Ross McCormack believes his former Motherwell manager Mark McGhee would take Celtic to a new level if he succeeded Gordon Strachan.

McGhee is just behind Burnley manager Owen Coyle and West Brom boss Tony Mowbray in the running to take over as Celtic manager following Strachan's resignation on Monday.

McCormack spent a season with McGhee before earning a move to Cardiff and feels his former manager's man-management skills would lift Celtic.

The 22-year-old was part of a potent three-pronged strikeforce at Fir Park alongside David Clarkson and Chris Porter, which helped produce some of the best football from a Motherwell team in recent memory.

And he feels the attack-minded approach employed by former Celtic striker McGhee would take the Hoops forward as they bid to reclaim the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title next season.

"When he came into Motherwell we had heard about him but we got to know what he was all about in the first week," McCormack said.

"He's a great man manager and just commands respect from everyone.

"He's a great coach and I think the most important thing is that the Celtic fans are crying out for attacking football.

"If Mark McGhee goes there he will play his 4-3-3 and I think guys like (Shaun) Maloney, (Aiden) McGeady and Scott McDonald will flourish under that system.

"I think that would kick Celtic onto a new level."

The Motherwell boss transformed the club from relegation contenders to third-placed team in the Scottish Premier League in his first season.

Although his second season did not quite match the raised expectation levels, McGhee again led Motherwell into Europe via the Fair Play League.

McCormack was one of the many Motherwell players to undergo a marked improvement under McGhee, after enduring a debut season at Fir Park that was hit by illness and injury.

And the Cardiff striker, who netted 23 goals in his first season in Wales, believes the key to McGhee's success is his motivational skill.

"When I left Rangers and went to Motherwell I had a difficult first season," said McCormack, who was back in Motherwell today on a school visit organised by Nationwide, official partner of the Scotland team.

"Then he (McGhee) came in and told me I was going to be one of his main players.

"He gave me a whole new confidence to play football and I think it showed, I really enjoyed my football and improved as a player.

"He just knows that every player has got a different mentality.

"He knows how to get the best out of players and I think that's one of the main reasons why he would do so well at Celtic."

McGhee, who turned down an approach from Hearts last summer, has also been linked with a return to another former club, Aberdeen, following Jimmy Calderwood's departure.

McCormack insists Motherwell chairman John Boyle has done Scottish football a huge favour by giving the former Reading, Leicester, Wolves, Millwall and Brighton manager his first coaching role in his home country.

"I think John Boyle deserves a mention for going out and head hunting him and bringing him to Motherwell," McCormack said.

"It was a great piece of business and hopefully it will be good for Scottish football as well if he goes to Celtic and develops their young talents and they break into the Scotland team.

That would do everyone the world of good."
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