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Motherwall sack coach Mark McGhee after 'disappointing run of results'

Mark McGhee paid the price for a poor run of results after being sacked as Motherwell boss following their 5-1 home defeat by Dundee.

The decision was made at a meeting of Motherwell directors on Monday night and fully supported by the club's supervisory board, which consists mainly of board members of the Well Society, the supporter-run majority shareholder.

McGhee was told when he arrived back at work on Tuesday morning.

The writing was on the wall at half-time on Saturday, when Motherwell had already conceded five goals. Although McGhee pointed to an inexperienced defence which was missing the injured Stephen McManus, Richard Tait and Steven Hammell, all three had played in a 7-2 thrashing by Aberdeen 10 days earlier.

A run of six defeats in seven difficult fixtures ultimately cost McGhee, along with the evaporation of backing from supporters, a section of whom were against his return for a second spell in October 2015.

A small group of mainly young fans protested outside Fir Park, some of them congregating immediately after the half-time whistle, but it was clear other less demonstrative supporters had also lost faith.

With a potential relegation battle looming, the club took the decision to remove McGhee rather than risk doing nothing and going down with an unpopular manager at the helm.

McGhee's disciplinary problems did not help his case. The Scotland assistant manager -- who already had a one-match suspended touchline ban -- was charged with misconduct following a dismissal at Aberdeen and faced further punishment for accusing fourth official John McKendrick of having an "agenda" against him.

The Scotland assistant boss, who swore at an Aberdeen fan who filmed his journey into the stand, claimed he had been the victim of an injustice, but a possible five-match touchline ban was a far from ideal scenario for a boss leading a relegation fight.

A club statement read: "The decision, taken by the board following consultation with the Well Society, comes after a disappointing run of results, culminating in Saturday's loss at home to Dundee.

"Stephen Robinson, flanked by assistant James McFadden and under-20s boss Stephen Craigan, has agreed to take temporary charge whilst a new permanent manager is recruited as swiftly as possible.

"The club wishes to thank Mark for his work during his second spell at Fir Park, particularly getting the club into the top six during the 2015/16 season, and wish him every success in the future."

Robinson only returned to the club eight days earlier after a short spell as Oldham manager, but his appointment was at McGhee's behest and it is understood he was not lined up to take over in the long term, although a victory at Kilmarnock on Saturday would naturally put him in the frame.

Robinson told reporters outside Fir Park: "Obviously it's a big disappointment. Mark has brought a lot of these players to the club and a lot of the staff so the mood's very sombre.

"Mark obviously knows that's football but it's extremely disappointing.

"There's obviously a lot of love for Mark in the club, he has been here a long time, but the players themselves are paid to play football and ultimately they get another chance when sometimes managers don't.

"So they have to pick themselves up, there is a massive game Saturday for the football club.

"Their attitude has been great, Mark has said that all along as well, and now they have to start producing as well."

McGhee led Motherwell to a top-six place last season and his development of Marvin Johnson subsequently helped the club bring in a reported six-figure fee from Oxford.

But the loss of Johnson and an injury to summer signing Carl McHugh meant Motherwell's season never quite got going, a fact McGhee admitted, and they have fallen to 10th.

The Motherwell players now go to Rugby Park on Saturday and captain Keith Lasley has urged a reaction.

"We feel as if as a group we have let the manager down to be honest," Lasley said. "It's our responsibility now, we need to move on, we know it's the game we are involved in, but we are just disappointed more than anything.

"We knew we had had a sticky few weeks, there is no doubt about that, but we still felt he was the right man to turn things round.

"It's obviously not the case, we all understand we are in a results-driven business and we need to move on now.

"Mark has spoken to us this morning and it's up to us now to react and go and win a game on Saturday."

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