They’ve been an integral a part of St Johnstone’s current success.
And yesterday Perth gamers Steven Anderson and Murray Davidson prolonged their keep at McDiarmid Park.
The lengthy-serving pair have remained loyal to a membership which continues to punch above its weight and supervisor Tommy Wright was thrilled to get the offers achieved.
“We’ve got secured Steven Anderson and Murray Davidson on contract extensions to 2018, with the choices of an extra yr,” he informed the Perthshire Advertiser.
“They’re two necessary gamers. They’ve performed a serious half within the success we’ve got had.
“It is vital that we hold nearly all of the squad collectively and look to usher in high quality as properly.
“We now have tied-up Michael Coulson and Keith Watson already and I hope to usher in one other three, probably 4. We’ll see if a number of the youthful ones step on top of things in pre-season.
“Murray is the kind of participant who’s troublesome to get these days. You take a look at the quantity of floor he covers in video games. He can deal with the holding position however he prefers to press the sport and get on the top of deliveries into the field.
“His power ranges are excellent and he has chipped in with objectives. He’s the kind of participant who can be very troublesome to exchange.
“And Ando is an out-and-out defender and he has had one other good season.
“Each maximise the power they’ve been given. They work extraordinarily arduous, they’re good professionals and each detest dropping.”
Wright additionally confirmed yesterday that Saints are all in favour of signing 29-yr-previous Dundee United midfielder Paul Paton.
“We needed to make clear his state of affairs and obtained in contact with United,” he stated. “We have now had one dialog and we intend to talk to him once more over the subsequent few days.
“We would have liked affirmation that he was free to go away as a result of he has one other yr on his contract.
“That appears to be the case. We’ve got choices however he’s one we’re speaking to. Wanting on the success we now have had who wouldn’t need to come right here?
“However I’ve a choice to make on Ryan Dow and can in all probability make that over the subsequent few days. I don’t see any level in letting it drag on.
“We nonetheless have targets that I need to usher in and we’re nonetheless engaged on gamers right here.
“I need to make certain the squad is robust sufficient to compete, to push for prime six once more and problem within the cups.”
The character proven by his gamers up to now 4 video games has happy Wright. And now, with Saints heading to Tynecastle on Sunday, he needs to finish the season in type.
He stated: “Our report towards the highest-half groups this season has been excellent and ending fourth is an unimaginable achievement.
“We have now the second-greatest document towards the highest six however are tenth when it comes to video games towards the underside half.
“We’ve got completed rather well because the cut up and will probably be even higher if we will make it 5 wins in a row. We’ve got completed nicely towards the so-referred to as greater golf equipment.
“When it comes to the cut up, it has proven the character of the gamers. What’s driving them isn’t cash, they needed to complete as excessive as potential. They’re the fourth-greatest staff within the nation.”