Tommy Wright has told his boyhood heroes Linfield thanks but no thanks because he wants to finish the job at St Johnstone.
It has emerged that the Saints manager is the top target for the Northern Irish side, who recently parted company with long-serving boss David Jeffrey.
A Windsor Park source was quoted as saying: “Tommy is highly regarded at Linfield. We appreciate it may be a long shot to lure him away from St Johnstone but he is held in high esteem.”
It is not just a long shot but a non-starter, with Wright confirming that he will be staying at McDiarmid Park.
The Ulsterman supported the Belfast club as a child and then spent four happy years there before moving to Newcastle. However, he wants to carry on the work he began in Perth when he took over the managerial reins from Steve Lomas last summer.
“It is flattering because Linfield were my first club and I have a great affinity to them,” said Wright. “Actually, I have been linked with the job in the past.
“It is a great job and they are the biggest and best club in the whole of Ireland.
“If I were working back home (in Northern Ireland) it would be a no-brainer because it’s such a good club with a great tradition and history.
“But I have a job at St Johnstone. I am only half a season into it and I see my future being where I am.
“I have a great relationship with the chairman and the people here at St Johnstone.
“I have also worked really hard to get a chance at this level and I want to see it through.
“I am enjoying it here and the job is very much a work in progress at the moment.
“There are a lot of challenges here and I’m focused on meeting them.
We have a lot to play for this season because we are going for the top six and are still in the Scottish Cup.
“I would love to be the first St Johnstone manager to win a trophy.”
Another significant reason behind Wright’s desire to stick around at Saints is the determination to bring fresh talent through the ranks.
He added: “I want to be here for the long-term as we are building things here with the young players.
“I have a great coaching team, with Callum Davidson, Alec Cleland, Steve Banks and Alastair Stevenson heading up the youths.
“We have not had a history of bringing through young players in the last while but that’s something we’ve been looking at.
“We’re trying to build something, we want to bring the age of the squad down but without weakening things.
“I’m hoping next season to have four or five of the younger ones playing regularly. So there’s plenty happening at St Johnstone and I’m happy where I am.”
One of those things happening was the handing of a new deal to central defender Frazer Wright, keeping him at McDiarmid until the summer of 2015.
Wright said: “Frazer has agreed a new one-year contract so that’s great news. He has been excellent for us over the last few years and it’s good to have him signed up until the end of next season.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Alan Mannus has spoken of his relief at returning from a hand injury to face Celtic on Sunday.
The 3-0 defeat wasn’t the result the big man wanted but he said: “I’m delighted to be back ahead of schedule. The Celtic match was three weeks to the day since I did it.
“I have a bit of metal that goes along my finger and I tape it and I have a spine as well that goes in the glove which holds my thumb in position.
“I feel like I could play without that but it’s just to be sure.”