St Johnstone won’t sack Callum Davidson but I fear he might quit, writes Kris Boyd
ST JOHNSTONE won’t ever sack Callum Davidson.
After everything he’s done for the club, there’s no way in this world Steve Brown would show his double Cup-winning manager the door.
But if results don’t turn in the next two games, I wouldn’t be surprised if Davidson decides to quit and walk away.
I hope that’s not how things turn out.
He is a good guy and it would be a travesty if he ends up leaving Saints after winning two trophies last season.
He’s a legend at McDiarmid Park and, for me, that won’t ever change.
Whatever happens, his status with St Johnstone is rock solid, and there’s absolutely nothing that can alter that.
But right now Davidson’s team is struggling and struggling badly.
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They are rooted to the bottom of the Premiership, having lost their last nine games on the spin.
Their last victory was way back in October when they beat Dundee United at Tannadice.
Since then it’s been defeat after defeat and it’s just not been good enough.
But I don’t pin that slump on the manager. In my book it’s down to the players there, and their performances as individuals more than anything.
You certainly can’t tell me Davidson is doing anything differently from last season.
He’s not the type of guy to have let that success of lifting the League Cup and Scottish Cup go to his head.
You probably won’t find a more grounded and level-headed manager in the whole country.
But what about the players?
Can they look themselves in the mirror and say they are giving their club, manager and supporters everything they have got?
Players go through bad spells. Everyone can lose form.
But the way out of that is to roll the sleeves up and work harder than ever, and I’d question whether the guys at St Johnstone are doing that.
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If that’s an accusation that stings then it’s time they proved to everyone they are fighting tooth and nail to get points on the table and climb upwards.
On Saturday it’s the Scottish Cup and a difficult tie against Kelty Hearts.
It’s almost unimaginable to think the trophy holders could lose to a team from League Two. But at the same time, you wouldn’t put it past Saints right now.
If that happens then I’m afraid Davidson takes another step towards the exit door.
But defeat won’t be enough to see him go.
It’s the midweek league clash with Dundee that’s the be-all and end-all.
So, as strange as this may sound, I think that’s the one he will be thinking about on Saturday.
If there are players in his squad who have slight niggles then I don’t think they will be risked against Kelty.
As things stand, Saints are two points adrift of second bottom Dundee and SEVEN away from safety.
To lose to James McPake’s side at home on Wednesday would be a disaster, and I think it would be enough to see Davidson walk.
The flip side of that is if Saints win then it’s the Dens boss who could then be facing the exit door himself.
But for Davidson there must be a real frustration that things were so good last year and so desperate this year.
He lost two of his best players, of course, with Ali McCann and Jason Kerr moving on last summer, and they have both been massive losses.
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With McCann in the middle of the park Murray Davidson, Liam Craig and Craig Bryson were able to feed off his energy.
But now he’s away, they are all a year older and not having the same influence on matches.
That was always the danger when McCann and Kerr were sold.
St Johnstone added to their bank balance and their finances are now in great shape, which I’m sure is one major relief to the chairman and board of directors.
But being cash-rich hasn’t helped them win games of football.
In some ways, being so successful last season has worked against them because of the guys who moved on and weren’t properly replaced.
Saints aren’t a club that’s ever going to attract top players, even after a top-six season and two major cup wins.
They don’t get big enough attendances to compete with the likes of Aberdeen, Dundee United and Dundee when players become available.
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Their managers always need to be shrewd in the transfer market and that’s a very difficult thing to do time and time again.
Maybe Davidson thinks he could have done better in that area. But I still think it’s the players at the club who need to shoulder the responsibility here.
Probably the only Saints star who has maintained his standards has been keeper Zander Clark.
Pretty much everyone else has let their standards drop.
But they have to get it into their heads they still have time to save themselves.
Davidson has probably said everything he can think of to them.
He’ll be doing everything to get them going before it’s too late.
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Before it reaches the stage where he opts to fall on his sword.
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