DROP WOULD RUIN SAINTS’ GOLDEN ERA
CHRIS MILLAR fears the legacy of St Johnstone’s golden decade could be tainted by relegation from the Premiership.
A civic reception is planned in Perth to mark the 10th anniversary of Saints winning their first ever Scottish Cup in 2014.
Millar was the driving force in the engine room of Tommy Wright’s side when they beat Dundee United 2-0 in the Hampden Final.
But as Saints battle to avoid a relegation play-off this season, the midfielder warned his old club’s players they’re fighting for their livelihoods.
Only Celtic have won more significant pieces of Scottish silverware in the last decade than Saints.
Wright, Millar and the other 2014 heroes will be reunited at the Perth Concert Hall on November 30 to honour their Cup win.
Millar’s worry is that by then his former club will be taking on the likes of Queen’s Park and Airdrie in the Championship rather than the Old Firm.
Saints have dropped 17 points in their last seven league games, a run that has seen them slump to one point above secondbottom side Ross County.
And Millar is keeping his fingers crossed that Craig Levein can keep them up.
He said: “When you look at the league table then it’s safe to say that Livingston will definitely go down automatically.
“That leaves the play-off place. Aberdeen and Motherwell have enough about them to get out of trouble, which just leaves Saints and County. Saints are the second- lowest scorers in the division, with only 21 goals in 30 matches.
“If you’re not putting the ball in the net at one end while conceding at the other then you have a serious problem.”
Millar reckons the Perth board will have regretted dismissing Wright and his replacement Callum Davidson, who steered the side to a remarkable Cup double in 2021.
He said: “The last 10 years have been Saints’ golden era but they parted company with Tommy too quickly.
“Davidson replaced him and became even more successful but they let him go as well and I don’t think my old team-mate Steven McLean got enough time.
“They have three games before the split against Dundee, Hibs and Killie.
“For me, the Dundee game is as important as any of those cup finals.
“It’s a Tayside derby so I’d like to think the fans will come out and support the team. The players need to take responsibility for where the club are too.
“They’re fighting for their livelihoods now.”
Miller, now coach at Troon, never had to worry about the drop in his 10 seasons in the Fair City.
He said: “The lowest we finished was eighth but we were usually in the top six and qualifying for Europe.
“In fact, my only relegation was last season at Kilwinning Rangers.
“That hurt – but for St Johnstone it would hurt a lot more and put a dampener on our big night.”