Motherwell manager Mark McGhee is clearly frustrated with Csaba Laszlo and Hearts over their conduct in relation to their interest in ‘Well striker Chris Porter.
I could see McGhee’s comments coming here to be honest, as Csaba’s public admission of his interest in Porter merely a day before the two sides were due to meet on league duty last week did very much smack of the sort of Old Firm unsettling tactics that have so annoyed us over the years. This sort of thing almost always has a negative effect on the ‘target’ club, and you can clearly sense the anger being felt by McGhee, especially after Csaba refused to confirm his public statements to the Motherwell manager in person after the game last week.
‘I asked the manager when he was in my office after the game if he was interested in Porter and he didn’t say he was,’ said McGhee. ‘Normally you make an official bid and then it’s reported.
‘As I said at the time, put your money where your mouth is. If they are going to make an offer then make an offer. Don’t mess about playing games.
‘The situation is transparent. Porter is out of contract in the summer and they know that the lad is looking around; he’s playing well, he’s scoring goals and he is going to attract attention.
‘We are a club that might have to sell. So if they want him, come and get him.’
I’d certainly like it if Hearts were able to go out and do just that, but perhaps it is the case that they’re waiting on the sale of say Kingston before they can finance such a move. Nevertheless, I do have some sympathy with Mark McGhee here – if this had been happening to one of our players and it was one of the Old Firm clubs who were knocking on the door, then we wouldn’t be very happy would we?
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I read a quote a week or so back, now it could have been wrong, but it seemed to imply that McGhee would be advising Porter against moving to Hearts and instead advising him to go south. I do feel McGhee is getting a little too upset about all of this though… After all the OF do this all the time, goodness knows how long Steven Fletcher has been moving to Celtic or Rangers….
… or Real Madrid. :-/ I wonder if perhaps the McGhee factor is coming into play here, where we are unsettling the player because McGhee messed Hearts about last year?
That’s definitely possible, although his comments in relation to us in the press have always been very respectful. I think he’s right to be angry here.
I?m disappointed by Csaba?s conduct here. It?s a well known underhand ploy used over many years by Rangers and Celtic (aided and abetted by the press of course) and it really *****es me off. McGhee, on this occasion, has every right to be annoyed.
Hmmm… yes… and no … in my opinion, regarding McGhee’s right to be annoyed. Presumably Motherwell have been unsuccessful in convincing Porter to sign a new contract – and with only 5 months left on his contract and with little chance of making Europe this year, the club would surely LOVE someone to make an offer to buy him now. As for Csaba, he isn’t in a position to make an offer until Vladimir says so (he may NEVER say so) – heck, if anyone should know how daunting it is to even contemplate doing business with Vladimir, its Mark McGhee !!
I think McGhee has completely overreacted though. I notice today that Huddersfield have admitted defeat in signing Porter.