CRAIGAN: TOP-SIX FINISH IS NOT VITAL

MOTHERWELL do not need to break back into the top six next season to improve, according to coach Stephen Craigan.

Stephen Robinson’s men reached the finals of both domestic cup competitions and finished the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign in seventh.

Their bid for a top-six spot only stalled with two games to go before the split but realistically they had been fighting a losing battle f or a number of weeks considering t he advantage Hearts held in terms of both points and goal difference.

Robinson wants his men to now build on t heir achievements next term but Craigan admits replicating their success in the knockout tournaments and reaching the top half will be tough.

The Steelmen’s U/20s boss believes just taking the fight for the top six to game 33 of the season would represent a step in the right direction.

He said: “If you look at the big five clubs – Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Hearts – that’s realistically the top five right there, so really you’re playing for just one place.

“Kilmarnock got that slot this year but Dundee will be better next year under Neil McCann, St Johnstone will be back strong again, too, so it’s not just us.

“Being in the battle for top six will be the key for us. If we can take the fight even up to matchday 33 that would be progress.”