Brown knows nothing of Celtic interest in Paul Slane
Craig Brown is planning as if he will remain in charge of Motherwell long-term and could sign a player likely to be performing in the World Cup finals.
But the former Scotland manager says it should not be taken as an indication that he and caretaker assistant Archie Knox will stay on until the summer.
And he says he knows nothing about reports claiming that Paul Slane is to sign a pre-contract deal with Celtic.
"We're planning as if we are staying," said Brown.
Brown was given the job of caretaker last month after the surprise departure of Jim Gannon, who had taken charge in the summer, and it had been suggested that it would initially be for three games.
The 69-year-old thought that might have been the assumption because the chairman is due back from New Zealand around that time.
"I am sure he will have numerous applications, hundreds of applications for a job like this, so he will have his own ideas," said Brown.
I think we will bring one, maybe two, players in, maybe on loan
Motherwell interim manager Craig Brown
"Although he is communicating with the club, they will make an appointment after his return, but we have had no indication of the duration of our stay here.
"If it is three games, it is three games, if it is 30 games, it is 30, if it is 300, it is 300, it does not matter to us.
"I am not saying that we are going to be staying because we have never been given the indication that we are going to be offered the job here.
"It would be very nice if they said would you continue for a little while longer. We've got to get some results and then there may be an indication that there is a desire for us to remain.
"It is the transfer window time and we have already authorised a couple of boys to leave."
Forward Steven McGarry is to sign for Perth Glory, while defender Yassin Moutaouakil has gone back to Charlton Athletic at the end of his loan spell.
"Steven McGarry, who has done well here, as a 30-year-old wanted to go off to Australia and we were not standing in his way," said Brown.
"He was a good component. But, if he was a vital component, we would have discouraged him and asked him to honour his contract."
Brown has also extended the loan spells of goalkeeper John Ruddy and striker Lukas Jutkiewicz from Everton and appears likely to seek a replacement right-back.
"A right-back would be helpful, yes, but every position would be helpful," said Brown.
"The big boy Steven Saunders played very well at right-back and there are others that can play there.
"Tom Hateley has played there on occasions and is a very good versatile player, but we could probably replace Moutaouakil usefully. He was a good-looking full-back, but I think we can at least equal that standard.
"And we have his equal on the staff, otherwise we would not have allowed him to go."
Brown confirmed that he had previously indicated that there was the possibility of signing an international-class player.
"I don't want to get the expectations of the fans too high and then find that they are let down, but it is absolutely true we have been speaking to a guy whom we think could be playing in the World Cup," he said.
"We have identified one or two positions where, if we have injuries, we are struggling.
"I think we will bring one, maybe two, players in, maybe on loan, but it will depend on their availability and cost."
Meanwhile, Brown is to have talks with 18-year-old Slane, who has missed much of the season through injury, amid reports that the winger is poised to agree a move to Celtic in the summer.
Shaun Hutchinson and Ross Forbes, who also broke into the first-team under Gannon, has so far not signed a long-term contract with Motherwell.
"I've heard rumours to that effect, but Paul has been ill the last couple of days, genuinely," Brown said.
"Hopefully he will be back and we can have a chat with him.
"We haven't had any contact from Celtic Football Club and I do think that they would have the courtesy to phone and say to someone in the club that they were going to put one of our players on a pre-contract.
"So I would think it's most unlike Celtic. I would think that's the rumour factory in operation."
Slane's fellow winger, Jim O'Brien, has also been linked with a move to Aberdeen.
"It is understandable there might be interest elsewhere," said Brown. "I always think there is a time for a player to move and it's not maybe after he has just had half a dozen good games or half a season.
"He would be a far more lucrative proposition to Motherwell and an interested club if he is established here.
"James McFadden is a perfect example. I could have taken him to Preston, but whoever advised him said stay longer and you'll get a better move and you have to say that Everton was a better move than Preston."
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