Mark McGhee has revealed a switch to Hearts "would have been premature for me" after deciding to remain boss of Motherwell.The 51-year-old has agreed an improved deal with the Steelmen following an approach from the Tynecastle club on Friday.

McGhee admits he was on the verge of boarding a flight to Lithuania to hold talks with Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov but had a change of heart.

He said: "I felt a move to Hearts would have been premature for me.

"It smacked a bit of what I did earlier in my managerial career. When a bigger job came up, I went.

"Hearts was a bigger job but make no mistake I would never say it was a better job.

"I couldn't allow myself to go this time because I have to give a little more back.

"As much as Hearts was a fantastic opportunity I have to stick it out at Motherwell a bit longer.

"I was at the door of the plane and would have been the last passenger on board. But I turned round and said, 'I can't do this.'

"We are in Europe and I have always wanted that on my CV. I want to have that experience.

"I've a fantastic little team at Motherewell.

"Even on the last night of the season when we won at Hibernian the performance excited me.

"I just found it impossible to draw myself away from that."

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