Motherwell fans have say as Kettlewell quits over abuse

Stuart Kettlewell has vacated the Motherwell manager's role

Stuart Kettlewell left his post as Motherwell manager after two years on Monday, citing the effect that abuse from fans was having on him and his family.

The club sit fifth in the Scottish Premiership but have lost three games in a row, are four without a victory, and have won just one in nine.

Kettlewell, 40, had been vocal in recent weeks about expectations at the club - arguing they were punching abover their weight - but what do Motherwell fans make of his decision to leave and his reasons for making it?

'Appalled', 'embarrassing' & 'careful what you wish for' - the fans' view

Graham: Really appalled it has come to this. Poor look for a 'community-driven club' to have its manager resign due to abuse directed at him and his family.

Fans have the right to speak out but personal abuse is taking it too far. We constantly punch above our weight in terms of budget and need to get real.

Thanks Stuart, sorry and good luck.

Bear: For a fan-owned club, with so called 'great links with the community' at its core, this is an embarrassing outcome - a wonderful manager, hounded out of the club, by clueless fans.

Motherwell will struggle to find another manager, as good as he was. Hope SK gets a job where he is appreciated.

Garry: I have supported Motherwell since I was young in the 70s. My seat is directly behind the home dugout. Stuart was clearly passionate about Motherwell.

I am embarrassed that he, who saved us, has us sitting fifth, took us to a semi and made money for us, has been hounded out.

All the best Stuart. You deserve better and I fear for my team now.

Anon: This is a very sad day. Yes, the team are not performing great, but the manager is only part of that, he should not be taking all the responsibility. The team are clearly not delivering and should take their portion of blame too.

We need to stop phone-in experts chiming in. Either you support the club or not.

Michael: Not sure who is out there at the moment. I'd say Well fans need to be careful what they wish for.

Kettlewell had the ability to turn it round. Will another manager have that same impact? I'm not so sure.

Stuart: It's a shame he has had to resign due to personal attacks.

Don't get me wrong, back to back defeats to the worst club in the SPFL isn't good. But over his time at the club he has done well.

'It's absolutely disgraceful' - the professional view

League Managers Association chairman Billy Brown on BBC Radio Scotland

A hard-working man like Stuart being forced out the game to protect his family shouldn't be happening. Stuart would've stayed but once it starts affecting your family, it's a different ball game.

He's been doing very well. Motherwell are fifth in the league. They're above Hearts and Hibs and he's been getting abuse, which is absolutely disgraceful.

He's putting his heart and soul into that job. To have to handle this kind of thing just isn't fair.

How does Kettlewell's record stack up?

Stephen Robinson was the last Fir Park manager to last more than two-and-a-half years.

The Northern Irishman won 71 and drew 30 of his 169 games games in charge. Graham Alexander managed a 39% win percentage and Steven Hammell 25%.

Kettlewell's 35 wins and 24 draws from 91games, which included two as caretaker, gives him a comparable record with Alexander albeit with a lower win ratio (38%).

Of course, win statistics only reveal so much - achievements can tell a different tale. Kettlewell came in mid-season and achieved a seventh-placed finish at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. Last term they ended ninth.

Kettlewell departed with his side fifth in the table and well placed to secure a top-six finish. They also reached the League Cup semi-finals but their Scottish Cup campaign ended in the fourth round.

'Performances of concern to fans' - analysis

One issue of concern among Motherwell fans had been the performances.

Although results weren't necessarily poor, a lot of fans weren't happy with the style of football - minimal possession with a heavy reliance on counter-attacking.

Back-to-back defeats in the Scottish Cup and league against bottom-of-the-table St Johnstone in Kettlewell's last two games in charge exacerbated that.

In fact, Motherwell have the lowest possession of any team in the top flight - an average of 37.7% - and the fewest shots. In terms of touches in the opposition box, only St Johnstone and Ross County have had fewer.

Kettlewell also continually changed the personnel while sticking with a five-man defence. Since Motherwell's last victory - a 2-0 win over Aberdeen on 5 January - he changed at least one member of the defence in each game.

However, it has not been an easy time at Fir Park.

Motherwell had to sign two new goalkeepers because of injury to Aston Oxborough and back-up Krisztian Hegyi being recalled by parent club West Ham. And then Ross Callahan, Liam Gordon, Paul McGinn, Lennon Miller, Harry Paton, Zach Robinson, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Jair Tavares have all suffered injuries.

But that hasn't done much in the way of quelling the anger of supporters, who are fearful of a lengthy winless run similar to last season's 15-game streak.

So what do the fans want now?

Anon: Think John McGlynn should be approached. Great record and playing attacking football. Keeping the ball. Not seen this at Fir Park in a while.

Jim: Duncan Ferguson or Barry Robson.

Ronnie: I have no doubts Derek McInnes would do wonders with our squad. He would walk straight into the job.

Alun: Tony Docherty.

Jim: I would go for Scott Brown. He's young and still learning, but hopefully keen to step up a league early in his career ?

Taylor: Love what Scott Brown is doing with Ayr, I don't see them being promoted this season, however. Would be interesting to see how his style of play would change the Motherwell squad.

David: Tam Courts could be a good option or Peter Leven from Aberdeen. Just someone who will attempt to play forward. Most would be an improvement

Steven: I know not everyone will agree but it has to be Neil Warnock. Let's snap him up until the end of the season. He's a short hop down the Firth of Clyde in Dunoon, available immediately and he would arrest the decline in form we've witnessed.

Robert: A bit ambitious maybe but if James McFadden could be tempted to resign his media job perhaps he might be interested. There's no doubting his love for the club and his knowledge of the game.

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