Edinburgh Doesn't Impress Former Toon Star!
The 51-year-old has agreed an improved deal with the Steelmen following an approach from the Tynecastle club on Friday.
McGhee admits he was on the verge of boarding a flight to Lithuania to hold talks with Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov but had a change of heart.
McGhee: "I felt a move to Hearts would have been premature for me.
"It smacked a bit of what I did earlier in my managerial career. When a bigger job came up, I went.
"Hearts was a bigger job but make no mistake I would never say it was a better job.
"I couldn't allow myself to go this time because I have to give a little more back.
"As much as Hearts was a fantastic opportunity I have to stick it out at Motherwell a bit longer.
"I was at the door of the plane and would have been the last passenger on board. But I turned round and said, 'I can't do this.'
"We are in Europe and I have always wanted that on my CV. I want to have that experience. I've a fantastic little team at Motherewell.
"Even on the last night of the season when we won at Hibernian the performance excited me.
"I just found it impossible to draw myself away from that."
1977/91 M.E.McGhee 99/13 36 Two spells at Newcastle and they couldn't possibly have been so different. He came from Morton for £150,000 and looked as though he had the skill to make it, but always failed to deliver. He lacked strength and pace. But he went to Aberdeen and became a superstar. Capped by Scotland, he won Scottish Championships and Scottish Cups with both Aberdeen and Celtic. As well as European Cup Winners Cup medal with Aberdeen. Signed for Newcastle for £200,000 and hit it off with Micky Quinn straight away.