The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Legend Craig to take on coaching role at Saints
Liam Craig is ready to bring down the curtain on a stellar playing career. St Johnstone’s all-time appearance record holder has revealed he will be assuming a coaching role with the Perth club next season.
The veteran midfielder is convinced Callum Davidson’s side will complete a great escape via the Premiership play-offs.
Craig, who has clocked up 452 appearances for Saints in two spells, savoured a four-minute cameo from the bench in a 1-0 win over Aberdeen which evicted Dundee from the top flight.
And he could bring down the curtain on a 19-year career against former club Hibs tomorrow as boss Davidson wraps key personnel in cotton wool.
Craig, 35, was brought to Perth from Falkirk by Derek McInnes and helped end their exile from the top flight.
He missed out on a 2014 Scottish Cup win during a two-year stay at Easter Road. But Craig nailed down his legendary status with the Perth club with two trophy wins last term.
His decision to bow out marks the end of an era for a player who was the bedrock of teams bossed by McInnes, Steve Lomas, Tommy Wright and Davidson.
“That’s 19 years as a full-time footballer and I have always said that if the right opportunity came along to step into coaching, I’d think seriously about it,” said Craig.
“I was never worried about retiring and this just feels right.
“People say you should play for as long as you can and I definitely get that.
“But back in January there were a couple of opportunities to move on. I had good conversations with the manager and the chairman, Steve Brown.
“They made it clear I wasn’t going to play much football between then and the end of the season. But they didn’t want me to leave.
“There wasn’t going to be a playing contract going into next season, so there was a decision to be made if I did decide to retire from playing.
“Given the affiliation I have with the club, the board and the fans, this is where I want to be.
“I am in a fantastic environment to learn and develop, so it’s great the manager and the board wanted me to stay.”
Craig will assume the role of first team analyst and development coach.
He has already been edging towards his new role.
“It has been a case of training on a daily basis but starting to get an insight of what happens at a club behind the scenes that you don’t see as a player, when you tend to take things for granted,” he said.
“Speaking to Steven MacLean, who is a bit older than me, he has already made that transition.
“He is great to talk things over with. Alex Cleland and Paul Mathers have been the same with me.
“But I still have a couple of weeks left as a player. That is still my main focus.
“I am enjoying training every day and while Wednesday against Aberdeen was potentially my last appearance at McDiarmid, I can look back on 452 games and some incredible memories.
“I don’t know if the manager will want me to play a part against Hibs with the two huge play-off games coming up.
“But I am ready if called upon, whether it is 90 minutes, half an hour or another late cameo.”
Craig overtook defender Steven Anderson last year to top the all-time appearance charts.
But he has another record in his sights.
“I am one goal away from catching Macca as the club’s leading scorer in the top division on 47 goals,” he said.
“So if we get a late penalty and I’m on the pitch, I’ll be looking for the ball!
“But the most important thing is to make sure the core of the squad is ready for the two games coming up. They are huge for the club.
“Like everyone else here I want to make sure we are still a Premiership club next season.
“It is in our own hands now and we have to make sure we do it.
“After the highs of last season, this year has been tough. It has been disappointing.
“But over the 12 years as a player here there have been so many highlights.
“I have won three trophies, the old First Division under Derek McInnes and the two cups last season.
“Winning the League Cup at 34 was special. I had never won a cup, never even won any of the semifinals I was involved in.
“That was the most emotional one for me. I finally had a major trophy to show for my career.
“The Scottish Cup was just incredible, having missed out on the previous one when I was at Hibs.
“I had been back home by 6pm after the League Cup final and it was brilliant spending time with the family.
“But after the win over Hibs it was fantastic celebrating with the players.
“It’s just a shame we weren’t able to celebrate that success with the fans.
“I have probably enjoyed the last couple of years more than ever and not just because we won the two trophies last season.
“You appreciate it more as you get older and as the years speed by.”
Mark McGhee says Dundee Football Club “needs modernised” behind the scenes as the Dark Blues take stock following relegation.
The club is set to undergo a major change to the structure of the football department as technical director Gordon Strachan takes a more active role in first-team matters.
His responsibilities will now be more akin to a director of football.
What happens to McGhee, meanwhile, is less certain with his contract ending after tomorrow’s final match of the season at Livingston.
Dundee head to West Lothian with relegation already confirmed following St Johnstone’s midweek win over Aberdeen.
McGhee reiterated his wish to stay on longer, hoping for the chance to get the club back out of the Championship next season, despite just one win in 13 matches in charge.
“I will sit down with John (Nelms) and Gordon in the coming days and a decision will be made about what happens now,” McGhee said ahead of the trip to Livi.
“We will have all the information we need so we will just have to wait and see.
“I would love to be part of what I think is going to be a really bright future at Dundee because there is a lot of change coming.
“This club needs modernised, 100% – and it’s going to happen.
“It needs reorganised, more science behind everything we do rather than just being a bit random. Specific people doing specific jobs, people doing jobs they are qualified to do.
“We have to be determined about building a model and building a culture at the club because it has yo-yoed too much.
“The culture has to be improved, even the building is fragmented with people scattered right throughout the place.
“We need to find a way to get a proper structure, get everyone working as a team and with a common purpose, feeling valued.
“That change is coming – Dundee needs to find a line and stick to it.”
Though plenty of work is needed to turn the club’s fortunes around, McGhee insists the “raw materials” are already at Dens Park to bring success.
“I’d love the opportunity to bring them back up but it remains to be seen until we have that discussion,” McGhee added.
“The raw materials are here, recruitment is needed but that’s something being looked at and improved.
“How we do that, the science behind it and the determination to sign the right type and level of players is something that will be addressed.
“If we can get that right and add to the level of player we already have under contract here then I think we’ll have a squad that can bounce straight back.
“There are good young players here ready to come through – Josh Mulligan, Max Anderson, Fin Robertson and young Harry Sharp have all been in and around it doing well.
“They will all make real progress next season, being starters, and others will be coming through behind them as well.
“It’s about having an energetic, talented young team backed up by experience to help them out. I definitely think there is a lot of potential at this club.”