Cadds Well happy to stay distance
Boyhood fan in no rush to quit club for megabucks move
FOR many players denied a move to England by their club, where the comparative salary on offer would be substantially higher than their current pay poke, their noses would be firmly out of joint.
But not Motherwell youngster Chris Cadden, who swears he is living the dream at Fir Park despite a deadline-day offer from Oxford United being booted out by the Steelmen’s board.
Cadden was on Under-21 duty when the bid came in, and says he has enough to focus on trying to perform for both his club and country to let speculation over his future affect him.
And, for the moment at least, there is nowhere that the 20-year-old would rather be.
“The gaffer phoned and explained everything that was happening to me, but it doesn’t bother me,” Cadden said.
“People were making bids, but I’ll keep playing with Motherwell until I’m told otherwise and if that’s not good enough for anyone else then so be it. GAVIN REILLY has unfinished business in the Premiership, and he reckons that St Mirren will give him the platform to prove he can cut it in the top flight by getting back to where they belong.
The Buddies have started the season in tremendous form, winning four of their five games so far to shoot to the top of the Championship table.
Saturday’s win over Inverness built upon their victory over title favourites Dundee United in their previous match, and while it is early days Reilly says their start has everyone at the club dreaming of promotion.
“Our aim at the start of the season was to win the league outright, if not then definitely through the play-offs,” said the Saints striker.
“With the group we have we’re more than capable of doing it. At the same time, we’re only five games into the league season. It’s a good start and we’ll keep building on that.
“I would love to get back to playing in the Premiership again and that’s where a club of this size should be. We have
“I’m loving it here. All I’ve wanted to do since I was nine years old was play with Motherwell,l, so I’m having the time me of my life here.
“I live two minutes round the road, d, so I’m in no rush to leave.
“I was sitting ng in the hotel room on under-21 duty y with Oli McBurnie, and he was getting calls like that as well.
“But it doesn’t affect me. I just t shrug it off and d concentrate on what is happen- pen- to keep going the way we’re going and hopefully we’ll be there at the end of the season.
“It’s been a very good start. I think we’ve just built game to game. The first game against Falkirk was a tremendous victory – especially given it was the opener.
“Morton brought us down to earth, but we’ve kicked on from there. We had a very difficult start, so it’s been brilliant to get the points that we have.
“There are no easy games in this league. Everyone’s capable of beating everyone. But it’s good to lay down a marker early on.”
Reilly, who was speaking as he collected his ‘Goldenballs’ award for his performance in Round 2 of the Irn-Bru Cup, says that his own fine start to the season – he has scored eight goals in 11 matches – is down to getting a consistent run of games.
“People say goals in the cup don’t count but for me they do,” he said. If you get 20 goals at the end of the season no-one is going to look back and break it down by the competitions. It’s the tally that counts.
“I’ve just been glad to get back playing football and the ing on the pitch. You can’t really worry about anything that is outwith your control, and that’s the way I lookl at it, so it doesn’t bothe bother me. “It’s a great p platform here with games against Celtic and Ranger Rangers, games on the TV and theyth obviously give young boys a chance. LookL at Allan C Campbell againstaga Kilmarnock.Kilma “He“H was unbelievun ableab and manm of theth match forfo me, so theth gaffer will give yo youngsters a chance if you train well and do the right things.”
Cgoals have been a bonus. Any striker will say that you need a consistent run of games to get the best out of you.
“Credit to the gaffer for giving me the chance to come in and show what I’m capable of doing. I’m just glad I’ve done well so far and long may it continue.”
The Saints face a tough test on Saturday as they bid to keep the feelgood factor around Paisley going, with a trip to face second-place Dunfermline.
Reilly needs no extra motivation for the game having gone through a nightmare spell at East End park last season.
He said: “It’ll be good to go there and hopefully prove a point as long as we win the game. I’d be happy with that.
“There’s talk of the crowd being 5000-6000. They’ve got a tremendous support as it is and the way we’re going we’ll bring through a healthy support of our own.
“The fans have been tremendous so far. They go all over the country. It’s great to have their backing. We want to give them the three points they deserve.” ADDEN is flying after a fine week personally on the domestic front and on the international scene, playing a central role in Scotland under21s fantastic victory over The Netherlands last Tuesday night.
And he believes good things are around the corner for our current crop of young players, who each have a similarly dedicated mindset as the 20-year-old Motherwell star.
“It was a great week,” he said. “Obviously, it started off well on Tuesday night with the under-21s and then came the 2-0 win against Kilmarnock.
“I love being away with the under-21s. I’ve never been about the international set-up until this age group. It’s a different experience and I really enjoyed it, and hopefully there’s plenty more to come.”
As a Motherwell lad himself, Cadden was only too happy to help further strengthen the bonds between the club and its supporters by joining the entire club in signing up for the Well Society last week.
“It’s a great thing for the club,” he said. “The fans are our 12th man and it’s been shown with our form at Fir Park over the last few games.
“If we can get them on side and if we keep working hard, win tackles and give 100 per cent every week they’ll be on our side, so it’s good to give a wee bit back to them as well.”