Danny Swanson had his heart set on a move back to St Johnstone – and so did his wife.
The new Saints signing revealed that Holly left him in no doubt about which of the Premiership clubs interested in him he should opt for.
“Holly was keen on coming back,” the former Dundee United man said. “She was even sending photos of me and Tommy Wright to my phone.
“Maybe the gaffer put her up to it!
“It was a wind-up by her but she knew it wasn’t about money and a few quid here and there. She knew I was happy here before. We both were.
“There were other Premiership teams interested in me but it was an easy decision coming back here.
“I was playing every week and enjoying it. Holly could see that.
“She took our wee boy, Roman along to games at Perth last season and now he is 15-months-old so he’ll be back at McDiarmid. It will be nice to know he is there watching me.”
Swanson was on loan from Coventry when he arrived in Perth 12 months ago, but he believes being a permanent signing will make a positive difference this time round.
“A year ago when I came on loan I still had Coventry in the back of my mind,” he recalled. “So it is different this year.
“Now I have signed a deal through to 2017 and I can concentrate on my football.
“I had to get my release from Hearts sorted out before the deadline so that was a bit worrying.
“Having been here before I really wanted to come back. I enjoyed my football here last season when I was on loan.
“It was difficult decision last summer when Hearts came in for me but I opted for Tynecastle because it was on my doorstep and my wife and I had our wee boy.
“They are a big club but it didn’t work out for me at Hearts.
“I think it was maybe Craig Levein who wanted me and I don’t think Robbie was a massive fan at the start. And I didn’t manage to win him over.”
Swanson has no worries about being thrown straight in at the deep end against Aberdeen on Saturday.
“My fitness levels will be better this time round,” he said. “I will never forget my first game for St Johnstone in the cup at Queen of the South. It wasn’t the best. I probably wasn’t ready but I just wanted to get going.
“This time round I have been playing under-20 games – more than I’d ever have imagined. So I am fit enough.”