Enthusiasm was key to Steve Lomas choice

ST JOHNSTONE chairman Geoff Brown’s last act after 25 years in the job turned out to be unveiling former Northern Ireland midfielder Steve Lomas as the successor to Derek McInnes.

Brown said he was impressed by the enthusiasm shown by Lomas, much as he had been when appoitning McInnes and his predecessor Owen Coyle.

Brown said: “There was one man who never seemed to be off the phone or texting. He was very keen to get the post.

“We decided to meet up to interview him. Steve came up on Sunday where the four board members decided unanimously to offer him the job.”

Lomas, who will be assisted by former international team-mate Tommy Wright, had a brief but successful spell managing ambitious Southern League club St Neots Town before joining the coaching staff at former club West Ham.

And he was assured he was moving to the right club to begin his league management career after talking to Bristol City manager McInnes and Bolton manager Coyle.

Lomas spoke of the loyalty in evidence at McDiarmid Park, a characteristic he displayed throughout his club career.

“It’s the right time,” the former Manchester City and QPR midfielder said. “Even when I was playing I wanted to be a manager.

“I have done my licences and courses and got experience at non-league level. I coached the youths at Norwich and the reserves at West Ham. I had a couple of offers before this but I feel this is the right club.”

Lomas, whose first game is a Monday night SPL clash with Aberdeen, dismissed concerns about his lack of experience in Scottish football. “What I like is the passion, the enthusiasm and the commitment – that is something I think I had as a player,” he said.

“It’s a great game on Monday night to start with, live on Sky, pitting my wits against Craig Brown, who I know well.”

And Brown feels Lomas’ experience outside Scotland is a benefit. “We have always had to fish in the same pond as everyone else. What we were looking for is someone who can widen that and hopefully be able to bring in some talented players, whether it’s from Ireland or England.”