You might think that the Motherwell players would be desperate for their club to ignore any advances for top scorer Theo Bair, and to have the man who bagged 15 goals last season leading the line for them once more in the new campaign.
In reality though, as Stephen O’Donnell admits, they are quite keen to see him leave Fir Park. Not because they don’t want him as part of the team, but because they feel Bair deserves a big move after the hard work he has put into the remarkable turnaround in his career.
Not only is Bair’s rise to prominence since Motherwell picked him up from the football scrapheap after a miserable spell at St Johnstone testament to the Canadian striker’s attitude, it is also a glowing testament to the club, in O’Donnell’s eyes.
If Bair does move on this summer, and the club can pocket a tidy sum on a player they signed on a free transfer just a year or so ago, then that would be a great outcome for both the player and the football club.
“It’s been brilliant for him,” O’Donnell said.
“He’s a great boy, which is probably the most important thing, so when you see him doing well there is obviously no bitterness there towards him.
“He’s been outstanding. Being over there [at the Copa America] and getting to experience it is great. Hopefully he gets on at some point too.
“It’s an upturn that maybe we all didn’t expect when he first came in, but the manager has worked hard with him, as have the full coaching staff, and I know that he has been working really hard on the analysis side of it as well.
“We’re all delighted for him, and hopefully he keeps it going.
“I actually wouldn’t be disappointed if he left, because it’s great that he has done well. The club have maybe found a rough diamond and polished it up, and that has got to be the market that we want to shop in.
“We have to bring younger players in, show them that we can be a great platform, and the manager has done a great job with that.
“When you get to be a big influence on somebody and then earn the club some money, that just underlines who we are and what we can provide.
“The manager works hard with every player, especially the younger ones. If they are hungry and they want to learn, they definitely will learn.
“If he goes, I’ll be delighted for him, and it will mean there will be a good few quid for Motherwell too, so that’s the real end product that you want.”
By contrast, 32-year-old O’Donnell – being as he is at the other end of the career spectrum to Bair – sees himself as being in with the bricks at Fir Park.
The Scotland internationalist agreed a one year extension to his contract with Motherwell this summer, with the club retaining the option of a further year beyond that, and he is hoping that he will be able to see out his playing days in Lanarkshire.
“When I signed the initial three-year contract, I was thinking I could see myself finishing my career here,” he said.
“I would like to do that, but you obviously have to be performing well enough and the manager has to want you, so I have to make sure I’m performing.
“Last year I had a good season. I played every game bar the last one, and I’m looking for similar again.
“I’ve come back fit, I’ve come back hungry to try and extend my career as long as possible. Ideally that will be at Motherwell, but if it’s not to be then it won’t be, that’s football.
“I’m excited for the new season. There’s lots of new faces and new challenges, and hopefully we can meet them.”
O’Donnell was in fine form for Motherwell in the second half of last season as he alternated position between his more familiar right wingback role and a berth on the right of Stuart Kettlewell’s back three, and he is more than happy to continue to fill in wherever he is required.
“I enjoy playing between both right centre-back and right wing-back,” he said.
“I want to play. I think the manager knows I want to play first and foremost, but I certainly enjoy playing right of a three and I think I can bring different qualities to the role.
“I think I was different to most of the boys who had played there with the attributes I have and maybe the frailties that I have, so it certainly gives the manager an option.
“Wing-back is obviously where I’ve played most of my games for Motherwell, so I’m happy to play there too, I just want to play so it doesn’t really make a difference.
“The manager, when you go out he gives you an idea of what he wants, and that means you can try and deliver that for him, and that’s the most important thing."
Meanwhile, Motherwell have confirmed the loan signing of Hungarian under-21 goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi from West Ham until the end of the season.
Hegyi, who played at Fir Park in a 3-1 defeat to the Scotland under-21 side last October, and saved a Ben Doak penalty in the return fixture in Hungary, was on the bench for Motherwell's first pre-season friendly against FC Twente in The Netherlands last night.
