Former Cambridge United and Gillingham manager Mark Bonner is interested in replacing Stuart Kettlewell at Motherwell. (Daily Record), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSMotherwell are winless in 33 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D5 L28) since a 2-1 league victory in December 2015.
Celtic remain unbeaten in 19 visits to Motherwell in all competitions (W15 D4), winning their past 10 in a row by an aggregate score of 33-6.
Motherwell are unbeaten in their past four home league games (W2 D2), their longest such run within a single season since January 2022 (5 in a row).
After a run of 10 successive away league wins from April to December 2024, Celtic have since won just one of their past four on the road (D2 L1). They have conceded seven goals in their last three away league outings, more than their previous 13 beforehand (6).
Interim Motherwell boss Stephen Frail last led a side in the Scottish top flight in 2007-08 in caretaker charge of Hearts (P18 W8 D4 L6 in the league), a spell which included a 3-0 defeat to Gordon Strachan's Celtic.
Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland reporter
Image source, SNSDon Cowie believes "everyone is entitled to show their frustration" when it comes to results at a football club, but the treatment of the now former Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell by some went "too far".
The Ross County boss finished up his playing career under the stewardship of Kettlewell before joining the coaching set up in Dingwall and believes his friend has done an "outstanding" job at Fir Park.
"When you look at it from afar, which I do, he's done an excellent job," he said as he previewed County's weekend game with Rangers.
"They're sitting fifth in the league and have been to a semi-final of a cup and sold players which brought in a lot of money for the club."
Cowie described the "unbelievable" passion Kettlewell has for football, describing him as "the first one in and the last one away".
"He's never someone that shies away from accountability, criticism, the scrutiny of a manager and understands like we all do that comes your way", the Staggies boss added. "But when it goes too far, it becomes too much, and that's obviously the case right now".
On the circumstances that led to Kettlewell's departure from the Steelmen, he added: "I know results have a big bearing on peoples' reactions, and I think everyone is entitled to show their frustration, but when it crosses a line it goes too far.
"I don't think it would happen in any other industry. It's our role to accept that criticism, but when it goes too far we don't have to accept it."
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Receiving a certain amount of abuse from your own fans comes with the territory when you're a football manager.
It is maybe to be expected when your team isn't doing the business on the park. But when that abuse crosses a line, it is absolutely unacceptable.
The strain was etched on Stuart Kettlewell's face during his post-match interview last weekend. And we now know why.
Of course Motherwell are not on a good run - one win in nine, including back-to-back defeats by basement club St Johnstone.
What seems to have irked fans the most is the side's recent style of play. They've been accused of being passive, lacking creativity and a cutting edge.
They were also lacking several key players, yet that wasn't accepted by some supporters as a reasonable explanation for performance and results.
And now the club are looking for a new manager. Despite the reasoning surrounding Kettlewell's departure and the headlines that has attracted, there will be no shortage of candidates hoping to replace him.
Neil Lennon, Scott Brown, Steven Naismith and John McGlynn have all been mentioned as contenders.
It will be interesting to see where Motherwell go with this appointment.
Will they look leftfield as they've done in the past? Will they favour experience? Or will they look to a young, up-and-coming coach?
Chief executive Brian Caldwell, who is leading the search, might be conscious of supporters' desire for attractive football, but he'll also have to be realistic.
Motherwell are sitting fifth in the Premiership, six points off third place but also just six off the relegation play-off spot.
Former Huddersfield Town manager Mark Fotheringham, 41, would be keen to discuss the managerial vacancy at Motherwell. (Sun), external
Motherwell right-back Stephen O'Donnell, 32 admits the players are "shocked" after Stuart Kettlewell quit as boss following abuse from some fans. (Sky Sports), external
Image source, SNSMotherwell caretaker Stephen Frail says Stuart Kettlewell's departure has shocked the players and left them "really flat" as they prepare to face Celtic on Sunday.
Kettlewell's resignation was "reluctantly accepted" on Monday by the club, who cited the personal abuse he had received from some fans during a recent downturn in results.
"There was a lot of shock around the club yesterday when Stuart announced his decision," Frail told Sky Sports., external
"From a personal point of view, really, really gutted and disappointed. He was the man that brought me to this football club and I'm really sorry to see him go.
"I know I can speak for the rest of the staff and the players, they were really disappointed with their training session this morning, they were really flat, managed to get a decent enough session out of them because we need to focus on Sunday's game, but from a personal point of view it's really sad to see a young, vibrant, exciting manager have to come to that decision.
"No, [did not expect it] if I'm being honest, I mean we were close and we're very tight, but I think just the last couple of results have probably maybe moved him towards that decision.
"I could see it in his face, easy looking back now in hindsight, but you could see it in his face, it was taking its toll."
Jenna Thomson
Fan writer
This may be the hardest piece I have written. Stuart Kettlewell, I am sorry.
Have I criticised Kettlewell and his players? Yes. However, he did not deserve to have to quit his job, nor have his family feel unwelcome at games because of abusive comments thrown at them.
The so-called fans who have subjected him to this treatment should be hanging their heads in shame.
I have seen a good number of managers come and go from Fir Park in my time as a fan, some I agreed with and others not so much. This one stings.
Yes, one win in nine and losing two weeks in a row to the side at the bottom of the league isn't a great look. But with multiple injuries to key players, a sickness bug and now what we know of fans crossing the line, no wonder results dipped.
Kettlewell, for me, is there with Stephen Robinson in terms of a good manager who left so there could still be some positivity about his tenure. Coincidentally, both took us to Hampden for the first time in many years and for that I will always be grateful.
I may not have always agreed with Kettlewell's tactics or decisions, but I will sorely miss him. He did remarkable things when you look back to what he inherited from Stevie Hammell.
Kettlewell wasn't afraid to stand up for what was right and gave his all to this club. Once a Steelman, always a Steelman.
Image source, SNSWere unrealistic expectations from Motherwell fans a key factor in the exit of Stuart Kettlewell?
The 40-year-old has walked away after two years in charge, with the club citing personal abuse of Kettlewell that forced his family to stop attending games.
Such abuse is becoming "more and more a feature", says Scottish football journalist Mora Gordon.
"I think players, managers, now they can't escape it. It used to be it was a 90 minutes, you'd leave and that was it," Gordon told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.
"But now you're getting it online, there's trolls. Kettlewell says he doesn't read social media, but his family and his friends do, so they then report things back. It becomes very 24-7, you can't escape it.
"And yes, results weren't great. The style of play wasn't necessarily enthralling. But they were missing guys like Lennon Miller, who brings some of that creativity and the beauty of the game to it, so you have to work within the confines of what you've got.
"I think Kettlewell did that extremely well in terms of where he has them sitting in the league, getting them to Hamden. They have well outperformed their budget.
"So I think fans sometimes need to realise that you can't have everything."
Falkirk's John McGlynn is the early bookmakers' favourite to succeed Stuart Kettlewell, who resigned on Monday, as Motherwell manager, with former Celtic manager Neil Lennon, Livingston's David Martindale and Ayr United's Scott Brown also highly rated. (Herald - subscription), external
Stuart Kettlewell, who has now resigned as Motherwell boss, speaks to BBC Scotland for the final time during his Fir Park tenure after last weekend's loss at St Johnstone.
Watch highlights of Motherwell's 2-1 loss to St Johnstone, which proved to be Stuart Kettelwell's final game in charge of the Steelmen before he resigned over fan abuse.
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSMotherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has handed in his resignation after nearly two years in charge of Fir Park following fan unrest that led to "personal abuse" the boss could no longer tolerate.
Since his arrival, the 40-year-old has managed 92 games overall with a win percentage of 41.3% - the highest of any Motherwell manager since Stuart McCall.
Despite the club sitting fifth in the Scottish Premiership and having reached a League Cup semi-final this term, unrest has been growing among some members of the support.
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 that Kettlewell opted to play - minimal possession with a heavy reliance on counter-attacking - a style that led to back-to-back defeats to bottom-of-the-table St Johnstone in the manager's last two games in charge.
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 in his starting XI while sticking with a five-man defence. In fact, since Motherwell's last victory (a 2-0 win over Aberdeen on 5 January) Kettlewell changed at least one member of the defence in each game.
The manager didn't shy away from fan criticism and his recent comments, after their Scottish Cup defeat to St Johnstone, upset a large section of the support when he said he'll "never be influenced by people that have never done the job and never dedicated their life to this game".
With that being said, since Kettlewell's appointment in February 2023, Motherwell sit fifth in an overall Premiership table - only Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts have earned more points in that period. Moreover, only Celtic and Rangers have scored more goals than the Steelmen.
A large reason for Motherwell's struggles this season has been down to injuries - although let's not forget they're still very much in the fight for top six (and even a European spot).
Not only have they had to sign two new goalkeepers, due to Aston Oxborough's injury and with back-up keeper Krisztian Hegyi recalled from his loan by parent club West Ham, outfield players Paul McGinn, Lennon Miller, Zach Robinson, Ross Callahan, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Liam Gordon, Harry Paton and Jair Tavares have all suffered injuries this season.
But that hasn't done much in the way of quelling supporters' anger who are fearful of a lengthy winless run in the vein of last season's 15-game streak without a victory. Even though Motherwell are 13 points clear of St Johnstone at the bottom of the table.
Stuart Kettlewell has resigned as Motherwell manager after the club's board "very reluctantly accepted" the 40-year-old's resignation.
With the club sitting in fifth place and a squad that boasts some impressive players, who will be the next manager in the Fir Park dugout?
Watch Sportscene analysis of Motherwell's 2-1 defeat against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
Motherwell style of play is the reason fans are turning against Stuart Kettlewell, with the team statistically the least intense Premiership side at pressing, with the third-worst Expected Goals (xG) tally and second-highest Expected Goals Against mark. (The Herald)
Read the rest of Monday's gossip.
We asked for your views on Motherwell's 2-1 loss against St Johnstone.
Here's what some of you said:
Norrie: Same old, same old. Listen to Stuart Kettlewell's excuses all you want, but I can guarantee if nothing is done we will be fighting relegation along with St Johnstone. Motherwell never looked like scoring and would not have without the penalty. So many players who just don't look interested.
David: As has been the same for the last two seasons, 30-35% possession will lead to one conclusion in the end. Fifteen without a win last season and heading that way again. Time is up for Kettlewell - from a fan who can see poor performances even if he can't.
Billy: Two thousand fans last week, two hundred this week says it all. Someone in the board needs to stand up and make a decision. With football like that we're going nowhere but down.
Liam: I thought we played well in the first half, created a few chances, started the second half reasonably well but faded, especially when the subs came on. Need to get our injured players back.
Andrew: To lose back-to-back games to a side bottom of the league speaks volumes of the total ineptitude of the management. The starting XI selected, the inept attacking, defence at all costs. If anyone watching this debacle feels we are moving forward, including the board, it was shambolic. Time for a change at the helm.
Eddie: Something seriously wrong at the club but asking players to give up 70% possession every week home and away must be having a negative effect on morale and attitude towards the manager.
Image source, SNSMotherwell have failed to win in their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 20 December 2024 to 2 January 2025, a run of four games.
St Johnstone have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 26 October 2024 against Dundee (eight games without a win).
Motherwell have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 25 February 2024 against Celtic (13 games without defeat).
St Johnstone have won after trailing at half time in the Premiership for the first time since 26 October 2024 against Dundee (seven games without a win after trailing at half time).
St Johnstone have won after trailing at half time at home in the Premiership for the first time since 23 September 2017 against Hamilton Academical (44 games without a win after trailing at half time).
St Johnstone have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of four games from 7 December 2024 to 26 December 2024.
Motherwell have lost after leading at half time in the Premiership for the first time since 25 February 2024 against Celtic (11 games without defeat after leading at half time).
Motherwell have lost an away game after leading at half time in the Premiership for the first time since 27 August 2022 against Kilmarnock (10 games without defeat).
Goals on 86 and 88 minutes ensured a dramatic and potentially priceless victory for bottom-side St Johnstone as they ended a nine-game winless run in the Scottish Premiership against Motherwell.
Bozo Mikulic brilliantly smashed in the winner two minutes after youngster Taylor Steven slotted in a well-deserved equaliser for Simo Valakari's side who have narrowed the gap on eleventh-placed Kilmarnock to seven points.
After defeating the Steelmen in the Scottish Cup last week, it appeared as though their Premiership pain was going to continue after conceding a penalty inside the opening 30 seconds.
It was minute four by the time Andy Halliday tucked away the spot-kick after Kevin Clancy went to the monitor to spot home captain Sven Sprangler's handball at a bouncing ball in the box.
However, Stuart Kettlewell's side couldn't kick on as the manager watched on from the stands as he served the first of a two-match suspension due to an accumulation of bookings.
As time ticked on in a freezing Perth, it was Valakari's side who searched for much-needed and much-deserved points and goals and both came in remarkable fashion.
Motherwell fans, did you make the trip to McDiarmid Park or where you following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the performance.
Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSMotherwell couldn't have dreamt of a better start, particularly after their poor show up here last week.
However, after Andy Halliday - who headed down the tunnel in the second half with suspected symptoms of the bug ravishing the squad - dispatched his penalty, they didn't truly prod or trouble St Johnstone.
There was a lot of neat play in the middle of the pitch from Harry Paton and Tom Sparrow, but at crunch time, they choked.
In one instance in the first half, Tawanda Maswanhise had the chance for a rad drive at goal, but instead slowed his run right down as if he was killing time and taking the ball to the corner.
That was just one example of what Stuart Kettlewell alluded to in his post-match interview - his players dropping off.
A strange showing from a side who have garnered much praise this season for their lofty position and accumulation of points.
Image source, SNSMotherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell had to watch from the stands as his side were beaten 2-1 at St Johnstone
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "It feels worse because it's the next one, it feels worse because you're in the lead in the game.
"My biggest frustration is this mentality that allows us to keep dropping off games of football - whether that's physically or mentally. We've conceded three goals from set plays against St Johnstone which is awful from our point of view. Talk about putting your body on the line and defending your penalty box.
"I thought we showed a real fragility about us in the second half. We had the 1-0 lead, we have been battered and bashed a bit since last weekend and you can see one or two go into their shell a wee bit and that's not what we need.
"I still feel there's opportunities where we select the wrong option, there were several of those in the first half. The message at half-time was we needed to be on the front foot but I felt there was a wee bit of naivety. We wanted to take a step back and protect what we've got - that doesn't win you games of football.
"We all have to take accountability. Defending your penalty box for me is the first order of the day, then it gives you a platform to try and move forward. Today we switched off.
"I feel like I continually make changes in games based on the fact that people need to come off the pitch. I think Andy's looks as if it's a bit of illness, he seems to have this bug that Moses and Callum have had, but, you know, you would love an opportunity to try and tactically change a game of football.
"Something I try and ingrain in the players is to try and get your 90 minutes. Try and set your sights on playing that 90 minutes. Get through the game. Make sure you contribute."
