Gannon hits out at McGhee over O'Brien speculation

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 23:02

JIM Gannon has criticised his predecessor as Motherwell manager, Mark McGhee, over speculation that Aberdeen will move for Fir Park winger Jim O'Brien.

McGhee publicly admitted O'Brien was a player who fitted his transfer target criteria after a report claimed the Pittodrie manager would offer him a pre-contract in the new year.

O'Brien, who McGhee signed from Celtic, is out of contract at the end of the season but Gannon claimed it was "inappropriate" for another manager to talk about him. And Gannon claims it is an unwelcome interference ahead of tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting between the teams at Fir Park.

"I think it's symptomatic of the poor practice there might be up here, either from the journalist speculating or the manager feeding the journalist," Gannon said.

"I think it's inappropriate for any manager to comment on our players when they are under contract, regardless of the contract situation at the end of the season. The players have the right to speak to other clubs from January 1, but not now, and it's an undue distraction. Maybe that's what they're trying to achieve."