Frazer Wright’s St Johnstone career is at an end but he will be a forever-revered part of the Perth club’s history, according to manager Tommy Wright.
The Saints boss pointed out that it was in the veteran centre-back’s “best interests” to release the 35-year-old rather than keep him at McDiarmid as defensive back-up.
Wright will move to Championship side Dumbarton to prolong his career while he progresses with his coaching qualifications.
“It’s never easy when a player is leaving a club and this decision wasn’t taken lightly but I believe it is Frazer’s best interests,” Wright said.
“I think he agrees that in the long term it is the right move for him.
“We could have kept him here just in case we needed cover at some point in the season. But we have Steven Anderson coming back soon.
“I spoke to Frazer a couple of weeks ago because I felt that there would be limited opportunities for him to be playing here and that was far from ideal at this stage of his career.
“I genuinely believe the right decision has been made. He can go to Dumbarton and train two nights a week and play on a Saturday. Playing every week will benefit him. Going part-time might prolong his career for another year.
“Frazer is also starting his coaching badges so this will be a good transition towards a career in management. This move will help him take the next step in his career.
“A League One club expressed an interest in giving him an assistant manager’s role.
“But Dumbarton are playing at a higher level, he knows Steven Aitken and they were interested in getting him over the summer. I believe there could be coaching opportunities for him as well. He is starting his coaching badges next week.”
Wright added: “I have said I am more than happy to let him come in one day a week and help out here. It is down to Frazer.
“I don’t make that sort of offer to every player who leaves the club but Frazer has been a fantastic servant to St Johnstone in his time here.
“The centre-back combination of Frazer Wright and Steven Anderson will be etched forever in club folklore because they formed a formidable defensive partnership.
“They helped win the Scottish Cup for the first time in St Johnstone’s history and Frazer scored a memorable winning goal in our Europa League win against Rosenborg.
“He has been at the heart of a very solid defensive unit. Frazer has a big heart and is someone that will be missed around the place.”
There was nothing to report yesterday regarding a new signing.
“We are always looking to improve the squad but it remains to be seen if anything happens before the window shuts,” Wright said. “I am probably in the same position as a lot of other managers.
“We have eight out on loan and Frazer and Dylan Easton have left. The young lads have been doing well and the development loans will be assessed again in January.”
Reflecting on Saturday’s first three points of the Premiership campaign against Motherwell, Wright noted: “It was good to get that first win under our belts. It was important and it was deserved. We were the better team over 90 minutes. Hopefully we can now build on it.
“There seemed to have been a sense of doom and gloom for some reason. I’m not sure why because we were just four games into the season. But crucially it wasn’t shared by the players.”
Wright was satisfied to see the preparation on the training ground in the build-up to the match paying off.
“We worked with Macca during the week flagging up the good balls Michael is getting into the box,” he explained.
“We wanted someone getting across the front post so it was good to see that come off.
“I was pleased for him because it gets certain people off his back about his scoring record. But he brings so much more to the team than goals. There is so much more to Macca than putting the ball in the net. That is why I was playing him even when he wasn’t scoring.”