Big interview: Liam Craig on why it all went wrong at Hibs but then oh so right at St Johnstone

Just a few more days to go and Liam Craig will be back on the training field. Back to work, back to football, back to St Johnstone where on Wednesday the double cup-winning legend begins life as a coach.

Retirement from playing - and he put in 19 years - has been “different”, which to your correspondent sounds very much like a euphemism. “For 15 of those years Laura has had to arrange her life around me,” he says of his wife, “but over the last few weeks while she’s been at work the roles have been reversed.

“Earlier today, for instance, I had to trample across a muddy field and fetch our daughter Melissa’s pony and bring her back to the stables to have a new shoe fitted. That was definitely a case of a horse being led by a donkey!”

Lest you get the wrong idea about good guy Liam, he’s not Unreconstructed Man. The 35-year-old and now ex-midfielder is grateful to his family backing him through his playing career - all the triumphs and disasters and he’s experienced both. But he’s excited about the new gig and can’t wait to get started.

The Saintees avoided relegation last season by the hair of their chinny chin chin. Craig, backing up manager Callum Davidson, will be hoping they can break with recent tradition and, next campaign, make a fast start. He is at a club he knows, and they know him. That, he stresses, is important. In fact, it’s everything.

How did it feel hanging up the boots? “Oh fine. I’d been fortunate to play at a really good level for a number of years. I could have left St Johnstone and played for a bit longer elsewhere but coaching is something I’ve wanted to try and this is where I’ve been happiest so it’s great to get the opportunity here.” What, though, will he miss about playing? “That’s easy: the