Tommy Wright, the St Johnstone manager, last night denied being disrespectful to Rowan Vine and maintained that the player was fully informed the club could not afford to offer him a new contract.

Wright declined to get into an exchange of accusations with Vine but admitted he was disappointed that the striker criticised the club after joining Hibernian as a free agent. Vine, who scored seven times in 37 appearances to help the Perth club to qualify for Europe, said no-one from St Johnstone had contacted him at the end of the season to say he would not be getting a new deal. The 30-year-old said he had expected new terms after helping the team finish third and then insisted he was now at a "bigger and better" club.

Wright didn't rise to the bait on that pointed remark but refused to accept that Vine had been shown disrespect. "I think down the years people in football know the type of club we are. I just think the comments were uncalled for. I'm not going to get involved in a slanging match, he's delighted he's got a bigger and better club to go and play for. I've been in football 30 years and I'm not blase but I just don't see the point getting upset any more.

"It's disappointing because Rowan basically had no club last season and we gave him a good platform. I don't know why players do it: Rowan said he's at a bigger and better club now, so why worry about St Johnstone? He should be concentrating on what he has to do at Hibs."

St Johnstone's position was that a budget cut – because of reduced attendances last season and the absence so far of a title sponsor for the Scottish Professional Football League – meant that they could not afford to offer Vine a deal on the terms he wanted. Wright said that a letter had been sent to Vine on June 27, his agent had been informed, and chairman Steve Brown had been due to tell him in person.

"It certainly wasn't my job to tell him," said Wright. "But I was told he wasn't getting a contract because the budget was cut, we just couldn't have kept him, and there were no problems with that. I don't know Rowan is coming from, to be honest. He said Steve promised him something but I don't know how Steve could have promised him that because we knew we couldn't keep him. I like Rowan, I got a great text message from him when I got the job and I wish him all the best at Hibs."

Wright had no intention of letting himself be distracted from the preparations for tomorrow's Europa League second qualifying round, first leg tie against Rosenborg in Norway. Gregory Tade, Murray Davidson and Liam Craig have also left the club this summer, along with Vine, but Wright has added David Wotherspoon, Gary McDonald, Brian Easton and Rory Fallon. Stevie May's return, after a year in which he scored 26 times while on loan at Hamilton Academical, also gives the Wright another option in his first competitive game.

"Stevie has looked good," said Wright. "He's scored a lot of goals at Alloa and Hamilton over the last couple of years and the loans have served their purpose. Stevie was top goalscorer in the first division last season. It's exciting to have him back now. He's got loads of confidence in his own ability and he knows that I believe in him. Stevie will get his chance this season. The last two years have been planned out for him to be at the stage he is at right now."

The 20-year-old played against Eskisehirspor in the Europa League a year ago before former manager Steve Lomas loaned him out. He suffered a minor injury last week but will be in the 21-strong squad that travels today. "I had a wee bit of tightness in my hamstring but it is fine now and I am raring to go," said May. "We are all looking forward to the game. The boys are looking good and everyone is confident so fingers crossed we can do well.

"It is not going to be easy but the boys are buzzing. I never expected to be playing in the first Europa League game last season. It was great to get that taste of a different culture but then I went out on loan to Hamilton and really enjoyed my time there. They are a good club but this season I want to try to kick on and play here.

"Starting the campaign with another Europa League tie away from home is a bit special. The lads have done really well over the last two seasons to get us into Europe and this is the reward. It will be tough but hopefully if we can get right in their faces we can upset them and get through to the next round."