Stuart McCall ‘happy’ at Motherwell with contract talks set to begin

• Stuart McCall to hold talks with Motherwell in next few weeks

McCall’s feat of leading Motherwell to the Scottish Cup final and Champions League qualifiers in his first 18 months in charge is sure to have alerted rival chairmen but the former Bradford manager insists he is not looking to move. McCall, whose side defend their unbeaten SPL start at Aberdeen tomorrow, confirmed talks aimed at extending his contract beyond the end of the season would likely take place in the “next few weeks”.

The former Scotland midfielder added: “I’m more than happy with the job I’m doing and the squad of players and staff I’m working with. I think people who know me know I’m fairly loyal. I’m enjoying my time here.

“I’m probably unlike most managers – if I’m happy somewhere, I’m happy. It’s not lack of ambition. Even as a player, if I was happy and enjoying coming into work, which I certainly am here, I don’t have aspirations, I don’t look higher, higher, higher.

“I’m in the SPL, at a terrific club like Motherwell, and I enjoy coming into work every day. I have nothing against thinking I will look to extend my contract.”

McCall’s contract situation mirrors most of his players and he admitted last week that he could lose a full team next summer. But while he is realistic about the possibility of losing the likes of Darren Randolph and Nicky Law, he hopes the job satisfaction he enjoys could persuade some players to stay.

“Apparently I have taken a little bit of criticism about answering a question, but I think everyone knows loads are out of contract,” McCall said. “We have got players who have come up from down south and maybe wanting to come up for a couple of seasons, but again the grass isn’t always greener. If you enjoy what you’re doing, is it worth an extra 250 quid to move?”

Captain Keith Lasley and fellow long-serving team-mate Stevie Hammell both extended their contracts after last season ended and McCall hopes they might be able to tie some players down quicker this time round. “The budget had to be slashed by 200 grand, that’s why the Keith Lasley and Stevie Hammell saga took a bit longer, because other clubs in the SPL were willing to give them more money,” he said. “But thankfully their loyalty to Motherwell kept them here. It’s a long way down the line but I’m sure there will be talks between now and Christmas.

“We have to be realistic, some players will move back down south, but this is where we have to bring in players who can hopefully do just as good a job.”

Gavin Rae admits it is time Aberdeen got on the goal trail as they aim to slow down Motherwell.

The seventh-placed Dons have scored only three times in six SPL matches this season, just one more than both sixth-placed Ross County and bottom side Dundee. Rae, the 34-year-old former Rangers, Cardiff and Dundee midfielder, believes performances have been mostly acceptable but he knows goals win games and make a difference to league placings.

“In the majority of games we have played quite well without getting the results we have merited,” Rae told RedTV. “Obviously it is very frustrating but we have just got to put that right. The performances, last Saturday apart [against Inverness], have been pretty favourable, pretty good to be honest.