Saints boss Valakari on Gray departure, being linked with Hibs & Falkirk 'focus'

[SNS] St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership visit of Falkirk. Here is a flavour of what he said: On Hibernian head coach David Gray becoming the first Premiership managerial casualty of the season, Valakari said: "He is my colleague and of course I feel for my colleague", adding it shows "the ruthlessness of this business". When asked about being among the early names linked with the Easter Road job, the Saints boss said when there is a vacancy somewhere, "all the coaches will be thrown in", saying his "full focus" is on Saturday's game. Valakari said "my players are doing the good job, my club is doing the good job and that is the only reason as a coach you will be linked". With his team seventh in the table, with seven points from their opening six league games, the St Johnstone manager pondered: "Am I surprised where we are? No, because I have seen these players now for one year, I am very happy with the players we have brought in." Valakari believes, "there is a lot of room for improvement as well". On Falkirk, the Finn is "very, very impressed with how they play football", saying they play at a high level and really showed what they can do in their midweek win over Hearts. Valakari insists Saints are just taking it one game at a time and says the midweek results show what can happen when you are off it. Team news: the St Johnstone squad is 'all good'.