MOTHERWELL boss Craig Brown is desperate to keep hold of influential winger Jim O'Brien.
O'Brien was instrumental in leading Motherwell to a 3-0 win at Aberdeen on Saturday but he would have been playing for the opposition had it been up to Mark McGhee, who has spoken of his desire to take the former Celtic player to Pittodrie.
Brown, though, is determined to hang on to the 22-year-old.
He said: "We will be disappointed if Jim O'Brien leaves. It is our intention to try to retain his services. We want Jim O'Brien to want to play for Motherwell.
"I hope he will see that Motherwell is worth playing for. He is a smashing player and two weeks ago he scored two great goals at Kilmarnock. He didn't score today but he was a creator.
"He is always a great man to get you up the pitch when you give him the ball. You just can't get it back from him."
Dons boss McGhee said there was still "a chance" that he would manage to bring some fresh blood to Pittodrie before the transfer window shuts on Monday evening.
When asked about his pursuit of O'Brien, McGhee said: "I have asked him not to play as well as that, particularly when he is playing against us but he won't listen to me.
"I can't do anything about that. I have been trying to get him here and I have certainly been trying to get him to commit to a pre-contract but for loyalty reasons Jim hasn't felt he wanted to do that and I think you have to respect that. There is nothing I can do about that."
McGhee was also hopeful that the transfer window would close without any of his squad leaving Pittodrie.
He said: "Someone said after we beat Hearts on Wednesday night that I'd be struggling to keep some of my players. Hopefully the people that heard about them on Wednesday night came here and saw them today and are away home forgetting about them."
And the Dons boss was pleased his side would have the chance to avenge their 3-0 defeat to Well when Falkirk visit the Granite City on Tuesday evening.
He added: "I was cautious before the game because I'm not convinced we have turned the corner as you would say. I think this match proves we still have a lot of work to do.
"But there are good performances in us as well and we have to produce another one on Tuesday night."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk