Blair Alston is confident he can add to the St Johnstone success story.
The Perth club’s new signing, who agreed a two-year deal yesterday, was an ever present for Falkirk in a season that lasted all the way through to the Premiership play-off final.
There will be a well-earned summer break for the 24-year-old midfielder but Alston will be ready for the challenge of becoming a first team regular in the top flight at McDiarmid Park.
And knowing how hard Saints boss Tommy Wright fought to sign him should help Alston hit the ground running.
“It’s massive to play at a club where you know the manager really wants you,” he said.
“From the moment I met him I could tell the kind of guy he was and he’s the type of person I want to play for.
“He’s told me what he’s looking for and to show the level of interest he did in me was a big factor in my decision.
“This is the first time I’ve had to make a decision like that because I’ve been at Falkirk my whole career.
“So to have someone with the kind of faith the gaffer here has in me then it’s a huge thing.
“He believes I can come here, develop and improve as a player.
“That’s my aim, I want to be as good as I can be and here I’m joining a club that has been really successful in the last few years.”
Alston added: “The team finished the season really strongly and having spoken to the likes of Tam Scobbie and Liam Craig I know what sort of place this is.
“I already know them and Joe Shaughnessy as well.
“They told me the dressing room here is very confident they can achieve what they want.
“Now that I have signed here I believe I can add to that and keep the place moving forward.
“I think I had a good season in the one just finished and I want to keep that going.
“I played in every match for Falkirk so it will be good to get a wee break, but now I’ve signed here I’m really looking forward to coming back and getting to know the boys.”
Having spent 10 years at one club, moving on was never going to be easy.
“I had a great time at Falkirk and it was hard to leave,” Alston admitted. “But at this stage I think this is a good opportunity to progress and play at a higher level.
“We hoped that we could have done it and got promoted but it wasn’t to be.
“Peter Houston was great for me, he picked me for every game and was excellent with me.
“He just lets you play and that suited me.
“He deserves the plaudits he’s getting because of the job he’s done with the budget there.
“It’s good to have things sorted out because there has been a lot of speculation since about January time.
“It was important that I just focused on Falkirk and finishing the season strongly before deciding what my next club was going to be.
“We had so many important games it was easy to focus on what we were doing.
“Now that it’s done I can’t wait to get started here.”
