Boss Wright in support of decision on reserve side

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright has backed the club’s decision to ditch their reserve team.

Chairman Steve Brown confirmed in a statement that Saints will instead send their up-and-coming players out on loan to clubs outwith the Premiership.

Wright confirmed that the two key people at McDiarmid Park – manager and chairman – are singing from the same hymn sheet, having both become disillusioned with the set-up.

He said: “I championed the Reserve League but it hasn’t worked out the way we hoped it would.

“We have looked at it and concluded that our success with young players has been from using the loan system.

“So that’s where we are going to focus our attention now and I think that is the best way forward for St Johnstone.”

Turning his focus back to firstteam matters ahead of today’s visit of Livingston, Wright is convinced his players will keep fighting in the last three matches as they aim to secure seventh spot.

He added: “Keeping the lads focused has never been a problem and we have always finished the season strongly.

“When we were in the top six we had some great runs after the split and I’m looking for another good end this time round.

“We still have things to play for and the players have bonuses to play for.

“But more than that, I always think players of a good character want to win every game they play in.

“I think we have had a decent season. “We had a chance of the top six but fell short but we were never in any threat of relegation, and for that to have been the case for a decade now is a good achievement.

“That speaks volumes for how the players have done and how well the club has been run.”