A year ago we avoided relegation with one game remaining thanks to a result at
One year on and the transformation has been nothing short of miraculous. Had you asked a bookie then what odds were available on Motherwell finishing third this season he would have been delighted to take your money.
Not only has McGhee pushed us up the table and managed to provide some superb entertainment on the way. He resisted calls to increase the size of the squad just to fill jerseys and concentrated instead on finding players of quality. The result was that we now have Porter and Hughes, arguably the best two signings in the SPL this season.
And there is more. Not only has McGhee demonstrated his competence through style and results, he has shown a mastery of the media which his predecessor could not hope to match.
It seems inevitable that our manager will have some tempting offers on his plate before too long. He has already hinted that "it is up to Motherwell" whether he stays or not.
John Boyle's dilemma is that the club has been running in the black since we emerged from administration. The 'golden rule' which has applied since then is that we should live within our means. Should Boyle bust the bank to keep the manager?
We are all aware that there is no guarantee that we will finish in the top six next season even if he stays but there will be a lot more income due because of our high league position. Last season's tenth place earned us a 5.5% share of the SPL's commercial income. Third place will produce almost double, 9.5%.
Whatever the decision Mark McGhee has given us a season we will never forget and, for that, he has our grateful thanks.
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