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Latest updates

  1. Motherwell v St Mirren: Pick of the statspublished at 17:06

    Motherwell v St Mirren last 10 meetings, 4-3 wins, 11-9 goals, 3-4 clean sheetsImage source, SNS
    • Motherwell's Blair Spittal has been directly involved in nine goals in his last nine home appearances in the Scottish Premiership (five goals and four assists), with six of his seven league goals this season coming at Fir Park.

    • St Mirren went unbeaten in their first four away league games of the season (W2 D2) but have lost eight of their 11 games on the road since (W2 D1), failing to score in six of those defeats.

    • Motherwell have lost their last two home league games and could lose three in a row at Fir Park in the top-flight for the first time since November 2022; the Steelman have conceded the most home goals (26) and lost the joint-most home games (seven) in the competition this season.

    • St Mirren have won two of their last four games against Motherwell in the league (drew one and lost one), as many victories as across their 13 matches prior (drew five and lost six); meanwhile the Buddies could keep three straight clean sheets against the Well in the top-flight for the first time since February 2007.

    • Motherwell have lost just one of their last five home league meetings with St Mirren (W3 D1) though it did come earlier this season, losing 1-0 at Fir Park with Scott Tanser scoring the only goal of the game.

  2. Communication key for VAR and officiating issues - Kettlewellpublished at 16:46

    Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has called for talks between match officials and clubs after failing to get the clarity he wanted over their disallowed goal against Aberdeen.

    The Fir Park side wrote to the SFA raising concerns about the use of VAR, saying that refereeing inconsistencies are "having a serious impact on fans’ enjoyment of the game".

    Lennon Miller had a goal ruled out against the Dons for a handball in the build-up by Theo Bair, and Kettlewell said there has been no contact from the SFA since, and no "clarity" over the points raised in the statement.

    "There will be a lot of supporters that still wonder why one or two decisions were given," Kettlewell said. "I think people believe we do that as a football club just to be argumentative and it’s just this quest against match officials. It’s really not.

    "We thought long and hard about our actions and it was a football club decision. We felt the statement was measured and transparent and also, it related to the rules of the game.

    "There was initial contact [with the SFA] before our statement but there’s not been any further contact off the back of our statement."

    Kettlewell believes the same conversations around decisions will happen next year if conversations do not happen.

    "I have said all along the clubs have to come together," he added. "There’s an obvious grievance here in how, not so much with VAR, but how some of the rules have been implemented, sometimes what we are seeing, sometimes how many times we are looking at it and checking it, sometimes the communication, not just between officials and clubs but between themselves.

    "There is a big thing here. The football clubs, the referees’ association and the SFA, everybody, in my opinion, must look at this and realise there is an obvious issue and the only way to move forward, we have to come together, whether it’s dropping the ego and making sure that we are listening to others. That’s the only way we can move things forward.

    "These conversations must pack a punch and bring about some form of change otherwise we will be sitting here at the same time this year having the same sort of chat."

    Stuart KettlewellImage source, SNS
  3. Spittal 'fully committed' to Motherwell despite summer move to Heartspublished at 12:11

    Blair SpittalImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Spittal has scored 11 goals and contributed a further nine assists this season

    Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell says midfielder Blair Spittal is "fully committed to the cause", despite having signed a pre-contract deal with Hearts.

    Spittal will play his football at Tynecastle next season, and while Kettlewell refused to confirm the deal, he insists Motherwell did everything in their powers to keep Spittal at Fir Park.

    “All I can tell you is we know there has been contact but the level of that contact and where that sits, I can’t confirm that," Kettlewell said.

    "That’s quite clearly Hearts’ business. They are not doing anything out of turn if they are speaking to our out-of-contract players.

    “But the thing I need to reassure people on is we have offered Blair the absolute best contract we possibly could.

    “He has been terrific for us but the fight we have always got, is if a club like Hearts wants to speak to one of our out-of-contract players, they can double, treble what we can offer them. That’s not me pleading poverty, that’s just the honest state of affairs.

    “I would love to keep Blair Spittal at the club and the level of contract was indicative of my thoughts, but whatever happens between Blair and, for talking’s sake, Hearts, that’s their business and it’s their place to confirm or deny where that sits.

    “But I can 99.9 per cent convince everybody that we have a player who is fully committed to this club and there will be absolutely no change in what everyone has seen over the course of this season.

    “I am certain of that because I know the lad so well, because how I watch him train and play. He is fully committed to the cause.”

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  4. Pick your Well XI for St Mirren matchpublished at 18:56 27 March

    Motherwell return to action following the international break by welcoming St Mirren to Fir Park on Saturday.

    Who should Stuart Kettlewell include in his XI? Pick your team here.

    Motherwell XI
  5. 'Feelings of injustice cannot distract Motherwell'published at 14:46 27 March

    Jane Lewis
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Behind the mic graphic

    Motherwell return to action after the international break still clinging onto a slim hope of sneaking into the top six.

    There are three rounds of fixtures to go before the split, all three of which are against sides competing a top-half finish.

    St Mirren at home, Dundee away, and Hibs at Fir Park- those are the three games that will decide Motherwell's fate.

    Of those three, St Mirren are the only club to have beaten Motherwell in the league this season - a 1-0 win in September.

    St Mirren’s from has been a tad inconsistent recently, but they currently sit in fifth spot on 42 points, and are surely on course to seal a top-six spot.

    Motherwell have had plenty to stew over since they last kicked a competitive ball. That 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen at home was a sore one. So sore the club have asked the Scottish FA to explain the two decisions they felt went against them.

    They’ll need to forget all about that though for the run-in. Feelings of injustice cannot distract from what’s still possible.

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  6. Statue of Cooper restored - gossippublished at 08:37 27 March

    Gossip banner

    A statue of former Clydebank, Motherwell, Rangers and Scotland winger Davie Cooper in Hamilton has been restored, with former team-mates Derek Ferguson and Davie MacKinnon attending its renewal. (Sun), external

    Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

  7. Mugabi captains Uganda in eventful encounter published at 18:09 26 March

    Bevis Mugabi captained Uganda as his side twice came from behind to draw with Ghana in a friendly.

    The Motherwell defender skippered a backline that also featured St Mirren's Elvis Bwomono and Toby Sibbick of Hearts,

    Jerome Opoku opened the scoring for Ghana before a pair of penalties at either end made is 2-1 at the break.

    Muhammad Shaban scored a late Uganda equaliser in an eventual encounter, capped off by two Ghana red cards in the final stages.

    Bevis MugabiImage source, SNS
  8. 'Caldwell appointment puts a lot of concerns to bed'published at 11:04 26 March

    Jenna Thomson
    Fan writer

    Fans voice Motherwell

    Directly calling out the Scottish FA, and appointing a new chief executive - it’s been a big week for Motherwell.

    Brian Caldwell was announced last week as the club's new chief executive from the first week in April and it is a relief. After what feels like an eternity of uncertainty, we can now put a lot of our concerns to bed. I am hoping one of the main changes he makes is having his step-son Ewan McVicar take control of the matchday playlist.

    It is so disheartening to see fans of other clubs brand us as petty following last week's statement about the use of VAR and refereeing decisions.

    There were far too many comments accusing Stuart Kettlewell of “moaning” and “crying” when what he and the club have said is right. There has to be unity within Scottish football when it comes to things like this. If only one club stands up, the likelihood is nothing will get done, but if three or four echo the same thoughts, change may happen.

    If Hibs or St Johnstone put out a similar statement under the same circumstances, I know I would be in agreement with them, regardless of personal loyalties.

    I am hoping the club don’t get penalised by the SFA for speaking out and hopefully a review of the standards of both referees and VAR can be conducted so all clubs have a fresh slate going into next season.

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  9. Halliday hopes for pre-split chargepublished at 16:22 25 March

    Andy HallidayImage source, SNS

    Andy Halliday is hoping Motherwell can "put a run together" in the final three games before the split.

    The midfielder signed on loan from Hearts in January - a move that will become permanent in the summer.

    "I think it's great the number of international call-ups we've got, but from a selfish point of view, we hope they come back healthy," Halliday told club media.

    "You want to still stay fit [during the international break]. It's a chance for boys to rest and re-cooperate.

    "We analysed the Aberdeen game. You could see, quite glaringly, what went wrong for us at certain times. We felt like a couple things didn't go our way, but we still hold our hands up to say we didn't show the levels we're capable of.

    "I knew before I came here there was a lot of quality. I think we've been very competitive, we've always been in the game. Nobody's came and blew us away. It's about to try and put a run together before the split and get as many points as I can."

  10. Kettlewell on working with 'incredible' Van Veen at Motherwellpublished at 13:02 24 March

    Media caption,

    Stuart Kettlewell discusses working with 'incredible' Kevin van Veen at Motherwell, on BBC Sportsound

  11. Top six? Relegation play-off? published at 11:49 23 March

    Your Views

    We asked you where you think Motherwell will wind up as we head into the final stretch of the season.

    Here's a taste of what you had to say:

    George: I see Motherwell finishing seventh, which we would all have grabbed when on our dreadful run toward bottom of the league. Kettlewell remains the right manager, and credit to the club for sticking with him. He’s shaped a decent midfield and forward line, but our defence needs major surgery this summer as their inconsistency is our only consistency.

    Del: I think we will probably finish about seventh. Ideally, we win the final three games before the split and get into top six but we probably need a couple other results to go for us as well to make that happen.

    Tom: Given our poor run earlier in the season, seventh or eighth would be fine (and should be comfortably achievable). Sixth would be a bonus.

    Colin: After the Aberdeen defeat I don’t think we will be in the top six at the split. I don’t think we will be at the bottom but the team is inconsistent and it is still feasible, especially if we have a few bad results we may still may end up in the play-off position.

    Stuart: We'll probably finish eighth or ninth. We're too inconsistent to get top six but expect us to be above Livi, County & St Johnstone. Worried about next year though.

  12. Where will Motherwell wind up? published at 13:52 22 March

    Have Your Say

    We're firmly into the business end of the season.

    Motherwell may still harbour hopes of sneaking into the top six, but their number one priority is avoiding the relegation play-off when league business resumes. We want to know how you're feeling ahead of the final stretch.

    Where do you think the Steelmen will finish this season? Who will be the key players if your side is to end the campaign on a high? And what's your biggest concern about Stuart Kettlewell's side?

    Give us your thoughts.

  13. Caldwell brings 'experience' - McMahonpublished at 11:54 22 March

    Jim McMahonImage source, SNS

    Motherwell chairman Jim McMahon says new chief executive Brian Caldwell will bring a wealth of experience to his new role at Fir Park.

    The North Lanarkshire club announced the former Ayr United, St Mirren and Shewsbury Town chief executive would fill the position on Friday morning.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Brian to Motherwell,” McMahon said.

    “As one of the most experienced football Chief Executives who has worked in both Scotland and England, we feel Brian will be a huge asset to Motherwell Football Club.

    “The board and the Well Society are all looking forward to working closely with Brian when he starts in a couple weeks.

    Derek Weir had been fulfilling the duties left behind by Alan Burrows, who joined Aberdeen last February.

    “I also want to record my personal thanks to Derek Weir for stepping into the CEO role last year," McMahon added. Derek has now been involved with the club in various roles for over 14 years.

    “We are extremely grateful for the time commitment and the significant contribution he has made to the club during that period.”

  14. Caldwell appointed chief executive published at 11:22 22 March

    Brian CaldwellImage source, SNS

    Motherwell have announced the appointment of Brian Caldwell as the club's new chief executive.

    Caldwell has worked in football for more than three decades and held the same role at Ayr United, St Mirren and Shewsbury Town.

    The position has been vacant at Fir Park since Alan Burrows joined Aberdeen last February, with Derek Weir undertaking the duties on an interim basis.

    “I know how important Motherwell Football Club is to the local community, the fans and generations of families who support the club,” Caldwell said.

    “I am delighted to be joining and to be part of the exciting future that Motherwell Football club have in front of them.”

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  15. Spittal agrees move to Hearts - gossippublished at 09:06 22 March

    Motherwell midfielder Blair Spittal and Livingston full-back James Penrice will join Hearts in the summer under freedom of contract. (Daily Record), external

    The reported £6m fee for Celtic to sign Paulo Bernardo from Benfica permanently is "a bit steep", according to the club's former striker Andy Walker, who is urging the champions to look at Lennon Miller of Motherwell. (Go Radio via Scottish Sun, external)

    Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

    Scottish gossipImage source, SNS
  16. Motherwell love a comebackpublished at 18:21 21 March

    Motherwell celebrateImage source, SNS

    When Motherwell were going through a dismal 15-game winless run earlier this season, it was hard to find positives of any sort for those of a claret and amber persuasion .

    However, they have put that behind them and sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership, five points clear of Ross County in 11th.

    A key reason for that turnaround is the number of points Stuart Kettlewell's side have been able to pick up from losing positions this season.

    They have taken 14 points from games in which they have gone behind, more than anyone else in the division.

    Compare that to County, who have taken just two points from losing positions, and you see why one club looks likely to be in the top flight next season and one could be contesting a relegation play-off in the not too distant future.

  17. 'An obvious lack of consistency when it comes to VAR decisions'published at 11:31 21 March

    Motherwell fans voice

    With the split on the horizon, dropping points at home was the complete opposite of what we needed against Aberdeen.

    Throughout the first half Aberdeen were undoubtedly the better team, but refereeing decisions cost us come full-time.

    It baffles me how our goal can be chopped off for handball, when Ross County had a goal stand earlier this season in basically the same circumstances.

    I dislike conspiracy theories when it comes to refereeing, but there is an obvious lack of consistency.

    I was hoping and praying VAR would make a difference when it was introduced, but it feels like it just trips up teams. This isn’t me saying Motherwell are hard done by; every team in the Premiership will have had a VAR decision go against them this season.

    I am at a loss for words in all honesty, but we need to brush ourselves down for when St Mirren visit Fir Park on 30 March.

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  18. Motherwell write to SFA over handball rulepublished at 19:17 20 March

    Liam Kelly chats to Willie CollumImage source, SNS

    Motherwell have raised concerns about the use of VAR and believe that refereeing inconsistencies are "having a serious impact on fans’ enjoyment of the game".

    The Fir Park club have written to the Scottish FA following their league defeat to Aberdeen last weekend, seeking clarification over the handball rule.

    Lennon Miller had a goal ruled out against the Dons for a handball in the build-up by Theo Bair.

    And Motherwell have pointed to a similar incident earlier this season, when a goal for Ross County by Eamonn Brophy against the Steelmen stood despite the ball hitting Victor Loturi's arm in the build-up.

    They have also questioned the decision not to award Motherwell a penalty after the ball struck Graeme Shinnie's arm in the Aberdeen box.

    The statement reads: "We fully understand that individual decisions made during games will always be open to interpretation and that it is unlikely that universal consensus will ever be reached.

    "We are however concerned that rules are being interpreted differently, even during the same game, there is a high level of inconsistency in decision making and that the threshold for VAR intervention appears to be moving.

    "There is also the issue that no-one in the stadium has any idea why the goal has been ruled out.

    "We are aware from the recent SFA announcement and from interaction with SPFL officials that a full review of VAR is ongoing and we have had input into that process.

    "There are many potential consequences of some of these decisions, but we are most concerned that the inconsistency of decision making, regular lengthy VAR interventions during most games and lack of any clarity on why decisions have been made, is having a serious impact on fans’ enjoyment of the game.

    "The feedback we receive from our own fans on VAR is almost entirely negative and, if given a choice, we believe most would vote to no longer have it in use.

    "It’s actually not easy to find anyone who either participates in football or watches it who is happy with the current position."

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  19. 'Motherwell can't dwell on Aberdeen loss in race for top six'published at 17:58 20 March

    Jane Lewis
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Behind the mic graphic

    There’s a common belief among Motherwell fans that if a team is in need of a result, they will get it against the Fir Park side.

    Proof of that came on Saturday as managerless Aberdeen, without a league win in 11 games, left Lanarkshire with all three points. It ended Motherwell’s recent winning streak, and perhaps their hope of getting into the top six.

    That was always a tall order, but it now looks fairly improbable. They are now six points adrift of Hibs in sixth, and still have to play St Mirren, Dundee and Hibernian before the split.

    VAR once again played a part in the Aberdeen defeat, and Stuart Kettlewell couldn’t hide his annoyance.

    Motherwell had a goal disallowed for a handball in the build-up, and were denied a possible penalty in the dying minutes. It was the inconsistencies of the decisions that really irked the Motherwell boss.

    But the players and coaching staff can’t allow that feeling of injustice to fester. Between now and their trip to Paisley, he’ll need to have them focused again, drawing on the positives from their results before the Aberdeen defeat.

    Apart from the result, there were plenty good points to take. Motherwell created chances, they worked the Dons defence; they’ll need to do the same against their next three opponents - three clubs all above them in the Premiership with so much to play for.

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  20. Successful Scots abroad inspired Johnston's move to Sturm Grazpublished at 14:29 20 March

    Max JohnstonImage source, SNS

    Scotland Under-21s defender Max Johnston says he was encouraged to move away from Scotland by the success of other Scots abroad.

    The former Motherwell player has made 21 club appearances this season for Austrian side Sturm Graz, and is now back in Scotland preparing for the under-21s’ Euro 2025 qualifier against Kazakhstan on Thursday.

    “You saw how well Aaron Hickey has done (abroad) and now he is playing in the Premier League and Lewis Ferguson is flying just now," Johnston said.

    “So you see boys who have been brave enough to take the step and move away and that obviously encouraged me to do it as well.

    "I had a chat with the manager who really sold the club to me and once I went over, I understood how big the club is. The city’s beautiful. It’s something I wanted to do -move away, see the world and I’ve been lucky to move to such an amazing place."

    Johnston is is relishing being part of a title race in the Austrian Bundesliga, as Sturm Graz try to chase down league-leaders RB Salzburg, who they face immediately after the international break.

    "I’m loving it," Johnston said. "I’m starting to get in the team a bit more now which is a lot more enjoyable. I feel as though I’m improving. I’m only 20 - I’ve got so much to learn.

    "It’s exciting for the fans. We’ve got the league split now and the points have halved so that takes us to just [two points] behind RB Salzburg, so hopefully we can keep winning our games and try to catch them.

    "We play them next so it’ll be a huge game but those are the kind of games you want to play in. I’ll just work hard in training and try my best to be involved."

  21. Nicholson's first strike 'simply a relief' published at 16:15 19 March

    Sam NicholsonImage source, SNS

    Sam Nicholson admits he was "relieved" to get off the mark for Motherwell after struggling to regain his fitness.

    The 29-year-old started his first game since October in the Fir Park side's win over Livingston last month, marking the occasion with his first goal in claret and amber.

    “It was really difficult to get to a level of fitness where I could play,” Nicholson told club media, external.

    “There had been so many games and the Livingston match was the first game where I was allowed to start. I was looking forward to it and it was simply a relief to get off the mark.

    “It was my first start in six months, on the astro, so we were all thinking I would play an hour or so. I felt alright so played longer, I did start to tire towards the end of the match but it was good.

    “The coaching staff have been great with me. We’ve done a lot of stuff after training to get the fitness up. As a player, you want to just play every game but they’ve been smart about it, basically saying I would hurt myself if I went in too soon.”

  22. Motherwell lacked edge in Dons defeat - Miller published at 15:16 18 March

    Georgie Gent Image source, SNS

    Former Scotland striker Kenny Miller says Motherwell lacked aggression in defeat to Aberdeen on Saturday.

    The Fir Park side had the chance to boost their hopes of a top-six finish, but are now only two points ahead of the Dons and five above the relegation play-off spot.

    "When you're playing against a team that's really struggling, I would have liked to have seen Motherwell be a bit more aggressive and get in Aberdeen's faces because they allowed them to get into a rhythm," Miller told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

    "Connor Barron and Graeme Shinnie were able to get on the ball quite easily. Along the backline, they were able to pass the ball around under no real pressure.

    "Motherwell had a potential top-six place to fight for. They were in not bad form, starting to make decent strides towards the top six and they were at home to a team that hadn't won in 11 [in the league]. I would like to have seen a bit more from Motherwell.

    "They had a couple of breakaways but just lacked that bit of quality. When the chance came for Aberdeen, they took it. I have to say, the goal that Motherwell got chopped off was very harsh."