Preview: Hearts v Motherwell - Steve Jennings ban will not faze Stuart McCall

Published on Saturday 24 December 2011 03:42

MOTHERWELL manager Stuart McCall vowed to move on after Steve Jennings was suspended for today's clash with Hearts.

Motherwell unsuccessfully challenged a two-match suspension offered to the midfielder following a clash with Jim Goodwin, who accepted an identical ban.

After being barged in the back, Jennings raised his hand to the St Mirren midfielder's face before being punched in the stomach. Jennings claimed he was deliberately hit in the face by Celtic striker Gary Hooper in September, but that incident was not studied by the Scottish Football Association's compliance officer. However, McCall is more concerned with maintaining third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League than getting too embroiled in the debate over the SFA's new disciplinary process.

The consistency of the system was recently criticised by Rangers manager Ally McCoist after Sone Aluko was banned for diving despite a previous tribunal clearing Hibernian striker Garry O'Connor.

McCall said: "It's disappointing but that's what has happened and that's where the game is going. It's not something I held my breath about.

"I don't think anyone in football thought Garry O'Connor would get off with his dive but he did.

"It's always worth an appeal. We thought we had a little chance, we didn't think it was worth a two-game ban. But you take your medicine, like it or not, and we move on.

"The disappointing thing is Jenno has really been on top of his game, probably as well as he's played since I've been at the club.

"So he will be a big miss but whoever comes in will hopefully do well."

McCall does have some concerns about the number of incidents that compliance officer Vincent Lunny might need to study.

But he said: "Whatever the rules are now we can't keep harking back to what it was like in my day. There are a lot of things that have improved it, people used to be able to tackle from behind and go down people's Achilles and put them out the game.

"That's good that doesn't happen, you see more skilful football. But I think the bottom line is who actually decides what complaints should be made?

"Is it on the TV on a Sunday night and is it down to the TV people what they show? Or can anyone now say 'I caught this on my phone and he slapped someone and no-one saw it'?

"It looks like the compliance officer is going to be a very busy man every weekend and that's not what we really want. But if people are breaking rules then they need to be punished."

Motherwell face a Hearts side still waiting for wages due on December 16 following major delays in their two previous monthly payments.

Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson has ruled himself out of tomorrow's game in protest, but McCall is not expecting any less of a challenge at Tynecastle and is more concerned with the personal impact of his opponents' problems.

"It's so, so sad," McCall said. "I missed it at Bradford a couple of times.

"A week after I left the club they went into administration and I had a lot of friends who didn't get paid over the close season, three months. I know how difficult it is.

"It's terrible what's happening, not only for the players first and foremost, but for the fans and everyone associated with Hearts, which is a terrific football club.

"I think everyone will wish them better fortunes in the new year and hopefully the club can sort itself out."

One of the players waiting for payment is John Sutton, who moved his family across to the east of Scotland after being tempted away from Motherwell in the summer by a more lucrative three-year contract offer.

"I'm sure it is [frustrating] for John," McCall said. "He did well for us and we were sad to see him go.

"He was going to a bigger club, obviously financially better off, but the tradition they have got there and the crowds they have got there, it was a no-brainer for him. I feel for him but I feel for every Hearts player. But we have got to look after ourselves."

Taken from the Scotsman