Motherwell: Does manager Stuart Kettlewell have three games to save his job?
- Published
'I've announced my own sacking before. I'm fine'
"The only way we get out of this is as a collective."
Those were the words of Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell after defeat by Rangers extended his side's miserable run.
But, even with boardroom unrest above him, the Fir Park boss' time is surely running out unless the Lanarkshire club can arrest their slump quickly.
In isolation, a two-goal defeat to Philippe Clement's title chasers isn't necessarily the story of their season, but the loss stretches a grim winless streak to 15 games - their longest such run since at least 1998-99.
"I just wonder where the next win is coming from," ex-Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan said on Sportsound.
"I want Kettlewell and the club to do well, but if they can't get the win they need then the trend has to be broken somewhere. The tide still hasn't turned and now the next three games are pivotal."
Defensive woes must be addressed
Motherwell have been working without a permanent chief executive since Alan Burrows left for Aberdeen almost a year ago, while both interim CEO Derek Weir and chairman Jim McMahon last week announced they are to step down.
Given that, the working conditions have been far from ideal for Kettlewell, but a manager who has overseen a 15-game winless run can't be immune from criticism.
The pre-season questions for Motherwell centred around how they were going to replace the goals of Kevin van Veen, who netted a record-breaking tally of 29 last season before leaving for Groningen in the summer.
After 19 games this term, the 20 goals Motherwell have scored is only four off the 24 they were on at this stage last year. Instead, the big issues are at the other end.
Kettlewell's side have conceded a league-high 31 goals. They have kept just two clean sheets in the Premiership this term, the second of which came in last weekend's goalless draw with St Mirren.
The Motherwell boss said he wanted to "back up" that shutout in Paisley pre-match on Sunday.
Within 16 minutes, his team were two down to Rangers. By the full-time whistle, Kettlewell was lamenting his side's naivety and "poor" decision-making.
'Pivotal' three-game run incoming
The next three games before the winter break very much have a now or never feel for Kettlewell.
Given their current run, a trip to Pittodrie on Wednesday seems daunting despite Aberdeen's inconsistent start. Following that, bottom side Livingston travel to Fir Park before Motherwell travel to Hibernian on 2 January.
A defeat in the Granite City, coupled with a win for Livingston at home to St Johnstone, would see David Martindale's men side travel to Lanarkshire just two points behind their hosts next Saturday.
That would only intensify a game in which Kettlewell must surely secure a win in, regardless of the circumstances around it.
"Maybe the board are saying they will give him until that Livingston game," added Craigan.
"But I think the cut-off point will be against Hibs on 2 January. If things haven't turned by then, I think they will make a change during the winter break."
Former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart echoed the view of his fellow Sportsound pundit as he said: "If it ends up being 18 without a win, that's where I think a change could happen.
"But if they get a win in there, Kettlewell will be able to see through the winter break."
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