Lomas proud as punch about St Johnstone’s achievements

CRAIG ADDED: “So if you had said back then that we were going to be even close to challenging for a European spot, never mind qualifying, no one would have believed that.

“It has been a great progression but we have worked hard for it. It has not come easily for us.

“When we did get back into the SPL it was then about staying there. We finished eighth two years running and then managed to break into the top six last season. There have also been a couple of cup runs thrown in.

“So it has been a steady progression and an enjoyable one as well.

“Players have come and gone in that time but everyone has played their part in building the club up and, of course, a big shout goes out to the former management team of Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty for what they achieved here.

“When you look at the squad from that time it is only Kevin Moon and Steven Anderson who are still here, as well as myself.

“It has not been about one or two individuals – a lot of people have contributed to getting us where we are now.

“So this European experience is a reward for patience and hard work.”

Signed initially on loan from Falkirk, Craig is now one of the longest-serving players at McDiamid Park and his experience will be crucial tomorrow night.

“I have been here 4 years now and that’s a bit scary!” he joked. “But the club has been moving in the right direction in all that time and that’s why I have been more than happy to stay here.

“When first came in I only signed for a month but I was quickly listening to Derek and Tony and I wanted to be a part of what they were building.

“I am glad I am still a part

Iof it. Now we are about to open a new chapter with this trip toTurkey and I can’t wait.

“We don’t want to just make up the numbers against Eskisehirspor. That’s not for us.

“We want to ensure we are still in the tie when we come back home.

“We need to make sure that the occasion doesn’t beat us.

“The atmosphere is going to be good and hopefully we can rise to the challenge.

“We have managed to do that when we have gone to Celtic Park and Ibrox in the past. We actually relish being underdogs.”

Craig has watched on bewildered like the rest of us as the game has lurched from crisis to crisis over the last few months.

Now Saints have a chance to give everyone a boost by performing well on the big stage in Eskisehir.

They are, it seems, determined to take that opportunity.

“Scottish football is going through a hard time just now so if we can do something that helps then that would be great,” added Craig.

“It would be nice if we and the other Scottish sides in Europe could put a better spin on the game here because it is all negative just now.

“You are not reading much about the sides that are in Europe and it’s been overshadowed by all that has been going on recently.

“Let’s look at the positives and it is going to be a great week in the history of St Johnstone.

“It is my first time in Europe and that’s the case for a lot of our players but we have been speaking to the fans at functions and around the place and they tell you all about previous campaigns, Monaco etc.

“So we are aware of what it means to them.

“I hear we are taking a few hundred fans with us and that is brilliant for a club of our size. We don’t want to let them down.” ST JOHNSTONE boss Steve Lomas will be beaming with pride when he takes his seat in the dugout.

He will not just be proud of his players for qualifying for European competition for only the third time in Saints’ history but also of the club as a whole.

The Northern Irishman used a fighting analogy to describe how, in his view, the McDiarmid men have boxed clever over the years, both on the park and in the boardroom to earn the right to go for glory in Turkey tomorrow.

“I am never unhappy when people say we are punching above our weight as a club,” declared Lomas.

“I think that is a huge compliment to the lads personally and to their professionalism.

“It is also a compliment to the club.

“Through all this financial turmoil I think our club stands out there as a side that has been run fantastically well.

“Decisions that have been made have maybe been detrimental at times but in terms of the club being here now I think we can be proud of being something of a role model.

“We have shown that one of the smaller SPL clubs can punch above its weight.

“Thanks to Derek McInnes as well, we have come up to the SPL and stayed up.

“We then progressed to sixth place last season which was fantastic considering the budgets other clubs have.

“It think it all shows St Johnstone as a club in a very good light when you look at how bad the situation is overall.”