Wright: May will sign new deal
STUART McCALL casts a glance over Motherwell’s recent experiences in European competition and believes his team are due a break. The Fir Park side have qualified for either the Europa League or the Champions League in six of the last seven seasons and next month will face either Bangor of Wales or the Icelandic side Stjarnan in the second qualifying round of the former.
In recent years Motherwell have come up against Panathinaikos of Greece, the Russians Kuban Krasnodor and Levante of Spain and all have proved too strong over two legs.
“It would be nice to get a goal in Europe!” joked McCall. “I look back at Panathinaikos and a few of the players that got Greece through [to the last 16 of the World Cup] were in that Panathinaikos side.
“Levante that same season beat Barcelona then Krasnodar drew twice with Swansea. Also, I was watching the World Cup and I was looking at the boy who plays for Costa Rica, Marco Urena, thinking: ‘I know you!’
“Then I remembered seeing him running away from [Steven] Hammell for Krasnodar. We’ve been up against some big sides. Also, we played a couple of those games at 10pm and 11pm at night plus in 95 degrees. I may be wrong but it hopefully won’t be anything like that in Wales or Iceland.”
McCall hopes it is Bangor who make it through the first qualifying round. “The travelling aspect is easier and the Icelandic team are 11 games unbeaten and they play on AstroTurf – and me and AstroTurf and cup competitions don’t go together at all – don’t mention Albion Rovers! Let’s just say I looked up the Icelandic team’s ground and saw the AstroTurf and groaned.
“I wouldn’t say I have a preference but the Icelandics are up and running and they have a plastic pitch so that would probably sway my decision. Not through any footballing reasons but for those reasons maybe Bangor would be better.” Tommy Wright, the St Johnstone manager, is confident Stevie May will sign a new contract long before the start of their Europa League campaign on July 17.
Wright is mystified by reports that the Scotland under-21 cap had rejected terms to extend his stay beyond next summer.
May has been linked with an array of English clubs, including FA Cup finalists Hull City, in recent weeks. But the forward has always maintained he wants to continue his development at McDiarmid and extension talks began in the wake of the William Hill Scottish Cup final win over Dundee United last month.
“I’ve spoken to Stevie today and he’s reiterated he wants to stay at St Johnstone,” Wright said. “He wants to extend his deal here and it will be sorted. We’ve no idea where this story has come from. Negotiations with Stevie and his agent are ongoing and we’ve been going back and forward. That’s the way it works and it’s exactly what happened before he signed his last contract.
“Stevie’s meeting with his agent over the weekend to discuss the latest offer and I don’t think we’re too far away.”
Wright has told his players to forget about their cup success, and clear their minds for the new campaign. “As a staff and as a group of players, it’s over,” he insisted. “We’ve got to forget it and look at the challenges we have in front of us now.
“We’ve got a European game coming up, the players have come back in good shape and it’s all about getting ready for the season ahead now.”