ALL OUR FAULT
McGhee axe fell because of players, says Lasley
KEITH lasley insists Motherwell’s players are to blame for the sacking of manager Mark McGhee.
Team captain Lasley spoke out after the Fir Park club cut short the 59-year-old’s second spell in charge with a statement yesterday morning, installing coach stephen Robinson as interim manager.
a 7-2 defeat to aberdeen was followed by fan protests during and after saturday’s 5-1 home loss to Dundee.
a board meeting on Monday night delivered the decision to make the change, with McGhee saying his goodbyes and thanking players for their efforts before leaving yesterday morning.
Insisting the dressing room bore a heavy responsibility for events, however, Lasley said: ‘I feel as if, as a group, we’ve let the manager down, to be honest.
‘It’s our responsibility now and we have to move on.
‘The players take responsibility. We
have not been playing to a level that has been enough to compete in this league. ‘If you’re not quite at it, other teams will take advantage of that and that’s what has been happening these last few weeks. ‘The players who are fortunate enough to get out there on Saturday need to roll their sleeves up and put a performance in that’s worthy of the shirt and obviously not what we’ve been getting these last few weeks. The blame for that lies solely with the players, in my opinion.’ The loss to Dundee marked a fourth consecutive league defeat for the Lanarkshire side, who are now in the relegation play-off spot just two points clear of bottom club Inverness Caley Thistle after two wins in their last 13 fixtures. Robinson, 42, returned to the Motherwell coaching staff last week after a brief spell in charge of Oldham. Bookmakers have installed former Bolton and Blackburn boss Owen Coyle as a leading contender for the post, with Morton’s Jim Duffy and former Hibs boss Alan Stubbs quoted.
Sportsmail understands, though, that Robinson is likely to retain control while Motherwell continue to pay McGhee until the end of his contract this summer. Former Motherwell player Andy Walker, an old team-mate of McGhee at Celtic, insists the club have made an error dispensing with his experience. ‘I think it’s a mistake. I think Motherwell are in a precarious position and I would be inclined to lean on someone who has close to 1,000 games in management,’ he said. ‘Mark’s behaviour at Aberdeen, when they lost seven goals, has counted against him, I think. But if Motherwell were a bit higher up the table, I’m sure that would just be put down as Mark showing passion for the club. ‘They have no money to spend, Stephen Robinson has come back and I don’t imagine they will be going outwith what is already there.’