Blair Spittal Hearts transfer understood as Motherwell man 'at top of division'

Stuart Kettlewell admits Blair Spittal had to jump at the chance of earning more at a bigger club when Hearts came calling.

The Motherwell manager will be disappointed to see the playmaker leave Fir Park after this season but certainly won't begrudge the 28-year-old the chance to make the switch to Tynecastle where he'll play European football having agreed a pre-contract earlier this season. The boss has never hesitated to throw his top man into the team even after his summer exit was rubber-stamped and that, for Kettlewell, shows the mark of Spittal's professionalism.

And the ex-Ross County boss even claimed the playmaker is at the "top of the division" when it comes to throwback attacking midfielders who deserves the chance to go even further in his career.

“When you know the character of the man, it’s never a problem," Kettlewell said. "When you get the chance to go to a bigger club and earn more money – whatever job you do – you tend to jump at the chance. If I felt it was going to be a problem, you wouldn’t have seen him again, but not for one second have I thought it would be an issue.

“His performances have been fantastic, and I understand why a club like Hearts want to try and sign Blair Spittal. If you talk about those old-fashioned attacking midfield players, I think he sits right at the top of this division.”