I will see out my ‘dream job’ contract even if the Scottish top flight comes calling, says Tommy Wright

Tommy Wright is committed to his new international role

Tommy Wright has insisted that even if he is offered a return to Scottish Premiership, he will see out his 18-month contract as Northern Ireland’s new Under-21 manager and hopes to be in his ‘dream job’ beyond that.

Wright is a highly respected figure in Scottish football, primarily for his successful spell in charge of St Johnstone, guiding the club to Cup glory in 2014 and leading them into Europe via their League placings on several occasions. He was also boss of Kilmarnock.

When out of work, Wright has been linked with other posts in the Scottish top flight but if vacancies arise over the next year-and-a-half, he says he has no interest, preferring to work for country rather than club.

Committing himself to the Irish FA for the duration of his deal, much like Brendan Rodgers after he returned to Celtic earlier this year, Northern Ireland’s former goalkeeping coach said: “I’ve signed a contract so I will be here for the next 18 months and hopefully longer.

“This is a dream job for me. I’m passionate about my country.

“There were things I could have gone for in the summer and at the end of last year but I knew this was coming up and it’s a dream job.

“I’m back home living full-time, so I’m more than happy to be here a lot longer than 18 months.”

Wright will watch Irish League games and he will travel across the water to see matches involving the nation’s brightest young talent in England and Scotland, working closely with senior manager Michael O’Neill in the process.

“There is a lot of work to be done on the recruitment side and obviously I need to make contact with the players and be visible in their clubs and get to their games though there will also be a lot