McGhee aims to make mark

By Will McLeish

Mark McGhee hopes to use his contacts to attract quality additions

This season marks a new epoch for Motherwell.

A disappointing campaign last term for the Fir Park faithful culminated in the sacking of manager Maurice Malpas.

The new manager has the onerous task of turning around a squad that largely lacked confidence and sparkle as they stuttered to a tenth place finish in the Scottish Premier League last season.

So Mark McGhee is the club's most significant addition in the close season.

In an illustrious playing career with Morton, Newcastle United, Aberdeen, Hamburg, Celtic and Reading, the striker won Scottish Cups, Scottish league championships, and the European Cup-Winners Cup and Super Cup with the Dons.

While his pedigree as a player is first class - he also scored twice in four Scotland appearances - his managerial experiences have been more mixed.

Until now, McGhee has only managed in England. He won what is now League One with Reading and Millwall and, in 1998, guided Wolves to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

The Glaswegian became a cult hero at Brighton after leading them to the Championship in season 2004-05 and preserving their status the following campaign. But, under McGhee, the English sea-side club were relegated and, only a few games into last season, he was sacked.

Fans will have high expectations for new striker Chris Porter

His first decision on returning home, appointing Scott Leitch as his assistant, seems astute - the midfielder spent six seasons with his home club before an unsuccessful spell as Ross County manager and is a popular figure with the fans.

The former captain will help fill any gaps of knowledge the manager has on the Scottish leagues and players.

But Motherwell have lost their most consistent and best performers from last season; top-scorer Scott MacDonald has moved to Celtic, while key midfielder Brian Kerr has headed east to Hibs. Kevin McBride, Krisztian Vadocz and Willie Soutar have also departed.

So far, the club's recent acquisitions amount to midfielder Simon Mensing, signed on a free from St Johnstone before McGhee arrived in June, and highly-rated striker Chris Porter from Oldham.

How Motherwell fare in the new season may well depend on the quality of arrivals before the transfer window closes.

McGhee has voiced frustration at his inability to attract the players he wants but hopes to bring in a few new faces in August.

He knows the Celtic defender Adam Virgo from his days at Brighton and has expressed a strong desire to be reunited with him in the form of a loan deal.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Will Mark McGhee's reign at Motherwell be a success?

McGhee is also hoping to utilise his contacts at former club Hamburg and Wolfsburg, who are managed by erstwhile team-mate Felix Magath.

But the club will have to contend with a potential disadvantage. Ground-sharing with newly-promoted Gretna is sure to make the groundsmen's task much harder and a heavy, cut-up surface will not encourage a slick passing game.

The fans will be hoping the new regime can achieve a top-six Premier League finish but, unless the squad is strengthened, that is likely to be beyond their reach.

However, a decent pre-season coupled with a greater emphasis on fitness indicates the club's top-flight status should be comfortably preserved.