Perth Plans Being Firmed Up

So the Saints go marching back to the Scottish Premiership in a single season. Always something difficult to do especially from such a competative league.

While other clubs like Partick Thistle showed promised it was St Johntone which prevailed. Manager Simo Valakari has been an engaging character who energised the Perth side to reach the top flight again. They won more games (20 out of 24), only lost three, scored the most (64 - 12 more than Thistle) and conceded the fewest (25 - 10 fewer than the Jags). Not too shabby a record to look back on.

Of course, it all will stand for little if they cannot stabalise and blood a few noses next season. The work for Valakari and his backroom staff will not stop at the end of the season. Plans will be firmed up; players identified that can bolster the squad and, sadly, some players will have to be told thay have to move on. Not a fun task on either side of those conversations.

For now, the St Johnstone players can relax safe in the knowledge that visits to Parkhead, Ibrox, Tynecastle, Easter Road and Pittodrie are set in the calendar for 2026-27.