Blades ask permission to talk with McCall over Lane job

The SPL side, who confirmed the Blades’ approach yesterday, are unlikely to prevent the League One club from speaking with the 48-year-old, with chief executive Leeann Dempster stating last week said that they wouldn’t stand in McCall’s way if a rival club wished to speak to him.

If McCall did agree to a move south following discussions, Motherwell are likely to demand £100,000 in compensation for his services, with the ex-Bradford manager and Blades assistant-boss only signing a new two-year deal with the club in March.

McCall, recently named as the SPL’s manager of the year after finishing second to champions Celtic, is understood to be the Blades’ No 1 target.

His exploits at Motherwell had led to interest from several clubs in England this season, with Doncaster Rovers only linked with him last week.

He is also understood to have been sounded out about the Barnsley job back in January shortly after Inverness Caledonian chief Terry Butcher rejected the Reds’ overtures.

Despite being linked with several posts, McCall insisted only last week that he remains happy at Motherwell, with his family only moving up to Lanarkshire six months ago and settled in the area.

Loyalty has been a feature of McCall’s career as a player and manager, although the lure of a return to former club Blades could prove a strong one for him.

McCall said: “You can’t stop speculation. (But) I’ve never once looked to go elsewhere, whether as a player, coach, manager.

“If, for example, Sheffield United wanted to speak to me, the club and the board have always been open with me as I have been with them.

“If somebody wants to speak to you, depending on who it is, you would maybe say, ‘Okay we will speak’. But it’s not definite that I will be speaking to anyone.

“I’ve always been happy here. Sometimes you get something that fits.”

If McCall goes to the Blades, Motherwell’s 26-goal top-scorer Michael Higdon – who won the Golden Boot in Scotland – has been tipped to join him, with the striker out of contract at Fir Park.

Also in the frame for the Blades job is MK Dons boss Karl Robinson, although the level of compensation is expected to be an issue if the Blades decided to make any move for him.