I'm staying, says McGhee amid Hearts speculation

Published on Monday 4 February 2008 09:30

MARK McGHEE insisted today he will remain as Motherwell manager until the end of the season following weekend reports that Vladimir Romanov is keen to lure him to Hearts.

A Sunday newspaper suggested Romanov is an admirer of McGhee's relative success at Fir Park, where he is effecting a European challenge in his first season.

Having recently been overlooked for the Scotland vacancy, the former Leicester, Wolves and Brighton manager is determined to see the campaign through with Motherwell.

Hearts are currently searching for a new manager, preferably with British league experience, but McGhee stressed he will not be involved in any imminent appointment at Tynecastle.

"I'll be with Motherwell until after the Scottish Cup final, that's for sure," he said, hopeful of leading his club to the season's showpiece on May 24 after eliminating Hearts in the last round. "I've even booked my family holiday for the week after Hampden, just in case."

McGhee admitted he does not feel unsettled by constant speculation surrounding his future. He continued: "There was a time not so very long ago when I couldn't get my name linked with any job, so if I'm associated with every one that comes up now then my attitude is 'so be it'.

"Everyone should know the script where I'm concerned. I'm at Motherwell until the end of the season, no matter what. And I don't think all of the stories about me being wanted elsewhere have the slightest effect on the players at Fir Park. They know I'm staying here because I've been talking with some of them about renewing their contracts so that they stay with the club as well.

"It's not as if I actively put my name forward for this level of speculation. I didn't wake up one morning and decide I wanted to be considered for the Scotland job.

"What happened was Alex McLeish, the outgoing manager, put my name forward and Gordon Strachan, a good friend, supported my candidacy. Then the story grew its own momentum."

Meanwhile, Larry Kingston's Ghana qualified for the African Nations Cup semi-finals yesterday by dint of a 2-1 victory over Nigeria. The Hearts midfielder entered the fray as a second-half substitute with the score at 1-1, Nigeria having moved ahead through Yakubu before Michael Essien's equaliser. Junior Agogo's late winner secured Ghana's passage, and they will meet the winner of tonight's Tunisia-Cameroon match in Thursday's semi-final.

&#149 HEARTS' reserve match against Celtic, due to be played tomorrow in Stirling, has been postponed as the Glasgow club have players away on youth international duty.