Geoff Brown: Inevitable Saints would compete for silverware

Geoff Brown wept as St Johnstone clinched a place in their first-ever Scottish Cup Final last Sunday.

But the Perth club’s saviour and former chairman insists they were tears of joy rather than surprise.

He believes Saints’ transformation into one of the top clubs in Scotland meant it was INEVITABLE they would finally compete for silverware.

And he insists the club’s fans can head to the Final against Dundee United on May 17 believing victory is possible because Tommy Wright’s side have the ability to become legends.

“I always had hope, having came in back in 1986 when we were at the bottom of the then Second Division,” says Brown.

“But it should be appreciated that this is the third year in a row that St Johnstone have been in the top six teams in the country.

“If you’re in that top six, you should be capable of beating anyone above you.”

Brown may have handed control of the Saints over to his son, Steve, but he isn’t bashful about his emotional response to last Sunday’s win over Aberdeen.

“It’s been a long, hard slog, but it’s probably one of the only businesses where there are no hard-nosed people where emotions are concerned and that was certainly the case in the Directors’ Box at Ibrox.

“Being a St Johnstone supporter, you’re always going to have the lows, but you’re always looking for highs. There’s no doubt that this is the pinnacle.”

Winning the Cup would be yet another high-point for the club Brown saved from closure nearly 30 years ago.

He says: “I never got involved with Saints for me, though no-one ever believes that you don’t do these things for money.

“All you were doing was trying to put something back into the community.

“The payment of that is people with smiles on their faces and enjoying themselves.

“If you can do that, that’s tremendous.”