McCALL WON’T LET COST-CUTTING GET HIM DOWN

STUART McCALL has grown accustomed to the perennial cost-costing during his time as Motherwell boss but even he admits he was surprised by the decision to sell striker Henri Anier last week. The 23-year-old Estonian international joined German side Erzgebirge Aue for an undisclosed fee, joining James McFadden and Shaun Hutchinson in departing the Fir Park club. The trimming of the squad every summer is something McCall is used to — and, despite having to rebuild yet again, the former Rangers and Scotland midfielder remains upbeat. ‘If you start thinking you are battering against a brick wall then you will get down,’ said McCall. ‘Last season, I could have asked how to replace Nicky Law, Darren Randolph and Henrik Ojamaa but we went on and got 22 wins in the league. ‘I understand it but Henri Anier leaving last week came out of the blue and did shake me. It’s disappointing but I understand the decision to sell him and we just get on with it. I won’t see any of that money, although his wages will be freed up.’ McCall has led the Fir Park club to a third and two second-place finishes in the Scottish top flight during his three full seasons in charge — but on-field achievements have not translated into an upsurge in attendances at a club struggling to raise the cash it needs. The upshot of having average home gates of around 4,000 is that McCall will have his hands tied in the transfer market again this summer, despite the departures. He needs a striker and a centre-half but currently has the budget for just a forward and even then it will be a loan. ‘The fact is we can’t spend money, despite what we’ve achieved in recent seasons,’ said McCall yesterday as his players reported back for pre-season training. ‘The best thing would be if more fans came through the gates. We’ve tried various initiatives but we still have a hard core of 4,000 or 4,500 and we just have to accept that. That’s why we couldn’t turn down the money for Anier. ‘My biggest disappointment is that as well as the team has done with goals, points and success, the crowds have stayed the same. ‘I’d love another couple of thousand on our gate and it’s not as if they wouldn’t be entertained. But I’m not sure the club and the team can do any more to get fans in. It’s just down to the economics of the country we live in. ‘Look at St Johnstone. They win a cup but will they go back to crowds of 3,000? Ross County and Inverness Caley Thistle have had success but the crowds stay the same.’ If McCall is to get the centre-half he needs, he will either have to steer Motherwell to a good run in the Europa League or seek an act of charity from an English manager. He said: ‘As things stand, we are looking at loan deals for a centre-half and a striker, probably from an English Championship side or possibly the Premiership. But the budget at the moment is only there to get a striker. ‘A good run in Europe might help us get a centre-half. But I’m sure there will be some nice managers in the Championship who will want their players to come up here to play for nothing. Let’s hope so anyway. Please!’