‘Beloved’ coach Valakari extends St Johnstone deal

St Johnstone have handed Simo Valakari a contract extension, with owner Adam Webb claiming there is “no more beloved coach in all of the UK”.

The Scottish Championship leaders have even named a beer after their Finnish manager.

Valakari was unable to prevent relegation last season after joining on a three-year contract in October 2024 from Latvian club Riga, but he has now agreed an extension until 2029 with his side currently leading the second tier by five points.

“That has been truly exemplary and extraordinary,” he suggested. “There is no more beloved coach in, I’ll say, all of the UK than Simo, even though he’s only been here a little over a year.

“Because he’s that authentic, he’s that genuine, he’s that friendly, he’s that humane. He’s just a really beautiful person to come to know, as I’ve come to know him.

“What we’re saying to other clubs is stay away, he’s our guy, he’s committed to our project and we’ve backed him and he’s going to back us.”

While home crowds in Perth are up on last season, with many fans claiming it is more fun being in the Championship.

However, Webb pointed out: “The financial realities are that you need to be in the Premiership.

“In the Championship, we will lose a substantial amount of money. That’s not sustainable.

“It’s sustainable for one year, maybe for two years, but at some point, if you’re in the Championship, you are going to have to cut things that you don’t want to cut.”

As for Valakari and his new deal, the Finn said: “It’s easy to be happy when we win in the football games.”

Of that beer, Simo’s Gold, he admitted that he thought Webb was winding him up when it was first suggested.