Craigan 'No' to Motherwell job

Former Northern Ireland international Stephen Craigan has ruled himself out of the running to become Motherwell’s new boss.

The ex-club captain and current under-20s coach will assist caretaker boss Stephen Robinson in the run-up to Saturday’s Premiership game with Kilmarnock.

But he has already told the Board he has no intention of succeeding Mark McGhee who was sacked earlier in the week.

Craigan coached the under-20s to last season's Scottish Youth Cup and they face Celtic in this season's semi-finals but he is happy combining that work with his media punditry.

“I said clearly that it's not for me,'' he told BT Sport. “I don't want it.

“Stephen Robinson will take the game on Saturday. Myself and James McFadden will give him all the support that he needs.

“Ultimately if he wins the game he gives a proposition to the board to say 'look what I can do, I can potentially take this club forward'.''

Craigan revealed that McGhee was not entirely surprised when he was given the news on Tuesday morning.

A young group of fans protested against McGhee outside the main entrance of Fir Park during and after Saturday's 5-1 defeat by Dundee, which made it four losses on the trot.

Craigan said: “Mark had a meeting with the staff and players and he said he got the sense on Saturday with the crowd after the game being a little bit unhappy, he felt it was going to be uneasy.

It's certainly disappointing. That's the second time in 18 months I have been involved in someone losing their job and it's not nice. It's a sombre place.''

Lisburn man Robinson, the former Northern Ireland assistant boss, takes over at a time whne the club sit 10th in the table.