The time has come for St Johnstone to resume contract talks with Danny Swanson, according to manager Tommy Wright.
The playmaker’s bust-up with team-mate Richard Foster at Hamilton has been put to bed and the Perth boss still sees the former Dundee United and Hearts man as a key member of his side.
Swanson’s deal runs out in the summer and Wright wants discussions to begin again, with agreeing fresh terms his “immediate priority”.
“Danny made a difference when he came on against Aberdeen,” said Wright.
“Danny and his agent were due for a meeting about a new deal but it went on hold for obvious reasons with the investigation going on after what happened at Hamilton.
“But now that meeting has to take place and take place quickly. Danny is wanting to stay and I have always wanted him here. I would be disappointed if we can’t hold on to Danny.
“You want to hold on to quality in any team and we have done that with other players here.
“Danny is a quality player. The incident was unfortunate but that has no bearing on his future at the club.
“We haven’t tried to make excuses for Danny and Richard. I don’t know if any other club would have dealt with them as strictly as we did.
“It is important clubs and managers have a responsibility to act if something goes wrong and the game is brought into disrepute. What happened at Hamilton was a bad advertisement for the game so we acted as swiftly and as strongly as we could.
“We have had to let the dust settle but with his performance against Aberdeen Danny shows he cares and wants to be here.”
Wright added: “Danny and the rest of the players will all have a part to play in the run-in. It’s not just about Danny but he gives us a lift and that wee bit extra quality at times.
“We have to ensure we do everything we can as a club to keep our best players.
“Getting Danny tied-up is our immediate priority and I have to identify players to strengthen us for next season. I have already given the chairman a list of potential targets.
“It is going to be another big summer for us to try and make the squad that little bit tougher with Hibs coming up.
“But we are in a good position with 85% of the squad tied-up. We aren’t needing six, seven or eight players to make us better.”
The battle that Dundee and Inverness Caledonian Thistle are faced with to stay in the Premiership acts as a reminder that resting on your laurels isn’t an option for clubs like Saints.
Wright said: “Things can turn quickly in football if you look at what has happened at Dundee and Inverness won the Scottish Cup the year after us.
“It shows the importance of holding onto the players we have got and recruit well in the summer.
“Blair Alston, Paul Paton and Richard Foster have added to the squad. Michael Coulson has been unlucky with injuries. We have improved the squad and have to do so again.
“For us to be in a position where we could split Rangers and Hearts is incredible.
“With 49 points I believe that is the most we have got going into the games after the split. We are the fifth highest goalscorers so it has been another great season.”