McGhee: Motherwell manager playing mind games
Published:
ABERDEEN manager Mark McGhee believes Motherwell counterpart Jim Gannon is using mind games in the countdown to today’s SPL encounter at Fir Park.
McGhee reckons the comments of his Well successor, who hit out at the Dons manager’s admission he wants to sign Fir Park winger Jim O’Brien at the end of the season, are a ploy to add further spice to an already tasty encounter.
McGhee said: “I think he has misread what I have said or he's not read it and relied on people telling him second hand.
“I was asked about Jim O'Brien and I was very guarded and careful about what I said.
“I challenge him to find a quote that says ‘I am going to sign Jim O'Brien’ as that's not what I said.
“As far as I am concerned it's a red herring.
“All I said was that I like Jim O'Brien as a player, he is out of contract in the summer as are other players.
“He is one of a list of players we will consider, end of story.
“Managers use things and the greatest of them all, Sir Alex Ferguson, used that as a ploy to create tension ahead of games.
“That can be a good thing for your team and if that's what the Motherwell manager is trying to do then fine.
“He obviously feels he's got to do that and I don't have a problem with that.
“We are all entitled to manage our clubs the way we want to.”
McGhee confirmed he is interested in signing American international midfielder Stuart Holden. The 24-year-oldAberdonian is a free agent after leaving Houston Dynamos and is keen on returning to the UK.
Match Focus, Page 69
