New Motherwell recruit Paul McGinn insists there’s no point being bitter over his shock Hibs exit.
The versatile defender looked set for another year at Easter Road after Leith chiefs took up an option to extend his contract. But that decision was quickly reversed by new boss Lee Johnson, who warned the 31-year-old he’d be looking at a bit-part role if he stayed in Edinburgh.
McGinn, though, insists he’s not one to hold grudges and is now looking forward to a fresh start at Fir Park having been offered a 12-month deal by Well gaffer Graham Alexander. The Scotland cap told Record Sport : “The new manager at Hibs came in. We had a chat and he said I was a good player but I’d be starting down the pecking order. That’s his decision but at my age I don’t want to be having to fight my way into a team, I want to be playing all the time.
“At that point it became common knowledge that I could move on. I had a few options but the Motherwell one was the one that appealed most to me.
“I suppose having to leave Hibs did come as a shock but it’s always the case when a new manager comes in that you’re never quite sure how you’re going to stand. I wasn’t new to this. I’ve seen it all before and knew there might be a chance I wouldn’t be in his plans.
“But there’s absolutely no point being bitter about it. It gets you nowhere being bitter. I’m just happy that I’ve got it settled and I’m looking forward to starting out at Motherwell.”
Motherwell is McGinn’s eighth club following spells at Queen’s Park, St Mirren, Dumbarton, Dundee, Chesterfield, Partick Thistle and Hibs. But he admits his repeated moves have done nothing to tune up his singing voice as he braces himself for his latest initiation ritual after joining up with his new team-mates in Austria.
“It’s a fairly settled squad,” he said. “I’ve obviously played against a lot of the boys here but I actually didn’t know too many of them.
“But all the lads have helped me settle in and I’ve not had to sing yet, which is a relief. I’ve had a few clubs so I’m well used to that routine - not that I’m any better for it. I can’t give away what song I’ll sing if I have to, that will spoil the surprise for the boys - but they shouldn’t be expecting anything worthwhile anyway!”
It’s 10 months since McGinn and brother John became just the their set of post-war siblings to represent Scotland when he won his one and only cap so far against Austria in Vienna. But he’s hopeful there could be more international honours in store as he joins as club that has provided a couple of regulars to Steve Clarke’s squad over the last few years.
He said: “The fact that guys like Stephen O’Donnell and Liam Kelly have received call-ups while playing here shows that the Scotland manager does look at this club. If you fly high in any league, people will start looking at you closer.
“Ideally we can do similarly to how the team did last year, get up around those European slots then that sort of international recognition can come next.”
McGinn also savoured his first taste of European action last term with Hibs. The Leith outfit’s continental run ended after just two rounds, though, as they were dumped out of the Europa Conference League by Rijeka.
The defeat still rankles with McGinn, who reckons it’s time Scotland’s UEFA entrants starting chipping in to the co-efficient effort. And he’s hoping Well can play their part when they open their Conference campaign at home to either Bala Town or Sligo Rovers on July 21.
McGinn said: “I’m sure all the boys will say the same, that they’re excited about it. I loved it last year with Hibs, although we really should have got through the tie with the Croatians last year.
“That was frustrating but I’m looking forward to another crack this summer. It all comes down to the luck of the draw. If you land a big team with all these resources, then you end up being a massive underdog.
“But it would be great for the club if we can find a way to reach the group stages. It’s about time other Scottish teams outside the Old Firm started doing their bit.
“The money the club could make would be massive. The sums would be a drop in the ocean for most European clubs but it would be humongous for a club like Motherwell.”
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