Stevie May departure worries Tommy Wright

Stevie May celebrates his hat-trick against Dundee United earlier this season. Picture: SNS

Tommy Wright admits he has to offload before he can strengthen his St Johnstone squad, and remains worried the club won’t be able to resist a bid for top goalscorer Stevie May.

The Perth manager, who has already lost Swansea City loan star Gwion Edwards and short term Bosnian international Sanel Jahic, wants to bring in another striker during the transfer window. But he admitted: “It’s quite simple for us. We need to get people out before we can bring people in and that hasn’t changed.

“We are looking, we are looking for a striker because I think that’s important, and I’ll be meeting the chairman to put a few options to him. But, as always – and it’s the right policy – the finances have to be right for the club.”

Wright has brought in Michael O’Halloran from Bolton and tied-up midfielders Gary McDonald and Scott Brown on extended deals. But his biggest fear is a late swoop for 15-goal May, who has already attracted interest from Peterborough and Rotherham this term. That would leave him scrambling about for a replacement.

“Hopefully we can keep Stevie. If he goes early in the month, at least it gives you time and your resources will obviously improve because he’ll have gone for a sum of money. But there’s been nothing for Stevie and it’s all quiet. And any offer would have to be the right one for the club and for the player.

“Stevie is happy here and he did say when he re-signed that he wanted to spend at least one season in the SPFL so I don’t think he’s in any rush to go. He knows there’s a lot to play for this season and we’re in a position where we can have a really good season.

“Of course we would have liked to have picked up more points over Christmas, as will half a dozen other clubs, but I trust these players. They have been through the mill a lot and they know what it takes to get in that top six.”