A New Era Dawns at St. Johnstone

By Andreas Moor
for Scotzine.com

Published: June 25, 2009

fmheader300 It is the dawn of a new era at McDiarmid Park, as Andreas Moor takes charge of the Perth side. Tasked by the staff at Scotzine to take charge of a Scottish league side, I have been installed as St. Johnstone manager in the popular Football Manager 2009 game.

I have been given a one year deal with the McDiarmid Park side that will last till June 2009, worth £925 per week. However it seems that the media are already waiting to pounce on my ‘inexperience’ as they don’t think my credentials are up to the job! Romanov was right – they are all monkeys with typewriters!!

Budgets & Expectations

As for budgets at the club? I have been given a paltry £190,000 for transfers – well at least we don’t need to rely on money coming in from Setanta to help the club keep afloat, and have a wage cap of £12.25k p/w, to bring in new players. Despite the lack of a budget, the board demand the First Division title. It can be done, but the likes of Dundee and Partick Thistle will be my main rivals for the title.

So who are St. Johnstone, you may ask?

stjohnstone In reality they have just been promoted to the Scottish Premier League as they won the Division One title last season (Season 2008-2009). They were founded back in 1884, and play their home games at McDiarmid Park. Their best spell was during the 1990s, when they were plying their trade in Scotland’s top division. The last competition win was back in 2007, when they lifted the League Challenge Cup – this was before last season’s Division One title win.

Club Honours:
League Champions - First Division: 1982/83, 1989/90, 1996/97, 2008/09; Division Two: 1923/24, 1959/60, 1962/63.
League Challenge Cup Winners – 2007/08

As you can see St. Johnstone have not been very successful outwith the Lower leagues and this is my goal. To take them from the First Division as Champions, into the SPL and within a year or so of promotion, challenge for a European spot and hopefully thereafter challenge the Old Firm for the SPL title. It will be tough, but it could be done. Dreaming ain’t I?

Board Discussions

Even before I looked at my squad, I knew I had to find other ways of strengthening the side. The club’s training and youth facilities are average to say the least, and this is the main area in which I will aim to improve given the lack of a budget. There were no scouts at the club either, when I joined and so I have sent out a few feelers to find one or two, that will help me find the next wonderkid.

I have also talked with the Board and they are now actively looking for both a Parent club – maybe we could get the next Ronaldo or Kaka in our side for at least one season, here’s hoping – as well as a Feeder club, to find players with the potential to step up to the level of St. Johnstone.

Staff

While I would have gone into the club and changed the back room staff. Given the lack of cash available and potentially huge compensation fees to pay out, I have decided to stick with assistant Tony Docherty. Another aspect of keeping the 37 year old Scot on board is, he knows the players and their abilities better than I do – for the time being.

Players

I next had a wee look at the players at my disposal:

It definately needs strengthening. We have only one goalkeeper and despite the level of experience Alan Main has, he will not be free from injury so I will need a back up. I will also need to strengthen the attack by bringing in another striker or two, as well as a Left Back and possibly a dominant central midfielder. My assistant also concurs with me that the squad needs strengthening:

Pre-season Friendlies

I have also taken a look at the clubs upcoming pre-season friendlies. Five in all, with only one game at home which is against German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen on the 10th July. St. Johnstone will also face Cowdenbeath, Tranmere, Leyton Orient and Glentoran. Maybe another high profile friendly at home would be an idea.

Press Conference

With all this going on, the club has now arranged a press conference, so that the new manager of St. Johnstone can meet the media. Hacks from BBC Radio 5 Live, Daily Record, Sunday Mail and the Perth Football Free Press are in attendance. Here’s my chance to woo the hacks and put them in their place.