Steven MacLean revealed Callum Davidson was the first person to congratulate him on keeping St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
The interim boss still keeps in close contact with Davidson despite stepping into his role as manager during this season.
And Davidson was the first to drop MacLean a message to celebrate his achievement of keeping the Perthshire outfit in the top-flight for a 15th season.
“I’m delighted for everybody at the football club, the chairman, his dad, the supporters, everybody at the club, the players, even Callum,” said MacLean after the win over Kilmarnock.
“Callum was the first one to text. I’m just delighted for everybody concerned.
“Listen, me and Callum still speak. Every game before the game he texts me.
“It’s not just about me, it’s everyone concerned; the chairman like I said, and then a special mention to Callum. He has done so well for this football club, a double and then rebuilt and stuff, it’s for everybody.”
MacLean was thrilled too that he could repay the faith shown in him by Geoff Brown to steer the club to safety while St Johnstone is up for sale.
“He’s done a lot for the football club, him and his dad. At this time as well, the club is up for sale and nobody knows what is happening but I think for the Brown family to be in the Premiership for this long I think he has got to take a lot of credit as well.”
But MacLean would not be drawn on a possible offer of the St Johnstone hotseat on a permanent basis adding: “I’m expecting a sleep tonight! What will be will be, I am just thinking about the next game now.
“It’s been different but I’ve enjoyed it. It is stressful but I think you have got to enjoy it as well.
“I’ve not really thought about it to be honest, I’ve just really thought about winning games of football. I’ll speak to the chairman. What will be will be.”
Meanwhile, Derek McInnes admitted his side missed an opportunity to alleviate relegation pressures as they fell to defeat.
The Kilmarnock boss is under no illusion of how important a week he has coming up with Dundee United and Ross County – the two teams below them – on the horizon.
And McInnes has challenged his players to finish top of the relegation mini-league and claim 10th spot and survival in the Scottish Premiership.
“We missed an opportunity today,” he said. “A few weeks ago we thought we were playing for 10th really.
“We spoke to the players about tenth was first in our league table – it was Ross County, Dundee United and ourselves.
“St Johnstone in recent weeks have come back to us a wee bit and we had the opportunity to go ninth.
“There’s no grey area now, we knew by not winning the game it would add to the pressures and the pressure is there clearly.
“We’ve got it all to do but we want to make sure we come next Sunday playing against Ross County we’re on the back of a positive result and it’s all to play for.
“Tenth is where we are and we need to do so much to remain there.”
On young David Watson’s straight red card for a rash challenge on Cameron Ballantyne, McInnes added: “A huge moment in the game is the sending off. You want your players to play with emotion and passion but there has also got to be an element of restraint.
“You are always fearful now in this day and age. You are hoping that the referee understands his exuberance and a young player going into win the ball with no malice but you are normally preparing yourself for the worst in those instances.”
