New keeper turns down Champs League to play for Saints

Jul 22 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

CANADIAN goalkeeper Alan Mannus yesterday (Thursday)  turned his back on Champions League football to sign-up at St Johnstone.

Putting pen to paper on the year-long deal only days after progressing in Europe’s most prestigious competition with his former club and League of Ireland Premier Division champions, Shamrock Rovers, Mannus admitted he was relishing the new opportunity.

Speaking to PA Sport, the 29-year-old said: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time and I’m glad I’ve been given this opportunity.

“I’ve been waiting to get something like this for about 15 years now and I want to make the most of it and give it a real good go.

“I came over a few months ago and really enjoyed working with Peter Enckelman and the goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall.

“I thought it was a good club and I liked the way it was ran.

“I liked the manager, the coaches and the players. I just got a good impression for it all.

“That’s the kind of club I want to be involved with.”

The former Ulster Footballer of the Year, who has set his sights on challenging Peter Enckelman for number one spot, crucially saved a penalty in Shamrock’s tie with Estonian side Flora Tallinn during the Champions League second qualifying phase.

Coming away with a 1-0 aggregate win, the keeper, who also played 366 times for Northern Irish side Linfield, is missing out on the chance to face Denmark’s FC Copenhagen in the final qualifying round.

However, Mannus, who was born in Canada but has been capped four times for Northern Ireland because of his parents’ nationality, admits he had no doubts over joining St Johnstone.

He continued: “I knew that if this was to go ahead that I would miss Europe if the team got through.

“It obviously would have been great to play against Copenhagen but I feel that I needed to take this chance.

“I wasn’t going to turn this opportunity down because I’ve waited for it for so long.

“You have to make sacrifices sometimes and I’m giving up a good thing. At Shamrock Rovers the fans were brilliant and I was well looked after.

“I know that some people might look at it and say why are you doing that if you’re playing regularly in Ireland. But I think if you’re going to progress you need to take risks.

“I know how good Peter is, and how well he did last year. I have a lot of respect for his as a goalkeeper and a person but to me that is part of the challenge.

“I’ll push him as hard as I can because I want to play as well.

“I’ll have to prove myself and be patient, and I’m prepared to do that.”

Despite attracting McInnes’ attention with his excellent shot-stopping attributes, Mannus, who will be available for selection for tomorrow’s SPL opener with Aberdeen, has also proven he can hit the net at the opposite end of the park too.

During a 2003 match, whilst playing for Linfield, a Mannus long ball bounced over the head of his red-faced counterpart, Gavin Cullen, and into the net.

Speaking after the unusual strike, he said: “There was definitely a bit of luck on my side today.”