Frail backs 'exciting young boss' Kettlewell to bounce back

Stevie Frail will take the team against Celtic after Stuart Kettlewell's exit

Motherwell caretaker Stevie Frail says it is "sad" that Stuart Kettlewell, "an exciting young coach and manager", had felt he had to resign following abuse from a "very small minority" of the club's supporters.

The 40-year-old ended his two years in charge citing the affect it was having on his family as well as himself.

Frail, who was Kettlewell's assistant, will take charge of the team for Sunday's visit by Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic while Well's board ponder what they say are in excess of 100 applications for the job vacancy.

"I spoke to him last night," Frail said of his former boss. "He is fine, he's doing well.

"He is an exciting young coach and manager. I am gutted because he brought me to the football club and I just hope he gets an opportunity soon, if he wants one, to get back into the game."

Frail said that, although Kettlewell "kept a lot to himself", he "could see he wasn't himself most of the time" as the manager was targeted during a run of one win in nine games.

"It was a very small minority that have taken it a little bit too far," he said. "He's got three young boys and a young daughter and they love coming to the game.

"My two girls and my wife come to the game and they are glad it's not me on the end of things like that."

Frail is hopeful of uniting fans, players and club - and does not think the abuse Kettlewell received would deter good candidates applying to be his successor.

"We've got, in my opinion, a very strong fan base, this community-led club," he said. "It's been a tough couple of weeks, but we have fans that will support you."

Frail backs the players to recover despite four games without a win, the latest three being defeats - and the loss of their manager.

"The players were shocked when they came back in on Tuesday," he added. "There was a flattness there and it is part of my job is to get them lifted and the two training sessions we've had since then have been really positive.

"They were all right behind the manager, as everybody knows. They were disappointed, but they need to get that out their system and get ready for the game on Sunday."