Ross Callachan admitted being made to feel wanted by St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright helped him make the hugely-difficult decision to leave his boyhood heroes Hearts to move to McDiarmid.
The midfielder joined Saints on transfer deadline day last week on a two-year deal, becoming his manager’s sixth signing of the summer.
The 24-year-old had fallen out of the picture at Tynecastle and hadn’t played for Craig Levein’s new-look side at all this season.
Now, Callachan, who joined Hearts from Raith Rovers for a fee of around £30,000 in August, last year, cannot wait to kick-start his career once more with St Johnstone, a club that came highly recommended to him by a certain Steven MacLean, the former Saints and present Jambos striker.
He said: “I knew that Tommy Wright liked me because he had been trying to sign me for a while.
“When St Johnstone were interested I knew I wanted to go there.
“As a player you want to play for a manager who likes you and wants you to be there.
“Tommy thinks I can come here and do well – hopefully I can do that for him.
“It was a bitter-sweet one leaving Hearts because I grew up as a fan and loved it there. The facilities, coaching staff and the boys were top drawer.
“The emotional attachment to a club is great. But when you’re put to the side and not getting recognised it isn’t great.
“Leaving was tough but I felt I had to do something and get playing again. That is the main thing.
“I don’t think there was a moment it turned at Hearts. I just stopped getting played as regularly.
“We came back and I knew things maybe weren’t going to be the same. That’s why I’m at St Johnstone.
“I had a brief chat with Steven MacLean and he said the boys are great and that it’s a great club. He thinks I can do well here.”
Twenty-four hours after Callachan signed for Saints, there was another arrival at McDiarmid in the shape of Danny Swanson, who joined the club for what will be his third spell in Perth following his release by Hibs.
And Callachan admits there is now big competition for places at his new club.
He added: “It didn’t really work out for Danny either with his time at Hibernian.
“We’re obviously hungry to go and kick-start our careers. And hopefully we can do that.
“You look at the squad on Saturday at Hamilton, it’s really strong. With myself and Danny signing, we’ve added to the strength in depth.
“It’s good because it means there is competition for places when you have two or three good players in one position. That is going to spur everyone on.
“I want to be part of a team where I’m playing. When you’re not, there is nothing worse as a footballer.
“You feel like you are going in every day and not doing your job.
“It’s the right decision to come to St Johnstone and a good one because I feel right at home straight away.”
