JIM O'BRIEN today told his Motherwell team-mates they still have something to play for, despite missing out on a top-six SPL spot - their futures at Fir Park.

Former Celtic youth player O'Brien was devastated that the Steelmen failed to take their chances against St Mirren in the final game before the split on Saturday.

And the Well winger knows the consequences of not securing a money-spinning place among Scottish football's elite clubs will be severe.

He said: "We are all bitterly disappointed. We did well to come back and get ourselves in the position to get into the top half of the table.

"To fall at the last hurdle is hard to take.

"But we have to dust ourselves down and bounce back.

"We have five hard games, against teams fighting for their lives, left to prove we are a good side. We must try to win them all.

"I have had to work really hard to get into the team and stay there this season.

"I will continue to work my socks off in training to stay involved in the team.

"I want to prove to the manager Mark McGhee and his assistant Scott Leitch, who have both been excellent for me, that I can stay here.

"I am sure the other players will want to show that, too.

"Plus, the higher up the league we finish the more money the club gets from the SPL.

"It is not as if Motherwell is rolling in cash. It is important. We must try to finish in seventh place."

Meanwhile, O'Brien has refused to blame the shocking state of the Fir Park playing surface - which is set to be relaid in the summer - for Motherwell's failure.

He stressed: "We can't use the pitch as an excuse. Sure, it isn't ideal for the way we like to play football.

"But, at the end of the day, there are two teams on the same surface.

"Having said that, hopefully the pitch will get sorted for next season. A good pitch would help us a great deal."