McCormack leaves Fir Park

Mark McGhee had tried to keep him at Fir Park and suggested that another season in claret and amber might see some of the bigger clubs in England showing and interest.

Wigan and Middlesbrough were linked with him after the end of last season but he the announcement from Wales on Saturday settled the issue.

No doubt the press will describe him as an 'ex-rangers player' but he owes this moves to Malpas and McGhee who rescued him after a loan spell at Doncaster. Malpas was familiar with him via the Scotland U21 squad and he arrived at Fir Park in July 2006.

He missed much of that season due to a viral infection and we saw little of his potential in 2006/7. His recovery and McGhee's training regime resulted in a very different player appearing during 2007/8. He scored eleven and struck up a fine partnership with both Clarkson and Porter.

It became clear as the season wore on that his mind was set on a move when his contract ended.

Motherwell will be due some compensation for helping to develop the twenty one year old. There are no reports as yet of the likely sum but it will fall well short of his current market value.

He played an important part in last year's success and we can have no complaint at his choosing to play elsewhere. Good luck to him.

Whether McGhee feels that we need to replace him from outside the club remains to be seen. Impressive performances at Easter Road in our last outing showed that Murphy and McHugh are developing well. This departure might be the opportunity they have anticipating.