MARK McGHEE has accepted that a loan move for Celtic's John Kennedy is off. The Motherwell manager was determined to sign the central defender on a six-month deal. Kennedy had flown out with the Fir Park outfit to Austria for pre-season training in the hope of securing the move.
However, McGhee has admitted the 24-year-old is unlikely to feature for his club in the new campaign.
He said: "Celtic were insistent on a deal that my board felt was too rich for Motherwell. It is extremely disappointing for me as it looks like h
e is going to go elsewhere."
It is believed that Celtic wanted Motherwell to cover Kennedy's wage packet in full. Preston North End and Norwich City are now said to be interested in taking the Scotland internationalist on loan.
Meanwhile, Steven Hammell is looking to hit peak fitness for Motherwell's tough start to the season following his first taste of McGhee's mountain runs. The defender returned to Fir Park in January after an 18-month spell at Southend to help the Steelmen seal third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Hammell's team-mates had benefited from their training camp in Austria last summer and the left-back admits his debut experience in Obertraun was as intense a training regime as he has experienced.
"We went to Austria for a week but I'm sure it felt more like three months," the 26-year-old said.
"We were up at seven every day running in the trees and the hills. It was hard work but it was good work as well and hopefully the benefits will show in the next few games because the gaffer demands a high level of fitness. Every pre-season is difficult but the way they structure the runs and the intensity is different. There is no slacking off at any time so it's intense in that way.
"He gives you targets to reach and you have got to get to them.
"The gaffer sets high standards, he doesn't just hope for the best – he demands the best."
McGhee appeared to expect more from Hammell following his return when the Motherwell manager said he was looking forward to getting the full-back as fit as the rest of the squad.
Hammell did not feel worse off but he hopes his hard work will pay off as Motherwell begin their season at Hearts followed by games against the rest of the SPL's top six. "When he said that I didn't feel less fit than the rest of the boys," the Scotland cap explained.
"Because I hadn't done a pre-season at Motherwell he wasn't sure what I was doing before, but personally I felt fit enough. I have played every game since pre-season so I can't have done any more. I'm feeling fit now and hopefully in another couple of games we'll be ready to fly out the blocks because it's a tough start."
Motherwell continue at home to Bradford today following a the midweek 1-1 draw against Wolves at Fir Park.
The full article contains 521 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
