As one era begins at St Johnstone, another has ended.
New manager Steve Lomas took charge on Thursday the same day long-serving club chairman Geoff Brown announced he is stepping down.
Brown said he feels the time is right to hand over control of the club to son Steve with Saints currently sitting in a position of strength in fourth place in the SPL.
However, he stressed the team will always retain a special place in his heart and he will still be attending games as a committed fan.
He said: ”You have to ask yourself: ‘Where can I take the football club now?’ I have stood back to let my son and vice-chairman Steve go on the SPL board and that kind of stuff.
”If you are going to be there, you must have the energy to do that sort of thing.
”When is the right time? We are sitting on a high. I don’t think we have ever been in a better position at this time in the season so, hard lines guys, I am taking the glory!”
Brown said that with manager Derek McInnes having gone to Bristol, it is an “opportune moment” for wider change. But he will still be a regular fixture around McDiarmid Park.
”I will still be at the football club,” he said. “I don’t think my wife Joyce would want me at home on Saturdays!”
Brown has many fond memories of his time in charge of Saints. However, he admitted to being disheartened as he surveys the money problems currently confronting the game in this country.
He added: ”The financial state of Scottish football saddens me. It is ridiculous and completely out of control.
”Really, it goes back to the Sky money going into the English Premier League and people trying to compete. From where I was in 1986 and now, things have got worse rather than better.
”I have seen a number of guys go and waste their money. It never ceases to amaze me how people think they can come into football and not run it as a proper business. Two and two are the basics.
”If you pay out 10 you can’t pay your bills and that is what’s happening to the majority not the minority of clubs.”
His son and successor, Steve, will be working closely with Lomas and the new manager wasted no time in insisting that the foundations put in place by his own predecessor Derek McInnes mean he expects nothing less than a top-six finish from his players this season.
Lomas, who played for Manchester City, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers as well as Northern Ireland, said: ”I think this is a club that likes to bring in young managers and give them an opportunity. Derek was here for four years and Owen Coyle before that. They did well and I think a lot of credit for that has to go to St Johnstone.
”I have spoken to both of them and they were very positive about the job. They had a great rapport with Geoff but, with him standing down, I am sure I will have a similar relationship with Steve going forward.”New manager keen to get startedLomas admits the chairman’s decision took him by surprise.
“When Geoff revealed his decision, I was afraid it was something I’d said in the negotiations!” he said.
Lomas added: ”Geoff will not be far away though he is Mr Perth and he will still be around if I need some advice. But we kick on now. I am ambitious and I want to do well.
“I had a couple of other offers during the summer but they didn’t quite work out. I am a believer in fate and I think they fell through for a reason and this opportunity is by far and away the most attractive.
”It is unusual to come into a club that is doing well and that is credit to Derek. There are good foundations here not just in terms of the players but in the team behind the scenes.
”I am just keen to get in and start working with the players.”
Lomas’s first test comes in a Monday night match against Aberdeen and despite revealing he has some first-hand knowledge of his squad having played against three of them in England, the 37-year-old stressed everyone will start with a clean slate and be given the opportunity to impress.
He said: ”I have had a chance to look at the squad and I think there is a lot of experience there and competition for places. I think I played against Peter (Enckelman), Callum (Davidson) and Jody (Morris). He kicked me and I think I kicked him back a few times!
”Seriously, he is a great character to have as captain of the club and I have spoken to Jody already. I am sure he will help me out in any way possible. Everyone will have a clean slate, we will work together and kick on from where we are.”
Lomas has limited managerial experience having only been reserve coach at West Ham and boss of non-league St Neots. And while admitting he is far from the finished article, he says he is determined to learn as quickly as possible.
”St Neots have fantastic facilities and it is a great club,” he said. ”I was doing my coaching qualifications and just thought ‘lets get down into the muck and bullets’ of non-league and be a manager.
”I knew I wouldn’t be relying on money the challenge was taking a team and moulding it myself through my coaching and man-management. I felt I did that and we were unlucky not to win the league. It was a great experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
”It will be a learning process because I am a work-in-progress but I’ll get the team where we want to be through hard work.”