Pearson wanted fee for Motherwell

Celtic-bound midfielder Stephen Pearson was not prepared to leave Motherwell without earning a fee for the cash-strapped Fir Park club, according to his agent, Willie McKay.

Motherwell and the Hoops have agreed a £350,000 (€503,000) fee for the midfielder with the move expected to be completed after a medical tomorrow.

Fir Park chairman Bill Dickie and manager Terry Butcher were critical of the player’s mental attitude after reports linking him with his boyhood favourites at Parkhead first emerged earlier in the season.

But McKay maintains the Scotland international was determined to see Motherwell earn some money for his signature rather than take their chances at a Scottish Premier League tribunal at the end of the season when his contract was due to end.

He said: “Stephen will have his medical and I expect there will be a press conference then.

“He is absolutely delighted with the move – he is over the moon. Terry Butcher rang Stephen to congratulate him and wish him the best of luck for the future.

“Stephen will now go into Fir Park to say goodbye to his team-mates and staff at Motherwell.

“That is the way he wanted to leave. He did not want to go down the pre-contract route because he wanted to make sure Motherwell got some money for him.”

Motherwell chairman Dickie believes the Lanarkshire club have not received a fair amount for the player.

But McKay argues that the £350,000 (€503,000) Motherwell will get for Pearson represents good business.

He added: “Considering he is out of contract in June, a fee of £350,000 (€503,000) is good money.”

Celtic’s initial offer of £250,000 (€360,000) was dismissed and negotiations then centred on the possible loan of players from Parkhead as part of the move, but that deal also foundered.

Celtic then upped their bid to £300,000 (€432,000) before agreeing the final figure.

But Dickie insists the club, who are still in administration, are unhappy that Pearson was not prepared to wait until the end of the season where the club were prepared to take their chances with a tribunal deciding the fee.

Dickie said: “We have very reluctantly accepted an offer of £350,000 (€503,000). Initially, Celtic offered £250,000 (€360,000) but that was wholly unacceptable.

“Although the offer was increased, we still feel it is substantially below the true value of the player and we were perfectly prepared to leave the matter to a tribunal.

“However, after extensive discussions with Terry Butcher, it became clear he did not have any confidence in Stephen Pearson being ready and willing to meet the challenges that will lie ahead at Fir Park until the end of the season.

“In view of that, it was agreed it was in the best interests of Motherwell to sell the player to Celtic.”

Pearson made his debut for Motherwell in March 2001 as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Hibernian.

He was a Scotland Under-21 international before graduating to the senior team for the Euro 2004 play-off first leg against Holland in November where he almost scored after his introduction as a substitute.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has been tracking the player for several months and is now on the verge of getting his man.