Simo Valakari, the Finnish manager at the helm of St Johnstone, has laid out a clear mantra for his squad as they step back into Scotland’s top division: they must be "solid and streetwise" if they hope to make a lasting impression in the Premiership. Valakari, who took over the Perth‑based club in October 2025, was unable to prevent their drop to the Championship at the end of that season, but he has since orchestrated a swift return, guiding the team to promotion at the first attempt.
The Saints will open their top‑flight campaign on Sunday, facing Kilmarnock in a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Their promotion season was impressive; they suffered just three defeats in the league and secured the title with a blend of disciplined defending and attacking flair. Yet Valakari is quick to caution that the challenges of the Premiership are of a different magnitude, and his players will need to adapt their approach to thrive.
"We know who we are, but we cannot be that naive, beautiful, nice team that simply drifts out of the Championship playing pleasant football," Valakari told Sky Sports News. "If we are not hard to beat, if we are not solid, if we are not ruthless about ourselves, it will be difficult. Yes, it’s our style, and we want to keep those principles, but we must also be prepared for this higher level and sometimes be streetwise." In practical terms, Valakari has managed to retain the core of the side that earned promotion while also bolstering the squad with eight fresh signings.
This blend of continuity and new talent, he believes, gives St Johnstone a balanced foundation capable of handling the rigours of Premiership football. He explained that the recruitment process began well before the Championship season concluded, securing players on two‑ and three‑year contracts to avoid the uncertainty that often follows a promotion‑relegation cycle. "It was important that we started this process already before our Championship season," the head coach said. "We got the players in and we made them two, three‑year contracts.
So we knew that we never wanted to be in that situation as we were after the Premiership season. So that’s why I’m very, very happy.
And then, of course, these new additions have added their own personality, their qualities to our squad." Valakari highlighted the squad’s depth, noting that injuries are inevitable over a long season but that the team now possesses enough quality to cope. "We have a foundation, we have good players, we have enough depth in our squad as well. We are as ready as you can be after pre‑season to start the Premiership campaign," he affirmed. The manager also addressed the departure of promising youngster Josh McPake, who signed a pre‑contract with Hearts in January.
While losing a talent like McPake is a blow, Valakari stressed that the club’s proactive contract strategy and the arrival of new signings mitigate any potential gap. Looking ahead, Valakari’s emphasis on being "streetwise" reflects a desire for the team to be pragmatic, to pick up points where they can, and to avoid being out‑maneuvered by more experienced opponents.
He wants his players to combine their natural technical ability with a tougher, more resilient mindset—qualities that have historically defined successful Scottish clubs in the top tier. St Johnstone’s fans can expect a blend of familiar faces and fresh influences as the season unfolds. The club’s management has clearly signalled that they are not merely content with surviving; they aim to compete, to be difficult to beat, and to perhaps surprise some of the league’s established powers.
The upcoming match against Kilmarnock will serve as an early litmus test of whether Valakari’s philosophy translates into results on the pitch. For supporters and neutrals alike, the story of St Johnstone’s rapid bounce‑back is already compelling. The team’s journey from relegation to promotion in a single season, under the guidance of a manager who blends Finnish discipline with Scottish footballing culture, adds a layer of intrigue to the Premiership narrative. As the season kicks off, all eyes will be on whether the Saints can uphold their promise of being solid, ruthless, and streetwise enough to carve out a respectable place in Scotland’s elite league.
The Scottish Premiership will be streamed live on Sky Sports, and fans can follow every twist and turn of St Johnstone’s campaign as they test their mettle against the country’s best clubs.