Andy Kirk: St Johnstone have to push forward after difficult week

St Johnstone interim boss Andy Kirk says everyone at the club has to keep moving forward after a tough week.

Craig Levein was sacked as manager of the Perth club on Tuesday after a disappointing start to the season and St Johnstone chairman Adam Webb revealed on Thursday that he is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Kirk, who was assistant to Levein, has taken temporary charge of the first team for their match against Ross County this weekend and says that the focus has to be on getting positive results. He believes that’s what Webb would want and expect from everyone involved.

“Obviously, it’s not a great time for him and his family but everyone from here sends their best wishes and we hope that the treatment works well and we see him back here soon,” Kirk said.

“There’s a lot of things happened obviously over the last couple of days, and the news about Adam is another thing that’s not nice to hear, but we’ve got to keep functioning and got to keep moving forward.

“I think Adam would absolutely want us to be doing that the best we can.

“So we’ll work hard behind the scenes to keep the players focused and make sure we’re in the right space to go to the game on Saturday.”

Addressing Levein’s dismissal, which came as a shock to the former Scotland manager, who had guided St Johnstone to safety last season, Kirk said that there was “sadness” in the squad at his departure.

He revealed that he had spoken to his former boss and had been urged to do his best to deliver results.

“I’ve had a strong relationship with Craig for a number of years,” he said. “Obviously he asked me to come here and help him out which I was glad to do. It’s a fantastic club and was a great opportunity.

“Craig’s an experienced manager and he’s been here before so he knows what the game brings with it, and that’s the pressure when results aren’t good.

“It’s a bit of a shock, the way it happened and how quick it came round but we need to get ready for Saturday.

“I spoke to him on Tuesday and yesterday, just to see if he was all right. I think a couple of players have been in touch with him as well, and it was nice of them to do that.”

The coach said that he had not been told how long he would be taking charge of the team for, only that he would be in the dugout this weekend as the club begins a recruitment process for a new manager. Asked if it was a position he was interested in, the former Stenhousemuir boss said he would be happy to have talks with the board.

“It’s not something I’ve thought about,” he said.

“That’s a decision for the club and if they want to have a conversation about that at some time then absolutely I’ll have a conversation.

“But at the minute this is about the players on the pitch putting some points on the table and getting the supporters back in a positive frame of mind.”