Showing promise: During last season under Mark McGhee, Motherwell's brand of football lit up the league. Photographer: Robert Perry
IT HAS BEEN a close season of changing priorities for Mark McGhee, personally and professionally. While the birth of baby Archie has afforded the Motherwell manager some sleepless nights and, in his own words, "an eventful but very positive summer",
McGhee's working life has the appetising prospect of European football over the horizon.
Third place in the SPL last season handed McGhee the managerial crack at continental opposition he has long-since yearned for; even if the knock-on effect on the domestic front may be a step into the unknown. Twelve months ago, Motherwell's brand of football lit up the league; this time their manager wants to appeal to a broader market.
"I think our supporters know the score," explained McGhee, contemplating the troublesome issue of dealing with punters' often unrealistic aspirations. "I'm not so sure there is a danger of them expecting too much from us.
"The supporters know we haven't gone out and bought players who will move us onto the next level, the same players are going to have another go this season. And I'm sure the fans will forgive us for wanting to have a go at Europe; it is something different for the club. We cannot win the league, arguably you are as well finishing sixth as fourth, but there is real merit to be gained from having success in Europe. As a club and a team, we have to look at that."
McGhee is clearly, therefore, placing a strong emphasis on the upcoming first round of the Uefa Cup and the potential group stage place which would arise if Motherwell can negotiate that hurdle. "That (Europe] was one of the main two or three reasons I stayed at the club," he said, referring to Hearts' protracted yet unsuccessful attempt to entice the manager towards Tynecastle. "It was a huge thing for me and hopefully we can get a favourable draw in the first round.
"I have seen saying for years that I wanted to manage a club in Europe, it has been one of my ambitions. As I player, I had 10 seasons in a row in Europe with Aberdeen, Hamburg and Celtic."
Yet the manager insists a sustained European run and last season's hitherto unexpected success at home should not automatically mean that Motherwell will tread water in the Premier League. "I don't think my players punched above their weight last season; I think they found their level," he said.
McGhee's attempts to prize John Kennedy from Celtic, a move which would have significantly offset the long-term loss of Brian McLean to injury, failed to materialise on financial grounds. Ross McCormack's departure to Cardiff City was another blow yet Mark Reynolds remains at Fir Park despite interest from Rangers.
Frustrated yet typically realistic, the former Brighton, Leicester, and Wolves manager can appreciate his directors' stance regarding Kennedy, whose wages and appearance money at Parkhead has been matched by Norwich City.
"Listen, we are one of a group of teams and I am one of a group of managers who will always look to test our board," said McGhee, whose bargaining position would also surely be improved if his team make it to the Uefa Cup's group stage. "John Hughes at Falkirk is exactly the same, for example. We will always try to get better quality and spend a bit more money.
"The move didn't work out and that's that; I bear no grudges and move on. It is a fact that finding players who are better than what we have here already will be an expensive business."
Motherwell's visit to Edinburgh and the club who came perilously close to tempting McGhee with a reported annual salary of £350,000 is arguably the most intriguing fixture of the SPL's first-day schedule.
Yesterday's friendly match against Hoffenheim somewhat was controversially cancelled at short notice by the Germans but, as has so refreshingly been the case during his return to Scotland, McGhee is looking forward. "I would actually be more worried about the game being off if we had looked off the pace in our other games," he stressed. "Brian's injury aside, our trip to Austria went really well and in the last three games we have had an edge, so that is positive for us.
"We will use this week properly, on the training ground and with some weights sessions, to be ready for our first league game; and what a great game that should be."
FORMBOOK
FINE FETTLE OR FAIRLY BRITTLE?Mark McGhee's had a moan about the amount (or lack) of money available to him. Motherwell lost out on John Kennedy and there has been little transfer activity. The boss is bothered about squad size. Bob Malcolm's signed a new deal.
MYSTIC KEV It's a big season for young Paul Quinn as captain and an interesting season for McGhee. He turned down Hearts. Will this be his last season at Motherwell? Europe adds a nice edge.
TALKING POINT3-2-1. McGhee thinks he's won a car with John Kennedy but out trundles Dusty Bin.
TITLE ODDS200/1
IN No-one
OUT Martin Grehan (Stirling Albion, free); Chris McGuire (Airdrie United, free); Ross McCormack (Cardiff City, £120,000).
The full article contains 893 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
