Steven MacLean is honest enough to describe himself as a “journeyman” when he reflects back on his footballing career.
And the former striker reckons his experience of 12 different clubs during his time as a player could help him as he embarks into life as a manager in his own right.
MacLean has been put in charge of the Perth side until further notice after cup-double-winning Callum Davidson was axed as manager last weekend.
The 40-year-old will take charge of St Johnstone for the first time this weekend as they face off against Hibernian in a key fixture that could have a major say in the club’s hopes of remaining in the Scottish Premiership.
And looking ahead to the match, MacLean detailed how he has been revisiting some of the managerial work of his former gaffers.
He explained: “I think about it all the time. I was a journeyman, so I worked under quite a lot of managers! You try to take bits from everybody. I did play for a few clubs.
“Paul Sturrock, when I first started, he taught me why, where and when. So why do you do it, where do you do it and when do you do it.
“He was a big influence on me in my game as a player, and then I go back to having worked under some other top managers.
“Tommy Wright, Alex McLeish, Dick Advocaat, Chris Wilder. It goes on, the names I have worked under. So I’ve worked under plenty and I have probably forgotten a few there too.
“As a player I made a lot of mistakes and sometimes players blame other people, but sometimes you have to take responsibility.
“I probably did that in my career. I think you always look and say that’s his fault. It is his fault I’m not playing well. But it is actually about what you can do yourself to make yourself better.
“I’ve learned from experience. I’ve been in good dressing rooms and I’ve been in bad ones. I know what it’s like.”
MacLean will be working on the touchline this weekend alongside former teammate Liam Craig and first-team coach Alex Cleland, who has been a mainstay at the club since 2008.
And the interim Saints manager insists the trio have been working tirelessly to ensure they can deliver a positive performance for Perth fans on Saturday.
He continued: “The two of them know the boys as well. They have been at every game. I have asked them for input and ideas too. I’ve got my own way of thinking but I like input as well and people to challenge me.
“If you don’t think it’s right, tell me. Then I’ll tell you if I agree with you or not. But let’s solve the problem and have a conversation.
“I used to have discussions with Callum. I think it is good for people to challenge you. People might say ‘what is going to change’?
“But everybody has their own ideas. I have my own ideas and methods. I have trained with the players for three days. I’m not going to reinvent the wheel.
“I’m big on fundamentals. Work rate, effort and energy are non-negotiables for me. You need to do your own job and take responsibility. The players have got to do that.”
Asked if the players had dropped in standards, MacLean added: “Have the players slipped? I don’t know. Sometimes it is small, finer details in games.
“We always talk about doing the simple things well and you need to earn the right to win a game.
“It is not just about styles and playing through the lines. Sometimes it is just about work rate and energy.”
The McDiarmid Park pitch has taken somewhat of a slagging this season, with managers from numerous clubs taking aim at the Perth surface.
Rangers boss Michael Beale described the pitch as a “cow field”, but MacLean insists there will be no excuses from his end for the remainder of the league campaign.
He said: “Listen, it’s not been great. But you know what? There’s no excuses. I’m not going to go and say this or that, there is no excuse.
“Let’s go. Let’s go and have a go. Let’s go and enjoy ourselves and you enjoy football by winning and that’s what we want to do.
“There are no excuses. It’ll be what it’ll be and you can’t control the pitch.
“You can control your own performance and how you prepare, how you go about things and that’s what the players need to do. It’s a collective, the goals will come.
“We’ve worked on a few things and hopefully we can put them in place this weekend. Hopefully we can go and win the game, be nice and positive and be on the front foot."
ENDS
