CALLUM DAVIDSON refuses to admit that he has exceeded expectations in his rookie season as a manager.
But after winning a League Cup and securing top six football it would be hard to argue otherwise.
European football is now the aim for the St Johnstone boss and after experiencing the Europa League as a player, Davidson is eager to lead Saints across the continent as a manager.
To deliver a European spot Saints will likely have to finish in fifth place and hope that one of the top four wins the Scottish Cup.
Livingston currently hold that position, but with the pair due to play on the last weekend of the season, Davidson knows a lot of football is still to be played.
He said: “The aim is to give ourselves a chance going into the last game against Livingston. If fifth place is up for grabs that will be a really exciting end to the season.
“The fact that we’ve got Scottish Cup games mixed in as well is good because it keeps things fresh.
“It’s a tough ask because it’s very hard to pick up points when you’re playing the top five sides in the country, and two of them are Rangers and Celtic. But we’ll give it our best shot.
“The better we do the more it benefits the club. If we finish fifth will it help me get more money? Hopefully. We want to keep players at the club and bring a few new ones in.”
Asked if he had exceeded expectations in first year in charge at McDiarmid Park, Davidson responded: “It’s a hard one. I had belief in my players and my backroom staff.
“At St Johnstone the first objective has always been to stay in the league. That will never change. The basic principles are to work hard and be in the Premiership the next season. Then you look to see how high you can get.
“The boys have been brilliant, especially from about November. To win a cup and get top six is an unbelievable achievement.”
Saints have been mainstays in the top six over the past decade and despite the lack of attendances this year, Davidson knows how much a top half finish means to the loyal Perth fans.
He continued: “When I was playing and we got into the top six we lost every game! Since then, there have been some strong finishes at the club.
“We don’t have the crowds, but we’ve got the big teams to play, which is great. It’s a brilliant achievement to get into the top six and these games are ones to look forward to and enjoy.
“We certainly don’t take it for granted. We’ll try and win as many games as we can and hopefully that will be enough to finish fifth.”
Davidson also told of his delight after securing a late East Fife loan deal for youngster Aaron Steele.
He added: “We have been working really hard with all the young players to get them some games. It is really difficult so it is good for Aaron to get out and experience league football.
“We will be watching him closely, like we do with all our loan players. He is an out and out defender, a Frazer Wright type. That is something I like to see.”
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