McGhee could quit Fir Park for Tynecastle job

MARK McGHEE will resign if necessary from his position at Motherwell in order to pursue the Hearts managerial vacancy.

However, several key issues relating to the job remain unresolved and must be ironed out before he will leave Lanarkshire for Edinburgh.

The board of directors at Fir Park yesterday refused Hearts' request to speak to McGhee officially, backing him into a corner from which he can only emerge by tendering his resignation if he wishes to continue discussions with Vladimir Romanov. He has already met the Russian businessman privately.

McGhee has stated that any contract he signs must include a clause guaranteeing him full autonomy on team selection, a request which Romanov has yet to agree to. The 50-year-old Scot is also keen to restructure the football department at Riccarton, which is also still being debated.

The majority shareholder wants further discussions with McGhee, but the manager has stipulated they must now take place with Motherwell's consent after the story reached the public domain. He is keen to meet John Boyle, the Motherwell chairman, to discuss the matter this weekend.

McGhee and Boyle had a gentleman's agreement permitting him to speak with other interested clubs privately.

He took the opportunity to meet Romanov upon hearing of Hearts' interest. No move can take place without compensation being paid, though, and Boyle is willing to bargain hard after rejecting yesterday's official request.

Hearts would be liable to pay Motherwell over £100,000 should they agree terms with their preferred candidate to replace interim manager Stephen Frail. That is the value of the final remaining year of McGhee's contract, but his appointment at Tynecastle is unlikely before the beginning of June with critical issues still outstanding.

Romanov and McGhee have discussed a potential yearly salary of around £375,000. Hearts remain hopeful of installing him as their new manager, with Scott Leitch as his assistant, before pre-season training begins on June 30. Leitch's appointment would involve a separate compensation package.

McGhee has other interested parties in Scotland, England and on the continent. The Leicester City job became available last night when Ian Holloway was sacked and McGhee will be among the candidates considered for that vacancy during the coming weeks.

However, he has made it clear to Hearts during previous discussions that Tynecastle would be his first-choice destination. He would like to rejuvenate the club and restore them to a challenging position within the domestic arena.

He is also Romanov's favoured choice for the position and will reluctantly walk away from Fir Park – if the assurances he desires are given.