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Saints chairman still glad they are in Europe

Steve Brown with Tommy Wright.
Steve Brown with Tommy Wright.

Steve Brown knows European football comes at price.

But the St Johnstone chairman is just relieved the Perth club can afford to foot the Europa League bill for a fourth successive summer.

Saints have secured a 130-seater plane and have set aside 70 for supporters ready to shell out £950 for the charter package to Armenia and next week’s first round hurdle with Alashkert.

“We have put a package together and hopefully as many fans as possible will make the trip,” he said.

“It’s not a great draw from a logistical and financial point of view, but there’s nothing you can do about it.

“We’ve had to source a plane and the cost has got silly, really, because it’s well into six figures.

“But while it’s not ideal, I’d much rather be moaning about it than not moaning about it.

“We want to be in Europe and we’ve loved every minute of it over the past few years.

“We’re delighted to be in the competition and we’ll just have to deal with it.

“The money side is obviously something we watch very closely, but it’s not all about that.

“It’s about the prestige of representing Scotland in European football and giving that experience to the fans.

“Unfortunately the thing gets a wee bit tainted when you have to worry about getting money together to travel to Asia for a game of football.

“But I’d much rather be in the position of having to work it out than just sitting watching other teams play in the competition.

“We have embraced being in Europe over the last few years, it hadn’t happened too often in the past, so I’d hate to think we’d come across as taking it for granted.

“We’re delighted to be there and we’ll work around the financial and logistical problems.”

Brown admits the Armenian opposition will be faced with a hefty travel bill for the return leg.

He said: “The regionalisation aspect has to be looked at.

“I’m not sure how you do it exactly, but all I do know is that travelling six hours to the Asian border is when it gets a bit silly.

“Maybe they could have a two-hour travel zone and work it out that way.”

Brown has relished past Euro ties with Rosenborg and Luzern when McDiarmid has been packed.

And he is hoping fans again respond to the lure of European football.

“People shouldn’t take it for granted and I’m sure they’re not.

“I’d expect a big crowd at McDiarmid Park for the game in two weeks’ time.

“It’s difficult to qualify for Europe and it’s getting harder all the time, but the team have done brilliantly to get there.

“The supporters have loved it in the past and I’m sure they’ll do the same this time as well.”