McGHEE BIDS TO SEAL NEW DEALS
MOTHERWELL manager Mark McGhee insists the club are ‘bending over backwards’ to extend the stays of their experienced out-of-contract players. But he believes the players concerned appreciate the reasons they have been offered reduced wages. Long-serving trio Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley and Steven Hammell are all out of contract and have been told the club cannot afford to pay the same deals. Craig Samson and Scott McDonald are also in talks, with the Aussie striker having a year’s option on his deal. ‘It’s not really a take-it-or-leave-it offer because we’re bending over backwards to find everything we can — to make it as improved as we can — in order to persuade them to stay,’ said McGhee. ‘However, there is a finite
amount. We need a squad next year of 20 players. ‘In order to get that at a reasonable level, we have to make offers to allow (the club) to be able to afford that. ‘We must work with what we have. The offers we have made will be based on real money, on what we can afford without making the club go bust again.’ McGhee, who is also waiting on an answer from teenage defender Ben Hall’s agent, said: ‘I think the boys are reasonable. ‘They are intelligent and they understand the dilemma the club finds itself in. ‘They know we are not making it up. ‘They know we are not saving a tranche of money to go and get someone else in. ‘They also know we are doing the best we can to get them the best offers we can make. ‘And in their minds, they are trying to be as flexible as they can and as accommodating within their needs and expectations, to help us as well. ‘So I think there is a two-way thing going on. ‘We now need to go back to them and speak to them again, then see where we are.’ Motherwell end their season at Celtic Park tomorrow. looking for a Parkhead double after winning 2-1 there back in December. ‘We are going to go there, as we did last time, trying to win the game,’ added McGhee. ‘We will not be going there with any fear because we know we can give Celtic a game. ‘We have already got fifth place in the league, so there is nothing to lose.’