Former Saint backs Del and his boys

May 1 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

DARREN Dods can’t believe his former club have been exiled from the SPL for seven years.

Now a key player at Dundee United, the central defender played in St Johnstone’s farewell game against Hibs in May, 2002.

And he’s backing Derek McInnes and the class of 09 to end the long wait for top flight football in Perth.

Yesterday, the ex-Saint and former PA player of the year, admitted he still looks back fondly on his time at McDiarmid Park.

He said: “There is a great set-up at St Johnstone and everything is geared towards being in the SPL.

“Things like the stadium having the four stands, the good playing surface and excellent facilities all makes them look like a Premier League team.”

Dods, who shared a car from Edinburgh with players like Paul Kane, Allan Preston and Roddy Grant, can’t believe Saints have been in the shadows for so long.

“When we went down to the First Division I didn’t think for a moment it would take as long as it has done for St Johnstone to go back up. So it’s good to see them, as one of my former clubs, almost there now.

“Not having Dundee in the SPL means Saints will be our nearest rivals next season and I look forward to facing them. I remember playing for Saints against United and those were great occasions.

“When I’ve seen St Johnstone this season they’ve been tight at the back and pretty decent up front, while they have experienced guys in the midfield.

“And Derek McInnes has done well to take over as manager from Owen Coyle and keep making progress.

“Sometimes they’ve been stumbling a wee bit towards the finishing line but over the season they have been up at the top and enjoyed a good gap over the rest of the sides.

“So I hope they do it against Morton and I wish them all the best.”