ST JOHNSTONE chairman Steve Brown was last night in talks to extend manager Tommy Wright’s stay with the Perth club.
And that has prompted Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson to admit defeat in his bid to wrestle the Ulsterman away from McDiarmid Park.
Thompson had the top-rated 52-year-old St Johnstone manager at the top of his list to succeed axed Jackie McNamara.
But opposite number Brown dug his heels in and refused permission for Tayside rivals to talk to Wright, who has headed home for a role as TV pundit for Northern Ireland’s crucial Euro qualifier with Greece at Windsor Park tonight.
After issuing a stern hands-off warning to United following a weekend approach from Thompson, Perth chief Brown wasted no time in tabling Wright a salary hike and a longer term contract.
Former No.2 Wright, who cut his managerial teeth in his native Northern Ireland with Limavady United, Ballymena United and Lisburn Distillery, stepped up to the managerial role two years ago when Steve Lomas left for Millwall.
And after bringing the Scottish Cup to Perth for the first time in Saints history last year, with a 2-1 final win over Dundee United, Brown hailed the one-time Newcastle and Manchester City goalkeeper “a miracle worker” who had eclipsed legend Willie Ormond’s status in Perth by ending a century-plus wait for national silverware.
Determined to hold onto a manager whose stock has risen further with back to back wins over Rangers, Dundee United and Aberdeen, Brown had warned Thompson he would be wasting his time with any further approach, insisting whatever United offered as compensation would be “flatly turned down.”
After being denied an opportunity to talk terms with Wright – and dangle the carrot of a substantial salary boost allied to the security of a long term contract to turn around a club currently languishing at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership table – Thompson has returned to his original shortlist of candidates.
With Wright ruled out of the running, Inverness Caley Thistle manager John Hughes has been installed as the bookies’ favourite, with former Kilmarnock and Finland manager Mixu Paatelainen, former Motherwell manager Stuart McCall and former West Brom manager Alan Irvine also linked with the Tannadice hot seat.
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