Former boss knows Wolves burden

Mark McGhee believes the expectations of Wolves fans place an unnecessary burden on his close friend Mick McCarthy.

Twenty years after helping Celtic to the SPL and Scottish Cup double as players, the pair are in opposing dugouts at Fir Park as managers tonight as Wolves take on McGhee’s Motherwell.

As such, the duo know all about demanding expectations of supporters. Both have experienced the ‘Molineux Factor’ as bosses.

McGhee was sacked from the Wolves job in November 1998, just 18 months after leading the club to what is still their highest position in the second tier since 1983, third in 1996/97.

That season, the former Leicester, Millwall and Brighton boss also managed to prise a 23-League goal campaign out of an increasingly injury-ravaged Steve Bull.

The warning signs were there following Sir Jack Hayward’s infamous ‘Golden Tit’ outburst, after the play-off defeat to Crystal Palace in 1997.

The final fling of McGhee’s reign saw him splash out on six players on transfer deadline in March 1998 in a bid to reach the play-offs again.

Although his re-modelled team reached the FA Cup semi-finals, where they lost to eventual double winners Arsenal, Wolves failed to make the play-offs and the axe fell soon after.

McGhee believes the expectations of supporters make the manager’s job difficult.

He said: “The expectations when I was a Wolves were very high and they continue to be. Whenever I go back to the club I can still feel that.

“They have a great stadium which is always packed full of passionate fans and they believe they should be in the top flight.

“But they have only managed that for something like one season in the last 50 years (It’s actually one in 26). No doubt about it, it’s a difficult club to manage.

“I loved my time as manager there. Furthermore, I feel I achieved a degree of success. In football terms, I hit the crossbar.

“In our first full season, we finished third and just missed out on an automatic play-off spot. We also reached the semi-final of the FA Cup.”

McGhee believes his pal McCarthy needs to show all the determination and resolve he was renowned for in their Celtic playing days to succeed at Molineux.

He said: “Mick and I have always got on very well. As a player big Mick was always very wholehearted. He headed the ball further than most people could kick it.

“He gave everything.  I always enjoyed playing alongside him. He wasn’t at Celtic for a very long time, but he certainly enjoyed his time there enormously.”

McCarthy also has fond memories of their time together.

He said: “We won the double and then the Cup the following year. I really enjoyed playing with Mark McGhee, Frank McAvennie and Andy Walker.

“Whoever was playing, it was a really important strikeforce we had. Mark was a very good player and I enjoyed playing with him. I always enjoyed his company too.

“Although it’s 20 years on, we’ve remained good friends ever since we won the double and we still keep in touch.

“He said I could head the ball further than most people could kick it . Well he could trap it further than most people could kick it!

“It’s a compliment – that’s what I was paid to do. I keep telling some of our players – if you’re playing in a role, then to be really good at it,  you have to be really good at something.

“As a centre-half, it’s important that you can head it. If you can’t then you shouldn’t play centre-half, because that’s what your job is and I was good at that.”

Coming after Wrexham, Hereford and Scottish First Division side Dundee, tonight’s game represents a step up for Wolves, as McCarthy acknowledges.

Motherwell have qualified for the UEFA Cup and boast several internationals. They also kick off a week earlier than Wolves, so are likely to be ahead in their preparations.

He said: “Motherwell will be a tough game – Mark has done an excellent job there. They’re looking forward to European football , so their tails will be up because they will be wanting to beat the English.

“It will be a good game and I’m looking forward to it.”

McGhee believes his side could achieve even more if they show more self-belief. He sees tonight’s friendly as a ‘necessary evil,’ in the process of getting his squad ready for the big kick-off.

He said: “I do believe one or two players in my side are capable of playing at a higher level than they currently are. This is an opportunity to prove me right.

“I’ve never liked pre-season games either as a player or as a manager. I see them as a necessary evil. I suppose they help us iron out the rough edges.”