Boss loss would be a disaster

May 25 2008

STEPHEN HUGHES admits he fears the departure of Mark McGhee would rip the heart and soul out of the most successful Motherwell team in more than a decade.

McGhee is widely expected to turn his back on the chance to lead the Fir Park outfit into Europe next term and bag a bumper £375,000-a-year deal at Hearts after the Tynecastle club made an official approach on Friday.

The former Reading, Wolves and Brighton boss, who turns 51 today, has seen his stock soar this season after steering his swashbuckling side to third spot in the SPL and a place in the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1995.

And Hughes, signed by McGhee from Leicester in August, admits he and his team-mates would be devastated if their mentor leaves for Gorgie.

The former Rangers midfielder said: "It would be a massive loss. Everything this season is down to the manager.

"We've obviously played a part on the pitch but the way he has prepared us and imparted his philosophy on football is the reason we've gone so far.

"Everything the gaffer does is done meticulously, every single thing.

"When you go into training no matter who you are playing, whether it's Hibs or Rangers, his training is based on what it is going to be like on the Saturday.

"The boss is really knowledgeable on the game and his man-management is brilliant too. Everything about him is spot on and it has showed this season.

"Because Mark has done so well he's always going to be linked with big clubs and now we just need to keep our fingers crossed he stays."

Ironically Hughes came within a whisker of joining Hearts last summer.

But the deal taking him to Tynecastle was delayed allowing McGhee to muscle in and hijack the move.

The past year has convinced Hughes he made the right choice in opting for his hometown team ahead of the Edinburgh outfit.

The 25-year-old said: "I was really close to joining Hearts but in football sometimes these things don't work out.

"However, this season it has been for the best. I've enjoyed my time at Motherwell and there's still a lot to come from this team."