Motherwell

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Defender Stephen O'Donnell said he was left feeling "pretty baffled" and "gutted" after Michael Wimmer's shock exit as Motherwell manager.

The former Stuttgart coach left Fir Park for family reasons, returning to Germany to join third-tier club Jahn Regensburg.

Ex-Scotland right-back O'Donnell was a regular under Wimmer, who had comfortably guided the Lanarkshire side to top-flight survival.

O'Donnell said there was plenty of positivity heading into next season. Then came the "massive shock" of the manager's departure last month.

"At the end of the [last game of the season] he thanked us," O'Donnell said on BBC Sportsound. "There was lots of optimism going forward.

"Then when I got the text I was pretty baffled. He'd spoken a couple times about his family. These are the kind of things you don't question, family comes first.

"I was gutted personally. I'd been playing and was looking forward to next season."

Motherwell are yet to appoint a replacement for Wimmer. On Sunday's Sportsound, former Hearts boss Steven Naismith said the role would not interest him.

Meanwhile, O'Donnell said he would be "excited to work" under another foreign coach.

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Motherwell's majority shareholder has called for a wider discussion on the use of VAR in Scottish football after none of their members backed the technology in its current form.

During a Well Society consultation, external, a near unanimous 99.3% of respondents believe VAR either needs to be "scrapped altogether or fundamentally reformed". The other 0.7% were unsure.

A total of 63% of respondents said they did not support VAR in Scottish football, while 60% said the use of the video technology had made their experience as a supporter "significantly worse".

A Well Society statement read: "Fans spoke about long delays, a lack of clear communication, inconsistent decisions, and a growing sense of disconnect between those in the stands and those officiating on the pitch.

"Rather than building trust in decisions, many feel VAR has done the opposite, creating more distance between supporters and the game itself.

"Some still see potential for technology to play a role in football, if used in the right way. But the overwhelming feeling from our fanbase is that VAR, as it stands in Scotland, is simply not working.

"A system designed to bring clarity has, for many, only added more confusion."

Well Society director David Cullinan added: "As a fan-owned club, we have a duty to listen. This wasn't about grabbing attention. It was about listening to what our supporters really think.

"And they've made it clear that VAR, as things stand, is letting them down. This is just the start of a wider discussion, and we're calling on clubs across Scotland to stand with their supporters and be part of it."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Life could have easier for Lennon Miller when he was thrown on for his Scotland debut.

Despite Friday's match being a non-competitive encounter, there was nothing friendly about the mood at Hampden when the Motherwell teenager entered the pitch with Steve Clarke's side 3-1 down to Iceland.

It would have been easy for the 18-year-old to hide in a challenging atmosphere, but the midfielder constantly made himself available as an option as the Scots desperately searched for a way back into the game.

In only 22 minutes on the pitch, the youngster had 30 touches. He created one chance and misplaced just five of his 27 passes, putting six of them into the final third.

By contrast, fellow midfielder Billy Gilmour managed nine passes into the attack in a 90-minute display. Lewis Ferguson, who also played the entire match, registered eight.

Miller caused a stir when he said he had hopes of becoming Scotland's "best player" in the near future after being called up to the senior squad for the first time in March.

Scotland assistant coach John Carver said those remarks were a mistake by the teenager. Clarke, meanwhile, backed the midfielder for showing ambition.

Three months on, a brave and fearless cameo did Miller's talking for him as he delivered a bright display on a dark night for Scotland.

It remains to be seen whether that brief outing will reward him with a start in Liechtenstein on Monday, but any doubts about his capability of starting international games will now be somewhat quieter.

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Lennon Miller has revealed his ambition to play in the Champions League amid speculation over the Motherwell midfielder's future.

Miller, 18, is in the final year of his Fir Park contract and has been linked with moves to Celtic, Rangers and clubs in Italy among others.

Motherwell rejected "a couple of offers" in January for Miller, who is currently with the Scotland squad for the friendly double-header with Iceland and Liechtenstein, live on BBC Scotland.

"You obviously want to play European football, whether that is Europa League or Champions League," Miller said in a Scottish FA interview.

"You want to play in the big games and in Champions League finals. The Champions League is the one I want in my career. I want to play Champions League football. It's probably the pinnacle.

"I want play to as high as I can in club football. Obviously playing for your country is always the pinnacle of your career I think.

"I just want to play as high as I can, play as many games as I can and enjoy football, that's the most important thing for me. That's where my drive comes from."

Meanwhile, Motherwell defender Stephen O'Donnell hopes Miller makes his Scotland debut in tonight's visit of Iceland to Hampden.

"I hope Lennon gets a chance," O'Donnell told BBC Scotland. "It would be great to see for himself, he's had a good season, his talent is exceptional and his mentality is the thing that gets me the most.

"He's so calm and in the heat of the battle. As a guy he's really nice, quite quiet, but he's grown a bit in that and he's getting a bit sarky here and there, giving the older ones a bit of stick.

"He's settled in, he's very comfortable so hopefully he gets a game and I'm sure there's nothing but big things in his future."

Also in the Scotland squad is former Fir Park team-mate Max Johnston, who has just won the Austrian title with Sturm Graz.

"If he gets the opportunity, he'll show everyone what he's about," added O'Donnell.

"He's again someone I got on pretty well with. He was only really in the first team for maybe a year but went on loan, did well, came back in, got his chance under Stevie Hamill and he's gone to Sturm Graz and done really well, so I'm excited to see how Max has done."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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A three-man sub-committee of Motherwell's executive board will draw up a shortlist, conduct interviews and make their recommendation on who the new manager should be.

That is much the same process that brought in Michael Wimmer after Stuart Kettlewell's departure earlier in the year.

The main man at the helm, and the driving force behind the scenes at Fir Park, is chairman Kyrk Macmillan.

The fashion businessman, whose father-in-law is on the board of Hertha Berlin, is originally from East Kilbride and has watched games at Fir Park with his own father and grandfather for the past 30 years.

He will be assisted in the hunt by chief executive Brian Caldwell and digital marketing chief executive Greg Anderson, who is also one of the key figures in the Well Society, the majority shareholding group who own the club.

Read more: Where are Motherwell in manager hunt?

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Motherwell's pre-season schedule will include a behind-closed-doors friendly against Carlisle United.

The match will take place on 8 July, with the Fir Park side's competitive action kicking off four days later when they travel to Clyde for their League Cup group opener.

Carlisle will play non-league football next term following relegation from England's League Two.

Motherwell are yet to appoint a manager following the surprising departure of Michael Wimmer, who left to join German third-tier club Jahn Regensburg almost two weeks ago.

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Would a move for Robbie Neilson be a safe but sensible decision from Motherwell?

The Fir Park side are still on the search for a new manager following the shock exit of Michael Wimmer, who left for family reasons and joined German third-tier side Jahn Regensburg almost a fortnight ago.

Former Hearts and Dundee United boss Neilson, who departed Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year, has said the vacant job at Motherwell would interest him.

The 44-year-old got Hearts promoted twice and led them to two third-placed top-flight finishes across two spells, as well as making two Scottish Cup finals. He also guided United to promotion in 2020.

That record is why former Premiership striker Rory Loy feels Neilson would be a risk-averse appointment as Motherwell, who are looking for a fourth manager in three years, search for some much-needed stability.

"You look at Hearts, appointing Derek McInnes is probably as safe as houses in terms of the risk involved," Loy told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I think Neilson is pretty similar for Motherwell. I don't like the cliches of 'he knows the league' and 'he knows the players', but it is relevant to an extent. And one thing he has had is success.

"Whether Hearts fans enjoyed how he played or his personality or how he came across, he had a level of success where they were consistently finishing in good positions in the league.

"The difference is, and it's quite rare, Wimmer wasn't actually sacked. Motherwell maybe like what they did and could see where it was going, so they might not be too concerned about going a bit more leftfield again."

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Motherwell have confirmed the signing of Jordan McGhee on a two-year deal, with the club holding the option of a further year, following his Dundee exit.

BBC Scotland reported that the versatile 28-year-old had penned a pre-contract agreement with the Lanarkshire side in January.

Stuart Kettlewell was Well's manager at that point, but he has since left. Kettlewell's replacement, Michael Wimmer, is also no longer at the club.

The Fir Park side are yet to appoint a new first-team boss, but their summer player recruitment continues as McGhee's arrival follows the signing of Austrian midfielder Lukas Fadinger.

McGhee's departure from Dundee brings to an end a six-year stay at Dens Park. The former Hearts and Falkirk player made 197 appearances for the club, scoring 21 goals and gaining top-flight promotion twice.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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This time last year Motherwell's board, fan ownership group and support were braced for a toxic summer amid a potential takeover from a former Netflix vice-president.

That attempted bid collapsed spectacularly when proposed American buyer Erik Barmack withdrew his offer because he felt there were "significant divisions within the fanbase".

In the 12 months since, the club hierarchy has been ripped up and refreshed, one manager has departed after citing fan abuse, and another has left for family reasons.

Three summers ago, Graham Alexander was sacked on the eve of the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership season after his team were chased out of Conference League qualifying by Sligo Rovers.

Club legend Steven Hammell picked up the pieces, but he was gone by the following February after a humiliating Scottish Cup defeat at second-tier Raith Rovers.

With the search for a fourth manager in three years under way, supporters of the Fir Park side will have to wait a little longer for the extended period of normality they crave.

Until last week, fans were optimistic about the summer. There were signs manager Michael Wimmer was starting to flex his coaching pedigree.

Three wins from five post-split games contributed to an overall record of five victories, three draws and four defeats across 12 matches under the former Austria Vienna boss.

Off the pitch, Wimmer spoke of immersing himself in the local culture. A picture of him celebrating in a Lanarkshire pub circulated after an excellent result and performance in a 2-1 win at Rangers in March. All was looking well.

Then, last Friday, news emerged the German had returned home and was not coming back. "This decision was an extremely hard one," he said.

Some fans joked the 44-year-old's frequent LinkedIn activity, and the regular self-promotion of his profile, suggested he was looking for a way out.

But this was real. An "urgent" family matter meant Wimmer wanted to be closer to home, joining third-tier German club Jahn Regensburg.

A "shock to everybody" was how chairman Kyrk Macmillan described it, but the club will now need to move on quickly.

However, with the players not due arrive back for pre-season for another month, Motherwell will not rush or panic in their hunt to find Wimmer's successor.

The board will follow the same process that led them to the German, using data and metrics to judge how candidates align with the club's values, such as youth development.

If Motherwell land on a manager with a similar CV, they will be doing well. But it is worth remembering there are coaches closer to home now available.

Tony Docherty is without a club after being sacked by Dundee, plus Shaun Maloney is also unattached following his Wigan exit.

But Robbie Neilson's record at both Hearts and Dundee United surely makes him the standout among the realistic Scottish options.

The 44-year-old, who left Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year, has said the vacant jobs at Motherwell and Dundee would interest him.

Neilson got Hearts promoted twice and led them to two third-placed top-flight finishes across two spells, as well as making two Scottish Cup finals. He also guided United to promotion in 2020.

Motherwell assistant Ahmet Koc, who joined with Wimmer, will continue his role at Fir Park after talks with Regensburg. It is unknown whether or not he will put himself forward for the managerial role.

But it feels like the smart money is on another left-field move. No media outlet had any wind of Wimmer's arrival until just minutes before he was announced, and it will be no surprise if something similar is repeated.

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Motherwell will host Bundesliga 2 side Hertha Berlin in a pre-season friendly at Fir Park on Friday 25 July at 19:00 BST.

The two-time German champions, who were relegated from the Bundesliga in 2023, finished 11th in the second tier last term.

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Motherwell will begin the 2025-26 season with a trip to fourth-tier Clyde in their Premier Sports Cup Group G opener on 12 July.

The Fir Park club are at home to Peterhead and Morton either side of a trip to Stenhousemuir.

Motherwell are currently continuing the search for a new manager following the shock departure of Michael Wimmer last week.

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Motherwell have been drawn alongside Greenock Morton, Stenhousemuir, Peterhead and Clyde in Group G of the 2025-26 Premier Sports Cup.

Yet to appoint a new manager after the shock exit of Michael Wimmer, the tournament will mark the new boss' first game in charge of the Lanarkshire club, with the opening fixture on 12-13 July and further matchdays on 15-16 July, 19-20 July, 22-23 July and 26-27 July.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join Scotland's five European entrants - Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United - in the last 16 on the weekend of 16-17 August.

Motherwell were semi-finalists last term but lost out narrowly to Rangers at Hampden.

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Shane Blaney is leaving Motherwell, while the managerless club "remain in dialogue" with six other out-of-contract players.

Irish defender Blaney, 26, has made 54 appearances in a two-and-a-half year spell but featured just 17 times last season amid injury troubles.

Also departing is 31-year-old midfielder Ross Callachan, who played just one game in his injury-blighted season at Fir Park, and young forward Mark Ferrie, 19.

The players in talks over a contract extension are Dan Casey, Harry Paton, Moses Ebiye, Steve Seddon, Davor Zdravkovski and Dominic Thompson, with Well saying: "Given the current managerial situation at the club, decisions will be made in the coming weeks with regards to these players."

Ten loan players - Ellery Balcombe, Marvin Kaleta, Kai Andrews, Tony Watt, whose final outing marked his 100th Motherwell appearance, Luke Plange, Will Dickson, Luke Armstrong, Jack Vale and Jair Tavares - return to their parent clubs.

The club added: "It's never easy to say goodbye to players and we are grateful for their efforts at Motherwell.

"With 21 first-team players contracted for next season, recruitment will continue during the summer months as we look to towards the beginning of pre-season in June."

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Motherwell chairman Kyrk Macmillan has called for unity amid an "intense" period after an "urgent" family matter resulted in manager Michael Wimmer leaving the club.

Macmillan says Wimmer's exit to return to Germany and join SSV Jahn Regensburg "was a shock for everybody" on Friday.

During the process of recruiting Wimmer in February, Macmillan says there was a "very open conversation about personal circumstances" and the Well board "enquired about what the plans were with family".

However, "new developments" in Wimmer's personal life meant the former Austria Vienna boss wanted to return to his homeland after just three months at Fir Park.

"It's been intense," Macmillan added. "We had a conversation with Michael a couple of days before the [final game of the season].

"There was a lot to take in form his side, a lot of new developments in Michael's personal life back in Germany.

"We looked at a number of options for Michael to stay, he was ultimately happy here. It transpired it wasn't possible for him to fully focus on Motherwell, and at the same time he wanted to take care of his family in Germany."

Macmillian confirmed assistant coach Ahmet Koc, who joined with Wimmer, is "delighted to be in Scotland" and "wants to continue" his role.

And the Fir Park chairman revealed the club are "right at the beginning" of the process to recruit a new manager.

He adds that the board will follow the same data-influenced procedure that led them to Wimmer.

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Austrian midfielder Lukas Fadinger says he has made a "big step forward" in his career by signing for Motherwell.

The 24-year-old joins the managerless Fir Park side on a two-year deal after spending the past two seasons with Austrian Bundesliga club Rheindorf Altach.

The Sturm Graz youth product played 61 times for Altach, 26 of which came last season as the team narrowly avoided relegation.

He also has Austrian top-tier experience with Hartberg, where he made 32 appearances in 2022-23, his sole season at the club.

Fadinger says talks with Motherwell began a "couple of months" ago, but since then Michael Wimmer has surprisingly departed as manager.

Despite that, the midfielder is "so happy to be at this club" and is "looking forward to the start of the new season".

"This move excites me, and it's a big step forward in my career," he added.

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Motherwell will return to the Netherlands for their pre-season preparations for the third year in succession.

The team will travel out to their Delden-based camp on 25 June and will play two friendlies in Beckum before returning home a week later.

The Fir Park side will face Eredivisie club FC Twente on 1 July, with their opponent for their first match on 28 June yet to be confirmed.

"Supporter entry and ticket pricing will be confirmed in due course," Motherwell say in a statement.

The Lanarkshire side remain managerless following the shock exit of Michael Wimmer, who left to join German third-tier outfit SSV Jahn Regensburg last week.

That means the club have a month to find a new first-team boss before the team are due to go abroad for their pre-season camp.

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Motherwell's fan owners are being asked for their opinions on VAR as the club's majority shareholder considers calling for change.

The Well Society have launched a consultation with members looking for opinions on how the technology has impacted their matchday experience.

A number of Scottish Premiership managers have raised serious concerns over the way VAR has impacted the game since being introduced in October 2022.

A Well Society statement read: "Over recent months, concerns have been growing among fans, players and staff across the country regarding the impact VAR is having on the rhythm of matches, the atmosphere in stadiums and trust in refereeing decisions.

"In addition to these concerns, it is important to note that VAR currently costs each club a six-figure sum every season. A significant outlay that further underlines the need for a proper debate about its future.

"In light of this, the Well Society has committed to starting a process of listening and engaging with our members and the wider Motherwell support.

"Our aim is to gain a clearer understanding of supporters' views on VAR and to consider whether the Well Society should take a position in favour of change or call for its removal from Scottish football altogether."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

I think that I speak on behalf of every Motherwell fan who opened social media or the BBC Sport app on Friday evening that the news of Michael Wimmer leaving was on no one's bingo card for how the end to the season could go.

The news blindsided fans, and with preseason weeks away, it is a vulnerable time to be looking for a manager.

That being said, after reading the statement and realising Wimmer had to leave due to a sudden family emergency, it makes total sense, and I respect his decision as I know I would do the same thing if I were in his shoes.

He has made the right decision for his family, and that's what matters more than any career, be it in football or even in civilian life as fans.

Wimmer's reign brought us many good things, such as three points at Ibrox, Du Hast by Rammstein as pre-match music, and the most stylish manager in the top flight. It may have been short-lived, but they say good things never last.

We thank you for your efforts, Mr Wimmer, and please know that if the stars align, we would happily accept you back into our club with open arms.

We asked for your thoughts on Michael Wimmer's surprise departure from Motherwell and who might replace him.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: All the best to him. He got us safe from relegation and also gave us a decent end to the season. The upcoming summer will now be very interesting with a new manager hunt and where Lennon Miller will go.

Ross: Disappointing to say the least. I was looking forward to Wimmerball next season and was excited to see how our recruitment would go over the summer. That said, alarm bells started ringing for me when he shared his LinkedIn profile on his Instagram. Bit odd that.

Dillon: Shocked and disappointed! Was gutted to see Stuart Kettlewell go but this feels even worse. There was a tangible excitement going into the summer and next season and it feels like that's just been shattered. Especially concerning as it's season ticket renewal time.

Alan: Wimmer's exit presents us with a major challenge. He brought a positivity and attack-minded approach which produced results at the right time. Let's hope we do not revert to employing someone from the managerial roundabout of failures in Scotland. Another continental manager may be a risk but it's worth taking. We need to move fast given we need new attacking players to join us soon. The board need to get it right on the next appointment.

Gavin: I'm disappointed as I felt he could probably do a good job. However, family matters and if this is the real reason, then good luck to him. Certainly, he isn't going to a bigger job, so family issues sound plausible. Ideally, we need to get a replacement in quickly to sort out team issues before the start of the new season. I would prefer not to have the usual crop of options, like Steven Naismith, etc. I'm also unsure about Tony Docherty. Maybe Scott Brown or even big Duncan Ferguson.

Edward: Considering he's already got a job over there, makes you think how long this has been in the making.

Zak: Motherwell should go for a manager that has had experience in the Scottish game not someone that has never played or managed here before. I would personally go for Robbie Neilson because he has lots of experience managing and playing in Scotland and has had lots of success over the years.

Kevin: Embarrassing for the club. A very likeable guy and did a good job keeping us in the league. However, the majority of the performances of late have been very Kettlewell like and I for one think it's a blessing in disguise. The fact it's a third-tier club in his homeland says it all!

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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When Michael Wimmer was appointed Motherwell manager on 17 February, it was a bit of a shock, certainly a surprise name.

His Fir Park exit 96 days later has caused even bigger shockwaves.

The German manager promised proactive football on his arrival, and he delivered it, to some extent.

There was, without doubt, a notable change in the Steelmen's style from his predecessor Stuart Kettlewell's days.

The highlight of his 12 games in charge was a deserved 2-1 win at Ibrox on 1 March, where there was a confidence and swagger about the side.

He too, of course, ensured their Scottish Premiership safety with relative ease, finishing eighth.

During his short spell, Wimmer struggled to nail down his best XI, in no small part due to the large squad at his disposal - something the club will need to adress in the summer among other things.

However, following what turned out to be his final home game in charge nine days ago - a commanding 3-0 win against Kilmarnock - Wimmer said he had "a perfect picture" and "knew everything" about his "brilliant team".

Now the board will need to have a perfect picture of where to turn next.

They are hunting for their fifth boss in under three years to helm a squad Wimmer himself said was "too big" and there's also the future of star midfielder Lennon Miller to sort.

What was shaping up to be an exciting time in ML1 is now looking a little more nervy.