St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright took time out from his side’s preparations for their Europa League tie against Rosenborg on Thursday to hit back at comments made by former Perth player Rowan Vine.
The English striker left McDiarmid Park at the end of last season and has now joined Hibs.
However, as Vine was formally unveiled at Easter Road on Monday, he took the opportunity to accuse St Johnstone of keeping him in the dark over whether he would be awarded a new contract and said: “Hibs are a much bigger club in my eyes and a better one.
“I thought Saints handled my departure quite poorly. In the summer, I felt a bit disappointed at the way they had gone about it.”
Wright insists St Johnstone acted correctly in their dealings with the player.
He said: “I read what Rowan said. I would dispute what he says but I’m not going to fall out with him.
“I’m happy with what we’ve got here and he should be happy with what he’s got at Hibs.
“I liked him when he was here, he did well for St Johnstone and this club did well for him.
“He sent me a text congratulating me when I got the job and wished me all the best.”
The manager added: “I was surprised to read what he said because we get on well but that’s life. I certainly won’t be falling out with him over it.”
One of the players tasked with filling the striking void left by Vine’s departure is 20-year-old Stevie May.
The youngster has spent the last two seasons out on loan at Alloa and Hamilton but Wright is set to hand the player his big opportunity to stake a claim for an extended run in the Saints first team this season.
The manager said: “Stevie has looked really good. He’s basically like a new signing for the club. He’s scored a lot of goals at Alloa and Hamilton and the loans have served their purpose.
“Stevie was the top goalscorer in Division One last season and it’s exciting to have him back at St Johnstone now.
“He’s got loads of confidence in his own ability and he knows that I believe in him.
“He’ll 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.
“He’s a better player for the last two years. We know what he’s capable of, he’s confident he can do it at this level, now the challenge is for him to show it.”
Neil Robertson is with St Johnstone in Norway. See his reports in The Courier