Alloa Athletic are braced for an approach for manager Paul Hartley should Motherwell need to find a replacement for Stuart McCall, who is a candidate to take over at Sheffield United.

Hartley could be the man to fill the vacant post which would be left at Fir Park after leading Alloa to successive promotions from the Irn-Bru Third Division, defeating Dunfermline Athletic in a play-off last weekend.

An Alloa spokesperson last night said: "Paul Hartley has been terrific in his time here and it goes without saying we would not welcome any approach."