dons manager reflects before fir park return
No cash for McGhee’s Well-fought campaigns
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Mark McGhee will return to Motherwell on Saturday – and could be forgiven for wondering what might have been after admitting he had to leave to help safeguard his former club’s financial future.
The Aberdeen manager left the Steelmen during the summer after two largely successful seasons in Lanarkshire.
Bankrolled by chairman John Boyle, the former Aberdeen attacker had built a team capable of being the best of the rest in the SPL. But he had to play a part in breaking up the side and selling his best players when financial problems mounted Fir Park.
A team built around the likes of midfielder Stephen Hughes and attackers Chris Porter, Ross McCormack and David Clarkson finished the 2008 season in third place.
But the quartet moved to clubs in the English Championship or League 1 and McGhee realised his departure would also ease the financial burden at Fir Park.
McGhee said: “What was the shame about Motherwell was the financial climate conspired against keeping a really good team there and not being able to improve it.
“When I was in charge there were players of the quality of Chris Porter, Ross McCormack and David Clarkson in attack getting better all the time.
“If Motherwell could have built on it there is no doubt they could have been a serious force and maybe made an impression on the top two when you look at the way finances have impacted on Rangers and Celtic.
“But the team had to be dismantled for financial reasons which included John asking me to help sell the players.”
The financial problems led to McGhee realising he too would have to leave and he said: “Motherwell needed me to go – given their financial situation they could probably not afford me.
“Don’t get me wrong. John Boyle did not ask me to leave, but common sense said me leaving would not cause any harm to Motherwell’s finances and it made sense for me to go.
“My long-term plan will prove me right to come to Aberdeen.”
