McGhee has encouraged his players to maintain discipline this season

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee would be delighted to lead his team back into Europe - even if by the back door.

The Fir Park club could claim a place in the Europa League via Uefa's Fair Play rankings, which rewards countries with low disciplinary records.

"If we have to come back training the first week in June, I don't care - I'll be here," McGhee told BBC Scotland.

"The opportunity to get back into Europe would be fantastic - if that route gets us there, I'd accept it."

The Uefa Fair Play system awards three places in the first qualifying round of the Europa Cup for the best-ranked countries in the national Fair Play League, with the slot going to clubs that have not already qualified for European competition.

Rankings are based on a points system correlating to the number of red and yellow cards administered to each club and national side in Uefa over a 12-month period.

I'm pleased and proud of the fact that we don't have a bad disciplinary record - it's credit to the boys Motherwell manager Mark McGhee

Scotland sit third in the Fair Play League - behind Norway and Denmark - and McGhee insists the attitude of his players has played a key role in maintaining a low national card count.

"One of the things I say to them every time they go out is about their discipline, about not getting involved with the opposition, not reacting to anything, not over-reacting and not getting involved with the referee or the officials," said McGhee.

"I think we've done a pretty good job with that this season. They've been disciplined, which I think is why we're in that position in the Fair Play League this year.

"I'm pleased and proud of the fact that we don't have a bad disciplinary record - it's credit to the boys."

McGhee also says he's in the process of talking to players regarding their future beyond the end of this season.

"I'm talking to all of the players this week and looking ahead to what we can do with them and what we need them to do over the summer," he added.

"That includes players who are out of contract and players who are in contract that we feel could move on. It's an ongoing process."

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