MOTHERWELL cult hero Willie Pettigrew admits Sheffield United's approach to speak to manager Stuart McCall is the news he has been dreading.

The Blades have axed gaffer Danny Wilson after they failed to make it back to the Championship, with McCall at the top of their wishlist to replace him alongside MK Dons boss Karl Robinson.

The Fir Park manager did sign a new two-year deal just a couple of months back, but it is understood the contract has a compensation clause which would allow a club to snap up the 48-year-old from it if a figure could be agreed.

McCall has already enjoyed a spell at Bramall Lane as assistant gaffer to Neil Warnock back in 2006 when the duo took the Yorkshire club back to the Barclays Premier Leauge, while he also starred in the United midfield for three years as a player.

The former Scotland international has guided the Steelmen into Europe for the last two seasons and claimed a new SPL club record of 63 points this term, en route to a second-placed finish while also having taken Well to the Scottish Cup final two years ago.

And Pettigrew fears that the emotional pull of his former team, plus a feeling that he has done everything he can at the Lanarkshire club, may prove decisive.

The Motherwell icon said: "We knew there would be a fair amount of change at the club this season with players coming and going, but the only person I was concerned about exiting was Stuart.

"You have to say that the manager has done a fantastic job over his time at Fir Park and it is a concern that he may well feel he has achieved all he can at Motherwell.

"Stuart has progressed the club in very impressive fashion but he is probably asking himself 'how can I take Motherwell any further?'.

"I think that is a question that any manager asks himself when he has achieved as much as Stuart has with a team, and he knows that once again he will face his budget being cut.

"Added to that, Darren Randolph and Nicky Law have already gone and I would imagine that Michael Higdon and maybe another two or three others who are out of contract will be off.

"So Stuart has a huge job on his hands at Motherwell this summer, if he stays, just to keep the club where they are next season."

McCall is currently in Benidorm with most of his first-team squad on a post-season break and is not due to return until tomorrow.

But by that time the Well board could have granted permission for United to make their approach.

Pettigrew added: "Sheffield United are a very big club and despite the fact they are in League One, they regularly attract crowds of over 20,000.

"Stuart knows all about the club and its history. Jamie Murphy went down there in January as well.

"While my heart hopes that Stuart will stay at Motherwell, my head is telling me he would be silly to turn Sheffield United down if he is eventually offered the job."