McGhee: Motherwell 'bending over backwards' to keep out-of-contract stars

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee insists the club are "bending over backwards" to extend the stays of their experienced out-of-contract players.

But he believes they appreciate the reasons they have been offered reduced wages.

Long-serving trio Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley and Steven Hammell are all out of contract and have been told the club cannot afford to pay the same deals, while Craig Samson and Scott McDonald are also in talks with the latter having a year's option on his deal.

Motherwell have lost £2million over the last four seasons with the gaps plugged by the Well Society and Les Hutchison. The latter is in talks to sell his majority stake to the fans group for £1 but he has consistently stated he wants his interest-free loans back eventually.

McGhee said: "It's not really a take-it-or-leave-it because we are bending over backwards to find everything we can to make it as improved as we can make it in order to persuade them to stay.

"However, there is a finite amount that we now kind of know. We need a squad next year of 20 and in order to get that at a reasonable level we have to make offers to allow them to afford that, because we don't have a generous benefactor sitting in the wings to make up some shortfall. Those days have gone here.

"We must work with what we have. The offers we have made and, if offers are improved, will be based on real money, on what we can afford without making the club go bust again."

McGhee, who is also waiting on an answer from teenage defender Ben Hall's agent, said: "I think the boys are reasonable. The boys are intelligent and they understand the dilemma the club finds itself in. They know we are not making it up, they know we are not saving a tranche of money to go and get someone else in. They know we are doing the best we can to get them the best offers we can.

"And in their minds they are trying to be as flexible as they can and as accommodating within their needs and expectations, to help us as well. So I think there is a two-way thing going on.

"We now need to go back to them and speak to them again and see where we are."

Motherwell end their season at Celtic Park on Saturday looking for a Parkhead double against the Premiership champions.

"We are going to go there as we did the last time trying to win the game," he said.

"We will not be going there with any fear because we know we can give them a game, and because there is nothing to lose: we have got fifth place and there is nothing else to be decided."