ST Johnstone manager Craig Levein has secured his club’s safety in the top-flight in his first job back in the dugout since leaving Hearts in 2019.
But the 59-year-old admitted that the pressure of keeping the Perth club in the Scottish Premiership had its strain on his own HEART.
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It was a dramatic last-day in Scotland’s top division.
After champions Celtic lifted the title yesterday to round off the division’s top-six, it was over to the clubs in the bottom half to wrap up their domestic campaigns.
The only place left to be decided in the standings was the 10th place relegation play-off spot, with basement side Livingston already condemned to a place in next season’s Scottish Championship.
It came down to a fight between the Saints and Don Cowie’s Ross County to retain their place among the big boys next season.
Levein took his men to face Motherwell at Fir Park knowing that they had to win and would require Aberdeen to do them a favour and get something away at the Staggies.
A last-minute equaliser from Adama Sidibeh rescued a point for the McDiarmid Park team when the two relegation-threatened sides met on Wednesday night to take it to match day 38.
And ultimately it is the 2021 double cup winners who have guaranteed Premiership football next season with Sidibeh and former Rangers striker Nicky Clark on the score sheet in Lanarkshire to secure a 2-1 victory.
Ten-man Dons managed a draw in the Highlands, meaning County will contest a two-legged tie with Championship club Raith Rovers to secure their status.
For Levein, he is just glad to pull off the escape after what has been a stressful season, never mind final match.
He admits the Well faithful did not make things easy on his blood pressure as they sarcastically cheered to incorrectly suggest that the Highlanders were winning
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, the ex-Scotland gaffer said: “I’m delighted and extremely stressed out.
“When the Motherwell fans celebrated after the game finished, just to wind us up, I had to take a few more heart pills!
“I’ve never been in a relegation battle as a manger and i don’t want to start now.”
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