Scott Mcdermott

MOTHERWELL boss Mark McGhee isn't surprised Hearts are vying for third in the SPL because that's where he expected to take them.

The Fir Park gaffer was just one flight to Lithuania away from accepting the job at Tynecastle after leading Well into Europe in his first year in charge.

In May he weighed up his options and decided against working for Vladimir Romanov despite conceding the Jambos are a bigger club. Instead it has been Csaba Laszlo (right) who has moved Hearts into contention for a Euro spot while Motherwell are slumming it in the bottom six.

But McGhee is adamant that if he had taken the plunge he would have led Hearts to third place in the SPL - at worst. He said: "I'm not surprised they are doing well and had I gone there I'd have expected them to be third at least.

"I looked closely at their squad and saw one strong enough to compete at the top end of the table which is where they failed last year.

"I could have improved my lot at Tynecastle but decided to stick with Motherwell."

Taken from the Sunday Mail