THEY have been, at least for those with an ML1 postcode, famously dubbed ‘The Class of 02’. Keith Lasley, Stevie Hammell, Stephen Pearson and James McFadden all emerged from the dark shadows of Motherwell’s youth academy at the turn of the millennium to provide a beacon of light to a club in the clutches of administration and choked by a frightening brush with relegation.

The four of them would go on to make their marks elsewhere in good time from Celtic to Plymouth and Everton to Southend. Despite their differing paths, though, all roads eventually led to home for a quartet now drifting towards the final stages of their careers with a claret band across their chests.

Pearson’s future at Fir Park is already secured for another season, but the situation regarding the others has remained precarious while the club attempted to battle its way into the Ladbrokes Premiership top-six; More to make sure they navigate themselves away from any potential play-off than in the pursuit of a reward gained from a lofty perch.

Now that safety has been secured, Mark McGhee has already turned his attention to recognising the contribution made both on and off the field by a core group of veterans that also extends to centre-half Stephen McManus and a man who is also back at Motherwell for a second spell, Scott McDonald.

While McFadden’s situation is slightly different – more on him later – the Motherwell manager spoke openly about the faith he has in his current lot, and how many of them will be rewarded for turning a potentially perilous season into a success.

“I don’t think any of them have shown any signs that they’ve not got more left in the tank. They are fantastic characters,” he said. “A good friend of mine who has a good view on it has said to me ‘I can say all I like about Chris Cadden, Ben Hall and all the young lads but when he comes to watch us he sees Lasley, McManus, Hammell and McDonald. They are the important ones.’

“That remains true. It’s good to have guys like them who have played over 700 games between them for Motherwell. They have the club at heart and that has been shown.

“Also having the likes of Las, Mick and Faddy coaching the young players. They want to be managers in the future and I think we can develop a succession here. There are people here who can be here for a long time.”

Turning to McFadden, who is currently on a record third spell at Motherwell, McGhee insists the door is not closed on him staying about beyond the summer. The former Everton and Scotland forward is now 33 and is in the process of recovering from an ankle break sustained during training last month.

Motherwell are vowing to stick by the player and help get him back up to speed, whether he stays at Fir Park or not. However, McGhee is only too aware of what experience the talented Glaswegian brings to the table, and he is ready to see what McFadden has to offer before making a decision.

“Faddy, on the terms he was on, was easy to have here,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Hearts. “What we have to do now is be loyal to Faddy and get him fit and give him an opportunity, if he’s not for us, to show other people that he is fit and able to play.

“He’s been contributing in lots of ways here. He may have only played a couple of games but he’s fantastic on the training ground, he brings another level out of the other players and is a great influence around the place.

“So Faddy will be given every chance to prove himself.”

Any hope of Motherwell sneaking into the Europa League via a fourth-placed finish may have been extinguished at the weekend – Celtic winning the Scottish Cup would have seen their spot handed down – but it has not lessened McGhee’s desire to finish the season strongly.

Without being able to reach third-place Hearts, the Motherwell manager will be only too aware that the team that finishes fourth brings in £211,000 more than the side finishing sixth. With the subject of new contracts on the agenda, it’s a figure not to be sniffed at.

“Getting fourth is the priority, winning five games is our target,” said McGhee.

“I think there will be different ways to do that and part of that will be giving people the opportunity.

“But by the same token other people have earned the right to be playing so I don’t think that just because we’ve crossed the line I can suddenly say you five will have to make way for these young lads.

“There’s still a competition on, remember, and until that’s done and dusted we’ve got to maintain the integrity of the competition. So I’ve got to put my strongest team out, particularly against Aberdeen and Celtic.

“It’s not impossible that the title race will go to the wire so we have to keep the focus.”