THE clubs are heading for Europe but Murray Davidson and James McFadden have more domestic matters in mind.
The pair have almost certainly played their last games for St Johnstone and Motherwell respectively and were in reflective mood when looking back on a campaign that has witnessed each club win the right to have a tilt at the Europa League.
Davidson, the 25-year-old midfielder, signed off with an excellent goal in St Johnstone's 2-0 victory over Motherwell on Sunday, providing the impetus for his side to overhaul Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the race for the final European place. St Johnstone's destination is thus the qualification rounds of the Europa League but Davidson's plans are less clear. "It's sad I'm leaving but you've got to go to try to better yourself and I feel it's time to move on," he said.
He said he had not yet decided where he would play next season. "I've been trying to put it to the back of my mind, let my agent deal with it. If I started getting involved with that then my performances would have dropped," he said. "It's a long summer and that'll be sorted sooner rather than later."
Davidson has been linked with a move to Rangers but he said: "There's options north and south of the border. There's nine or 10 things you need to take into consideration. When I moved from Livingston to St Johnstone, there were a number of reasons why I came here and it'll be the same again."
He was more candid on what he perceived as the lack of recognition for St Johnstone after a campaign that resulted in a second consecutive qualification for Europe. "We could have had individual or team awards but we're in Europe for the second year in a row and that's a massive thing," he said.
He also said the spotlight falling on Ross County and Inverness also helped his team's cause. "It might have suited us coming under the radar," he said.
McFadden, in contrast, has been in the focus of the media eye since deciding to play for Motherwell but he is almost certain to seek pastures new, and one less bumpy than that at McDiarmid Park. "The standard is good but the biggest problem is that most of the pitches are terrible," he said of his return to Scotland. "It is hard to play football on them but if the surfaces are good then most teams want to play football.
"We flattered to deceive – we kept it well and it was nice on a bad pitch but we never really caused them too many problems. If the surfaces were better and the facilities were better, it would be a better standard."
McFadden turned out for Motherwell 13 times, scoring five goals, in this second spell and was hardly illuminating on where he will be next season. "I have not got a clue. I will see how it goes over the summer and then I'll make a decision. The season starts early but I am not in a rush and I am not going to get restless," he said of dealing with offers. "If it happens, it happens and I will decide what I need to do in time. I am not desperate to get anything sorted."
Motherwell have brought such as Nicky Law, Darren Randolph, Chris Humphrey, Michael Higdon and Tom Hateley into the spotlight this season and all may have played their last game for the club. McFadden, though, believes this system has positives for both player and Motherwell. "The team have benefited from that and it is European football again having finished second in the league. The players have attracted interest from higher up and it is only right that they move on because they have done well and deserve it," he said.
He added: "As much as the good players are leaving, it is a good advert for other players. If you come here and play well then you can get yourself a good move or play in Europe."
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