GIVE US BIT OF RESPECT
Well boss Robbo slams link to Hearts
STEVE ROBINSON has blasted speculation linking him with a move to Hearts as “disrespectful” to both him and Craig Levein. Reports – refuted by Hearts – suggested the Motherwell boss was being lined up as a replacement for the underpressure Jambos manager. But Northern Irishman insists he is focused solely on steering the Steelmen into second place with a win over Ross County today. Robinson, who guided his men to a 3-2 win at Tynecastle last weekend, said: “Speculation like that is disrespectful as there is a man already in the Hearts job. “I don’t read it. I don’t pay any attention to it. I concentrate on what I’m doing here. I’m sure everybody else in their job is doing the same. “I’m focused on trying to take Motherwell into second place as we have a massive game against a good Ross County side. “That is a tough enough task without worrying about anything else.” Robinson admits there is a lot to admire about the way County have gone about their business under managerial duo Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson. But the Well boss insists his men are still smarting from their shock fourth-round Scottish Cup exit to the Staggies last season.
Robbo said: “I have a lot of respect for the two managers up there as well as the chairman Roy MacGregor.
“We have a lot in common in what we’re trying to achieve. They got promoted last season and it is still a sore point they beat us here in the Cup and convincingly so.
“They’ve improved on top of that and we need to be on our guard. We’ve beaten Hibs and Hearts and expectation levels have risen.
“We have to match that expectation with our workrate and continue to do the good things we have been doing.
“We can’t get too carried away with what we’ve done so far. We’re a work in progress.
“It would be a good start if we could manage to get into second spot but that is all it would be.”
Meanwhile Mark Gillespie has issued a hands-off warning to Hearts over his gaffer.
The Well keeper said: “It’s a compliment to how well we’ve done and how well the club is run that the story appeared in the first place. We don’t want him to go anywhere.”