Clarkson: Gaffer's Future Not On Our Minds

Jan 20 2008 By Gavin Berry

DAVID CLARKSON insists the speculation over Mark McGhee's future isn't affecting the Motherwell players.

The Steelmen crashed 3-1 at Love Street with McGhee branding it their worst performance of the season.

And the Well gaffer revealed he knew looking at his players before the game they weren't up for it.

Clarkson hit a screamer for Well despite the defeat but later claimed seeing McGhee heavily linked with the vacant Scotland job isn't an issue. The striker said: "I don't think the situation with the manager is affecting us. The players don't really think about it even though it's in the media.

"We don't know what's happening, we just concentrate on the games and that's all we can do."

It was Clarkson's first goal since the tragic death of his uncle Phil O'Donnell and he now faces his first match at Fir Park in the Scottish Cup replay against Hearts on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old said: "It's always good to score but it's difficult to explain. Things are never really going to be the same but it was good to get on the scoresheet although it would have been better if we'd won."

McGhee admitted he was worried before kick-off because his players were unusually subdued.

He said: "In the dressing-room we were quiet. Usually there are little groups talking to each other about what might happen and what they hope to do.

"They try to jazz each other up a bit but there wasn't a lot of eye contact. I was worried we were a little bit flat. I don't know why that was.

"I don't think my future had anything to do with it, they just had a bad day. We probably had our best game of the season against Dundee United two weeks ago and today was our worst." Opposite number Gus MacPherson played down the fact David Van Zanten led out the team despite the return of regular captain Hugh Murray.

He said: "David has done a fantastic job while he's been in there. It's not a major thing, we're all looking for leaders on the pitch. Hugh played like a leader but David's the captain at the moment.

"We've said for weeks our performances have been decent. You can see the confidence is building and it was a good team effort."