MOTHERWELL could bank a £450,000 windfall if Scotland hero James McFadden completes his £5.75m move from Everton to Birmingham City.

The Fir Park club inserted a clause in the player's contract when they sold him to the Toffees for £1.25m back in 2003.

And they will get a big chunk of the transfer fee if Alex McLeish succeeds in landing the player who gave him the greatest moment of his managerial career.

Faddy scored the wonder goal which secured a 1-0 win over France in Paris last year when Big Eck was still boss of the national team.

McLeish had bids of £2.5 and £3m turned down for his countryman, but stunned English football yesterday by upping his offer to £5.75m.

That looks like being enough to secure the services of a player who has been unable to hold down a regular first team place in his four years at Goodison Park.

McFadden, who had been interesting both Celtic and Rangers, and his representatives have opened talks over personal terms with the Barclays Premier League club.

But a move to St Andrew's is expected to be completed before the weekend and the 24-year-old could line up against Chelsea in a home league game this weekend.

The prospect of playing alongside McFadden at Birmingham is one that excites his Scotland team-mate, former Hibs star Garry O'Connor.

He said: "James is an unbelievable talent. If we could manage to lure him to Birmingham, then he would be a fantastic signing.

"He has worked for the gaffer before and to get him here would be great because he's top class."

O'Connor is also set to be joined at Birmingham by his former Easter Road team-mate David Murphy, after Hibs agreed to sell him for a £1.5m fee.

Murphy has agreed personal terms with the Midlands club and will sign a three-and-a-half-year contract with a two-year option, subject to him passing a medical today.