St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes will not be leaving the Perth club to take over the vacant manager’s position at Brentford.
“All I can say is that I’m going to go away in the summer then come back and speak to the manager.
“I have no offers elsewhere. If I decide to stay in England I’d like to think some good reports have filtered down there and people know my old legs are still active.
“But nothing is set in stone.”
The news that McInnes is staying may play a part when it comes to make your mind up time for Duberry.
The big defender said, “The manager has earned his links to whoever is interested in him. When you do well that is what happens. The speculation does not disrupt us. It’s like a broken record now.
“We just brush it off and make a joke with him in training. It doesn’t affect us.”
As for whether McInnes should be aiming his sights higher than an English first division club, Duberry said, “You are only as good as who wants you.
“If he goes down there he’ll have to prove he’s better than that.
“From what he’s done up here, with the finances he’s working with, maybe someone will look and say, ‘Here we go, we’ll give him a bit more and see where he can take us’.”
McInnes has told the London outfit he wants to “formally withdraw” from the interview process, according to a statement issued by Saints.
He had spoken to Brentford last week but their offer wasn’t tempting enough for him to accept the job, and he has decided to draw a line in the sand. It is understood Rangers skipper Davie Weir is a front-runner for the post.
Saints chairman Geoff Brown is relieved that his much sought after manager will not be moving on for the time being.
He said, “Obviously as far as I’m concerned it’s the correct decision. From what I understand they made Derek a very attractive offer but he has a young family and he would have had to uproot them to London.
“I think he weighed up the pluses and minuses. I also believe that he’s worthy of a Championship club in England.
“I’m sure this won’t be the last time a club comes in for Derek because I think there’s no reason why he can’t go on and emulate Owen Coyle.
“This is great news for St Johnstone and hopefully he’ll get the backing of our supporters as he looks to rebuild the squad in the summer.”DuberryMeanwhile, the emotional attachment that Michael Duberry has formed with St Johnstone could yet persuade him to extend his stay in Perth, but the prospect of spending long spells away from his family for another year is pulling the veteran defender back to England.
The former Chelsea and Leeds man lingered longest on the McDiarmid Park pitch at full-time after Saints’ last home match of the season against Hamilton Accies to applaud the fans.
However, whether it is just goodbye for the season or farewell for good has yet to be decided by the out-of-contract 35-year-old.
“It could be my last home game. I treated it like my last,” he said. “I don’t know what my decision is. The fans gave me a good reception and I repaid the compliment. I have a brilliant relationship with the supporters here, they have been so good to me.
“This club came to me when I was nowhere. I had fallen out of love with football during my time at Wycombe, but the love I’ve had here from the fans, the staff and the players has lifted me immensely.
“But the main factor has to be my family. As much as I love the fans and the way they have treated me, my home life has to be the main deciding factor.”
“That is what I will have to make my decision on. My family are down south and I’ve gone four or five weeks at times without seeing them. That’s the longest time I’ve ever been away from them and it’s a strain.”
This time last year it was expected that Duberry would be moving on, but McInnes used his powers of persuasion to good effect and he was convinced to give it another year.
The hope for Saints is that it will be the same story 12 months on.
Duberry said, “Last year I played the season out and then sat down with the manager. We are going the same way this season. I get the questions from fans on Twitter all the time, asking what I’m doing.
Continued…