As Saints get ready to head to Edinburgh for tomorrow’s IRN-BRU Cup tie against Hibernian, defender Gary Irvine is set for a tough encounter at Easter Road and although he knows that new manager Jack Ross won’t be physically present at the game as he fulfils his last duty with Alloa, Gary is aware that his new gaffer will be keeping close tabs on what is happening at Easter Road.
“It’s a wee break from the league going into a cup game which is always good. It’s a very tough fixture as Hibs have started well and obviously we’re going to Easter Road which is difficult.
“Like I say, with the way the week has gone with the new manager being appointed we know that his eyes will be on the game even though he is taking Alloa at the weekend. The boys will have that in their mind as well, that it is a fresh start for everybody with a new manager coming in and it is time to impress again and Saturday is the first time to do it.”
While Saints are the underdogs for tomorrow’s cup tie at Easter Road, Gary reckons underdogs are always in with a decent chance.
“I don’t really look at cup games like that because cup games are hard games for everybody, it doesn’t matter what team is in form in the league and what team is doing well going by where you are sitting in the league. A cup game can always cause upsets, the less favoured team can cause an upset and get the result and progress in the cup and go on a good run.
“At the end of the day everybody wants to win trophies in their career and it’s a cup game and we have got a chance to do that, that’s my frame of mind. I think everybody in that dressing room will be the same, you want to go out there and you want to win as many things as you can in your career and this cup game is no different.”
New manager Jack Ross will pick up his managerial duties next Monday and Gary is glad that the process of picking a new gaffer is over and everybody can start to move forward to try and progress the club again.
“It’s dragged on for maybe two, two-and-a-half weeks and it was just a new name every single day for the boys and naturally as footballers you start asking ‘what is this person like and what is that person like’. But now that we know who it is that is coming in and know that he has had a good career as a player and has had a good start to his management career as well, yes you start getting excited now. It’s back to a new manager coming in and back to everybody in that dressing room having to impress him now and be part of his plans and show him what each of us can do.
“There are small connections with things like Ben Gordon who is on loan at Alloa at the minute and also ex St Mirren players like Jim Goodwin so all these wee bits, not for myself personally, let the boys keep in touch with each other and you learn what kind of coach he is. But all that will be cemented by himself as he’ll come in and have his own ideas and take them out to the training ground. It’s alright hearing all the wee rumours but it’s what he does on the training pitch and I’m sure all the boys are looking forward to working with him.
“It’s always good in football, you’ll always learn in football. Every single day you will learn something new and when it is a new coach coming in it will be new ideas, fresh ideas and something different, all these things are good for players to come in and take on board what the manager is wanting, his style of play and his training methods. “
Tomorrow will see Allan McManus take temporary charge of the first team for the last time. Gary is appreciative of Allan’s efforts over the last few weeks.
“It’s been brilliant to be fair. He is an ex-teammate of mine from St Johnstone so I knew him really well and just to see his coaching methods you can see how much he has come on in coaching as well.
“All of the things he was doing over the last two weeks have been brilliant as the boys have taken to it. Again fresh ideas, a wee bit of fun and there was hard work there as well, I think the boys took to Allan really well. It was a great experience for Allan and the boys also really enjoyed it.
“He is doing a great job with the young boys in the youth set-up but it would be good to have him about putting in his ideas as well.”
The last couple of week’s Gary has taken on the captain’s armband due to the absence of Andy Webster, a role he has been honoured to take on.
“Throughout my career I’ve always fell into that position as being one of the names to take the armband and hopefully lead on the pitch for the other players. It’s always a good honour and a good thing as a player as well to have that armband and show that you are leading all the boys out.
“In the last couple of weeks, despite getting nothing at Dunfermline, I personally think that there was improvement there. Last week again we showed as we kept on digging in that we eventually got something from the game, so there were improvements there and when you are the captain and you’re feeling that there is a wee change in the team it is always a positive and it’s something to be proud of.”
