BRIAN Easton does not want Tommy Wright to leave St Johnstone but he realises that’s what managers tend to do at McDiarmid Park.

They don’t get sacked. That’s how other clubs behave. The Perth club have a superb record of spotting managerial potential so instead they tend to be poached. Owen Coyle and Derek McInnes learned their trade there before leaving for Burnley and Bristol City respectively, while, most recently, Steve Lomas was headhunted by Millwall. This allowed Wright to take the reins in June 2013, and since then he has hardly put a foot wrong. He won them the Scottish Cup in 2014, and it’s little wonder that he has been mentioned as a leading contender to replace Jackie McNamara at Dundee United.

However, Easton spoke for all the players at St Johnstone, who drew Morton away in the last eight of the League Cup, when he expressed his desire that the Northern Irishman stayed for the time being.

“It’s no surprise that the manager’s name is being linked with other clubs,” said the left-back.” The job he has done at St Johnstone over the last couple of years has been outstanding. Hopefully he will still be with us. It’s a great set-up at Saints, with a great group of lads and great coaching staff.

“We are gathering a bit of form now and we want to get a wee run going. It is inevitable that he will be able to make a step up to a bigger team one day and do well. He is very good tactically and is a great man-manager as well. He has definitely got it in him to do well. There will be a few teams sniffing about him.

“St Johnstone have been fortunate with managers over the last few years. The chairman hasn’t had to sack anyone, because they have all done well before moving on. I’m not sure when it will happen but hopefully he will stay for a good bit into the future yet, anyway.”