Well's McCormack: It’s just a matter of time before boss makes his Mark elsewhere

Jul 9 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

ROSS McCormack has revealed that his belief that influential ‘Well manager Mark McGhee will be snapped up by a bigger club sooner rather than later was a major factor in his decision to leave Fir Park.

The 21-year-old former Rangers striker joined ambitious English Championship outfit Cardiff City last month, despite interest from Premiership clubs Wigan and Middlesbrough.

The striker said: “The manager made it so difficult with what he did and said.

“He had offers in January to leave and we all know Hearts wanted him this summer so everyone was delighted he stayed at the club.

“But to be honest I don’t know if he will be at Fir Park much longer because he is a top boss.

He added: “It is only a matter of time before he moves on.

“He will want to move to a bigger club to progress in his career, like I wanted to.

“Maybe in the future I might work with him again; I definitely want to because he made a big impression on me.”

The talented Scotland internationalist has also urged McGhee to keep Paul Quinn as club captain despite the full-back’s recent troubles.

Last week Quinn was ordered to carry out 150 hours’ community service after being convicted of a nightclub assault.

But McCormack said: “Paul will bounce back.

“It is not my decision but there are not many players the manager could give the captaincy to because Motherwell are a young team and it would be nice if Paul kept the armband.”

Meanwhile, Motherwell got back to the training pitch for the first time in six weeks last Thursday.

A hard, fitness-based session led by Scott Leitch and overseen by John Porteous and Ross Mayberry had the players working going through their paces in preparation for the upcoming domestic and European campaign.

The first-team squad will be flying out to Austria to continue their pre-season workout on Sunday (July 13).

That’s something McCormack confesses he will not miss. He said: “We were over there last year and we went to hell and back I can tell you.

“You won’t get an easy pre-season at Motherwell but the hard work paid off in the end.

“That was a good foundation for the season and we kicked on from it and reaped the benefits.”