to eight weeks. ‘Murray will be a huge loss.

‘It was just an unfortunate accident,’ said Wright. ‘Everyone knows what he gives us in terms of physicality.

‘But he is also good in both boxes, he can nick a goal and he is a leader who gets the team going in quiet moments in games.

‘It is hugely disappointing for the club and the player, especially at a time when we have so many games coming up.

‘We have gone with a smaller squad this season, certainly the smallest in the last eight or nine years at this club.

‘It is getting even smaller now. I have two or three replacements lined up for Murray, which I think I can get. But I haven’t been able to get a player in during this window yet.

‘I have put the question to the necessary people but I am waiting for answers.

‘But I have already been waiting for answers on getting players in.

‘All I get told is get players out. That’s all there is. We have done a pre-contract but that is all.

‘This window can be good because it gives players a lift to see people coming in.

‘I think everyone else has made signings, apart from Rangers and they don’t really need them.

‘I am not really worried about anyone else, though. I am worried about us because we have done nothing. I have lost out on players because we are not in a position at this moment in time to make offers.’