We were sorry to see Mark McGhee leave... but the spirit is good and we need to go to Kilmarnock and get three points
MARK McGHEE may have paid for it with his job, but Richard Tait knows where the true responsibility lies for Motherwell’s dismal form.
The right-back revealed the players held a frank dressingroom meeting to demand far more from each other after last weekend’s 5-1 savaging by Dundee at Fir Park.
And he is adamant a mission to salvage their season must get under way when they head to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock this afternoon.
A team now under Stephen Robinson’s interim charge finds itself in the relegation play-off place after four successive defeats.
‘Do the players have to stand up and be counted? One hundred per cent,’ said Tait.
‘We let the gaffer down and he paid the price for it. We need to pull together like we have been this week, work for each other and put things right.
‘The spirit is good. We’re in this together. There is no moaning and groaning in the changing room, everyone is willing to put in the work and everyone wants to put things right.
‘We had a meeting and spoke about what we need to do as players.
‘We got together on Monday and had a chat. We demand more from one another and that’s all it was really about.
‘We’re in it together as a team. Everyone knows they have to step up as individuals and that will help the team.
‘Were some home truths said? That’s what these things are for. We speak about it and we listen to each other, then move on. That is what happened and this week has been geared towards the game against Kilmarnock. It’s a very big game. I think they are all big games now.
‘We have to go there and win. All of this week has been geared towards Saturday and we’re just raring to go now.’
Tait was among the three experienced Motherwell defenders injured last weekend when Paul Hartley’s men overcame pitiful resistance to score five times before the break.
Watching from the stand, he knew what the consequences could be.
A run of 17 goals conceded in four games had placed McGhee under significant pressure. That was further compounded when a group of young fans protested against his management outside Fir Park. Asked if he felt it was inevitable the manager’s position would be threatened, Tait replied: ‘Possibly, yeah. Everyone knows you are under pressure in terms of the results we have had previously.
‘It was always a possibility that (McGhee getting the sack) could happen. As much it was a possibility, it was still a real surprise on Tuesday. Everyone knows these things can happen in football.
‘It has been a tough week. Obviously we were disappointed at the start of the week with the gaffer going but things can go wrong very quickly in football.
‘He was very popular in the dressing room and all the lads really like him. It’s hard to see him go but we must move on quickly and get on with the job.
‘I wish Mark good luck for the future. He came in to wish us all the best and told us to crack on.’
Meanwhile, Robinson will wait until early next week before having any discussions with the board about potentially becoming McGhee’s successor.
Tait praised the way the Northern Irishman had filled the breach as he seeks to add some defensive stability to the team.
Ironically, his first match in charge will be against a Kilmarnock side, who also have a caretaker manager at the moment, in the shape of former Motherwell, Rangers and Scotland star Lee McCulloch.
‘Robbo has been brilliant this week. He has done a lot of work with us on the training pitch,’ said 27-year-old Tait.
‘He is a very good coach, so I wouldn’t be surprised if his name is in the hat (for the permanent appointment).
‘It is obvious we are conceding too many goals.
‘I think that Dundee had five attempts on goal and five goals last weekend, so that was something we had to look at. We have been doing that this week.
‘We have worked really hard on the training pitch and, hopefully, we will put things right at Rugby Park.’
“We met and spoke about what we had to do as players”