In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph on 6th October 2009, former Northern Irish international Steve Lomas revealed that he had a brief spell working for Norwich City with their youth team:

"“The move to Gillingham never really worked out,” he said. “A new manager came in and then I was released. I lost a bit of heart and at the same time I had a job working with the youth team at Norwich City, which unfortunately fell through because of financial problems at the club after only a couple of months. In hindsight — which is always 20-20 vision — I would have continued trying to play. I believe I could have played at some level, but you make choices and the choice I made was to go into coaching and management and Norwich City are a good club. That ended about a year ago and I hadn’t had a pre-season and clubs look at that when you get to my age.”

Lomas, a midfielder, first made his name with Manchester City in the 1990s but then moved to West Ham United, where he made 227 competitive appearances and became club captain. On 31st August 2005, he was released on a free transfer and joined Queens Park Rangers. He left QPR in May 2007, and joined Gillingham on 31st July 2007. On his debut for Gillingham he was sent off in the first match of the 2007–08 season against Cheltenham Town. He was released by Gillingham on 31st January 2008.

On 23 March 2009, he was appointed as player manager of St Neots Town

He returned to West Ham at the end of February 2011 as reserve team manager, replacing Alex Dyer who had joined Chris Powell at Charlton.

Steve was appointed manager of Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone on 3rd November 2011. This was chairman Geoff Brown's last act as chairman as he stepped down after 25 years in the role. Lomas signed a two and a half year contract. He replaces Derek McInnes who joined Bristol City. Lomas will be assisted by Tommy Wright who stepped down as Lisburn Distillery manager.

"It's the right time," said the new boss. "Even when I was playing, I wanted to be a manager. The way I played, I was captain at most of my clubs. I never sat about waiting for it to happen. I have done my licences and courses and got experience at non-league level. I coached the youths at Norwich and the reserves at West Ham. I had a couple of offers before this, but I feel this is the right club."

Lomas was interviewed after Saints failed to agree terms with Sligo Rovers boss Paul Cook.

Steve won 45 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring twice.