Double winner Booth delighted to sign deal at St Johnstone

The full-back was a key part of the Perth side’s victory in the League Cup and Scottish Cup last season to celebrate an historic double.

Now, Booth has extended his stay at McDiarmid Park until the summer of 2024 after an eventful few years.

He left Dundee United after the Tannadice club failed to secure a return to the Scottish Premiership and looked set to sign a deal with Bury.

The two-year deal was to be completed after a transfer embargo was lifted but the Gigg Lane club were later expelled from the English Football League, which left Booth without a club.

Six-month deals at St Johnstone followed and he has now penned a deal that should see him pass 50 league appearances for the club.

Callum Booth celebrates winning the Scottish Cup last season. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

The Haddington defender said: “I am absolutely delighted to have a bit of security.

“Most of my contracts have been about six months for various reasons. It is really good to get it sorted and already have another two-and-a-half years left on my deal.

“I am absolutely delighted – it was fairly straight-forward and easy enough to sort out.

“During my time at the club, I have had a great time and really enjoyed myself.

“When a new contract was discussed, I was delighted to sign it.

“People don’t understand we are going year contract to year contract and you cannot really plan too far ahead, especially not at my age.

“To have that security is really, really important and something I had not had the last couple of years, where it has been short-term contracts.”

Booth highlighted the close-knit group within the Perth side’s dressing room as a major factor behind his decision to extend his stay.

He said: “It is probably a bit of a cliché but the changing room is really good.

“I get on with a lot of the boys up there and I am good friends with a lot of the lads.

“The manager has been absolutely brilliant, really good to work under, along with the assistant.

“It is just a really good place to be and on a high after last season.

“The club is in a really good place at the moment and, going into training every day, it is really good place to be.”

But when the time comes to hang up his boots, do not expect the 30-year-old to move into the dugout.

The former Knox Academy pupil said: “[Management] is not for me at all.

“I know a lot of the players would like to stay in football but it has never interested me in the slightest.

“Although I love football – watching, playing, talking about it – coaching is something I have never fancied being involved in.

“Quite a lot of players set up academies but it has never appealed to me.

“The only coaching I will do is if my little boy plays football!”