Ex-Distillery boss wants to raise a glass to another Cup fairytale

Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 00:00

ST JOHNSTONE assistant manager Tommy Wright knows what it’s like to buck the odds to lift silverware.

He worked miracles at financially crippled Lisburn Distillery in his native Northern Ireland to haul the club back from the brink and lift the League Cup trophy.

Now he’s settled into a Perth club which doesn’t have the bank manager breathing down their necks and would love to pen another cup fairytale.

Saints, managed by Wright’s fellow Ulsterman and long-time friend Steve Lomas, head for Tynecastle today hoping to emulate their cup victory over Hearts last season and an SPL win in December.

Former Manchester City keeper Wright believes they can upset the odds again. He said: “Saints have never reached a Scottish Cup final but they have reached a few semi-finals and maybe they’ve been a bit unlucky.

“At Distillery we hadn’t won anything for 20-odd years. You wanted to do well in the league and finish as high as possible but, realistically, there were always one or two clubs that were going to win the league.”

Wright took over the reins at part-time Distillery just before they were gripped by a cash crisis. he said: “For me winning that cup was massive because we were just one step from administration. We kept the club together and kept it going. It was almost as if it was reward for all the hard work.

“It all went wrong on Christmas Eve when the chairman walked out. There was no wages over Christmas. Then everyone under contract was paid a third of their wages or they could leave. It was pretty difficult but we didn’t lose one player. The cup run helped keep the club going.

“The way we looked at it was that if we stayed we would be saving the club. If the players had left they’d have been relegated and it would have gone out of business or had to revert to amateur status.

“That was a nice story and I think the cup usually brings a feelgood story. Supporters, players and staff really look forward to cup games. I think it gives us our best opportunity to get some glory and some silverware.”

After that experience, Wright admits McDiarmid Park is a breath of fresh air, with Saints strengthening during the January window and retaining their talismans, Fran Sandaza and Jody Morris.

“It’s a different culture here. This football club is run extremely well. You know the board won’t allow the club to get into financial difficulty. That’s something the club deserves a lot of credit for.

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First Green

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 04:40 PM

Only saw second half in which St J were very superior even with 10 men. Ridiculous sending off -first card should have been for Croft and second was very strict. Was turning point cause Saints tired at end and settled for draw, with 11 they`d probably have won. This was draw to keep Vlad happy-replay tickets already on sale no doubt so more chance of wages being paid by 16th..

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Libra Personified

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 04:12 PM

1-1 to 10 man Saintees. Hearts even had their favourite ref.

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Baldrick

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 07:05 AM

Very nice story. 5-0 to the Jambos.

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