Theatre of dreams: McDiarmid Park isn't quite Old Trafford but Mark Connolly isn't complaining.
Mark Connolly says Bolton boss Owen Coyle sold him on a loan move to St Johnstone as if he was talking up a transfer to Manchester United. The Bolton defender, 18, was sent to the SPL by the Saints’ former boss on transfer deadline day to gain first team experience.
Connolly, who is waiting to make his debut for Derek McInnes’ side, moved to the Reebok Stadium in the summer from Wolves but the young centre-half is on the move again after his boss sold him on the move to Perth’s theatre of dreams, McDiarmid Park.
“On deadline day, Owen told me there had been an interest from Saints,” explained Connolly. “I asked him his opinion and he was positive about the move, he said it would be a great experience and beneficial for me.
“He talked Saints up like I was moving to Manchester United and by the time he had finished I couldn’t wait to get here.”
Irishman Connolly became a Bolton player in July after walking out on Wolves, with Wanderers agreeing to pay a £1 million transfer fee for the player instead of going through a Premier League tribunal to settle on how much compensation his former club were owed.
Few young players move for that sort of money before they have made the breakthrough to first team level but Connolly, who is in the squad for Wednesday night’s SPL game at St Mirren, says that valuation doesn’t faze him.
“It took a few weeks to get over the fee involved but I wasn’t responsible for setting it,” he remarked.
McInnes was pleased with his deadline day capture, having spoken to Coyle before swooping for the talented youngster. His youth has been balanced by the experienced signing of Michael Duberry from Wycombe and the St Johnstone boss is looking forward to including him in his defence.
“I’ve obviously been able to speak to Owen Coyle about him and he also rates Mark but feels he needs a bit more experience and I am sure he will be an asset to us for the remainder of the season,” McInnes told the St Johnstone official website on February 1.
