ST JOHNSTONE assistant manager Tommy Wright admits he has “pulled rank” to ensure he isn’t getting it in the ear on match days.
Saints boss Steve Lomas is currently banished to the stands and can only communicate with the rest of the coaching team via a walkie talkie system.
He barks out a series of orders during a game, however it is Alec Cleland and not Wright who ends an afternoon with earache.
Wright said: “Obviously Steve is in the stand kicking every ball with the directors but he is in constant touch with Alec.
“I pulled rank and said I had dodgy hearing so Alec is the one with the earpiece! I get the instructions via Alec and pass them on to the players and it has been working well.
“I’m sure it is difficult and frustrating for Steve, and not ideal. It does restrict him but I know some managers actually prefer to sit in the stand.
“I remember Walter Smith at Rangers used to divide his time between the directors’ box and the dug-out. And there were times last season when Steve started off there before coming down to the touchline.
“He comes into the dressing-room for a pre-match talk with the players but has to be out an hour before kick-off.
“I can re-iterate anything he wishes to get across when the opposition team lines come through and have a say at half-time as well.
“The hook-up has been working fine, even at Central Park against Cowdenbeath on Monday. So far we have managed to avoid straying onto the same frequency as an ambulance, the police or a taxi company!”
St Johnstone travel north to play Aberdeen tomorrow in much better shape than last week when they faced Hearts with four players, Frazer Wright, Steven Anderson, Dave Mackay and Chris Millar, suspended.
The assistant boss added: “It was unusual having so many defenders out and if David McCracken hadn’t come back early from his cheekbone surgery we would have gone into the game without any recognised centre-backs. Tam Scobbie did well in there, using his experience to good effect.
“But we now have four games in 11 days, starting in Aberdeen and then heading for Dundee United on Wednesday.
“It is the same for everyone at this time of year and it is a spell when a few good results can be a huge plus.
“The players like the games coming thick and fast but it is all about making the most of the limited recovery time.
“This year we have the break in January so some of the lads have pencilled-in time with the family then.
“We are glad to get the cup tie out of the way because at one stage we feared there might even have been a chance we’d be asked to play on January 5.
“It would have been ironic if the SFA had given us a wee break and then taken it away!”
nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk