Motherwell

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

After spending most of last season miserable and bemoaning the shortcomings of players and managers alike, I am hoping this season will be more successful for Motherwell.

The club have taken the feedback from fans and pundits and finally signed some new defenders. Our options in midfield and up front still look shaky, but we have time to find a strong replacement for Theo Bair. His departure will damage us but the funds we received for him will make it so much easier to plug the gaps in our squad.

Zach Robinson has some promise, but it does feel as though he needs a million shots at goal before any go in.

Our League Cup game against Partick Thistle at the weekend highlighted our shortcomings in brutal fashion. It was a poor performance and there was little joy to be had despite qualifying for the next round.

I am trying to look at the positives - there is time for Stuart Kettlewell to get new faces in the door.

Predicted league finish: Realistically I predict us finishing between seventh and ninth. However, I'd happily be proven wrong with a top-six finish.

Standout player will be: If he remains with us our standout player will be Lennon Miller without a doubt. That boy is absolutely unbelievable. The talent he has at such a young age is remarkable.

Game most looking forward to: Aberdeen at home in January. The dons travelling to Fir Park allows me the chance to catch up with old friends that are unfortunately of the red persuasion and in hopes we finally improve our record at home against them.

Image source, Getty Images

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell says Motherwell need to dramatically improve following Sunday's disappointing showing against Partick Thistle, and stressed they cannot solely rely on incoming striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.

Kettlewell's side were booed by sections of their support after a goalless draw with the Championship side, with Stamatelopoulos watching on before his medical with the club.

"I need to stress that he doesn’t become the dramatic saviour to what was a really poor performance," Kettlewell said.

"We think it’s someone that can add goals to your team, that can give us that focal point at the top end of the pitch, but every single other aspect to our team will need to be better for him to go and try and perform.

"He’s a bit behind. He’s played an All Star game, and he’s been training for a couple of weeks over in Australia. His wife has just had a baby there on Tuesday, which has sort of interrupted the flow but he’s at a reasonable stage.

"Physically, it will still take some more work to make sure that we’re getting him up to full speed to play 90 minutes in the game."

Image source, SNS

Striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was in the Fir Park stands during Motherwell's goalless draw with Partick Thistle in the League Cup on Sunday.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell confirmed last week that there was a deal in place for 25-year-old Stamatelopoulos, subject to a medical.

It would now appear the Australia international is a step closer to signing for the Steelman, as Kettlewell looks to replace Theo Bair up front.

Stamatelopoulos scored 17 times in the A-League last season and earned his first Socceroos cap against Palestine in June.

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Paul McGinn says he was taken aback by being offered the Motherwell captaincy by manager Stuart Kettlewell, but joked the offer was dependant on him staying at Fir Park.

McGinn replaces now-Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly in the role, with Stephen O'Donnell his vice-captain.

"A proud moment, a real honour," McGinn said. "To get that sort of call was a big moment.

"He just said he'd always planned to as long as I agreed to stay. I'm a bit more laidback [than Liam Kelly], but not too different."

Motherwell face Partick Thistle in their final League Cup group-stage match on Sunday, knowing that a win would see them top the group, but McGinn is wary of their Championship opponents.

"It's definitely dangerous," he said. "It's almost like a final now, so we've got to try get this win."

Motherwell are closing in on signing Australia forward, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Stuart Kettlewell has confirmed.

The Newcastle Jets striker, who scored 17 times in the A-League last season and earned his first Socceroos cap against Palestine last month, has been lined up to fill the void left by Theo Bair, who joined French Ligue 1 side Auxerre for a seven-figure fee last week.

“Apostolos is traveling over to Scotland just now and I can confirm there is an agreement in place subject to medical,” he said at his press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup game against Partick Thistle.

Kettlewell confirmed his arrival has been slightly delayed by the imminent birth of his child.

“He’s someone we have been tracking and following for a while," he added.

"We would hope if we can get him past that medical in the next day or so, [then] he starts to come into the mix and our group right away.

“I don’t want to say too much more than that, but I think it is important that I do confirm the rumours that are out there because I am always dispelling them when I think they are absolute nonsense, but this one is accurate."

However, the Motherwell manager did stress, "some of the details in terms of numbers and finances are very inaccurate," surrounding the possible deal.

Image source, Getty Images

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Harry Paton will be sidelined for a minimum of 14 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery, Motherwell have confirmed.

The midfielder picked up an injury in Motherwell's 3-1 win against Clyde in the Premier Sports Cup last Saturday.

"It was a pretty bad injury," manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

"Harry's had surgery on his ankle. It looks like he'll be out for a minimum of 14 weeks.

"We'll support Harry to make sure he comes back from this injury."

The Canadian has made 42 appearances for the Lanarkshire club since joining from Ross County in April 2023.

On a brighter note, Kettlewell provided a positive update on Ross Callachan and Sam Nicolson, adding the pair are, "doing some pretty extensive work" and "moving in the right direction".

The Motherwell manager also said Callum Slattery is," coming along really well."

"He's desperate to get back on the pitch but there's a timescale involved. You won't see him playing until well into November. If we introduce him too early, there's a risk of another injury.

"He has a smile on his face because he's making good strides."

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The draw for the last 16 of the Scottish League Cup will take place on Sunday.

It will be broadcast live on Premier Sports following their coverage of Motherwell v Partick Thistle at Fir Park, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The top-flight's five European representatives - holders Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren - will enter the draw and will also be seeded, along with the three best group winners.

All last-16 ties are scheduled to played on the weekend of 17/18 August.

Newcastle Jets have confirmed the departure of striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, external to an unnamed European side, with Motherwell the club in question. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Motherwell will pay around £260,000 for 25-year-old striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

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Stuart Kettlewell praised Filip Stuparevic's composure after the Serbian forward opened his Motherwell goal-scoring account in their 3-1 League Cup win over Clyde.

Stuparevic is still some way short of full fitness, but Kettlewell has told the former Watford man not to force things as he seeks to make a positive impression.

"We’ve actually been speaking to Filip, that he’s trying to impress and he’s trying to show that he’s a good player – we know he’s a good player – and every time he gets into that final third, it’s like he’s trying to strip the paint off the ball," Kettlewell said.

"I thought he caressed that one really well into the side netting and he’s more than capable of that.

"We are trying to get him fitter, trying to get him a little bit sharper and get him up to speed how we want to play. But I think it was a really good contribution.

"The first part is the work ethic and energy. Filip probably needed a little bit more work than several other players so, gradually, hopefully, you’ll start to see him getting up to speed and and showing us that type of quality he gave us with the third goal."

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell hopes Harry Paton's ankle injury is "nothing too serious".

Canada defender Paton, 26, was withdrawn after 39 minutes of Well's 3-1 Scottish League Cup win over hosts Clyde on Saturday, Andy Halliday taking his place.

Kettlewell currently has Sam Nicholson, Ross Callachan and long-term absentee Callum Slattery sidelined.

"He's possibly just rocked his ankle," Kettlewell said of Paton. "But fingers crossed it's nothing too serious to add to what we've already got."

Moses Ebiye put the Steelmen in front and Lee Hamilton levelled for Clyde. Lennon Miller won and converted a penalty for Motherwell's second and Filip Stuparevic netted his first goal for the club late on.

"We've actually been speaking to Filip, that he's trying to impress and he's trying to show that he's a good player - we know he's a good player - and every time he gets into that final third, it's like he's trying to strip the paint off the ball," Kettlewell commented.

"I thought he caressed that one really well into the side netting and he's more than capable of that.

"We are trying to get him fitter, trying to get him a little bit sharper and get him up to speed how we want to play. But I think it was a really good contribution.

"The first part is the work ethic and energy. Filip probably needed a little bit more work than several other players so, gradually, hopefully, you'll start to see him getting up to speed and showing us that type of quality he gave us with the third goal."

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Avoiding relegation must be Motherwell's first priority this season, but a top-six finish is an attainable goal, according to The Well Scoiety's Derek Watson.

Stuart Kettlewell's side finished ninth in the Premiership last season, eight points clear of Ross County in the relegation play-off spot.

"Top six and a cup run is the ideal situation," Watson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Another thing that fans won't want to hear, staying up is first and foremost the most important thing that can happen for Motherwell.

"But I think we need to be ambitious, we need to be seeing ourselves as a top six club, we need to be pushing for that. And just one of these years, hopefully we'll get to a cup final and actually lift that trophy.

"I would like to think that we can be pushing for top six. I know that's ambitious, especially from a club our size when other clubs are out-spending us, certainly your big city clubs.

"But I think we need to be pushing for top six. I think with the players that Stuart's [Kettlewell] brought in so far, and with the players that he's retained, that's not unachievable."

Former Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan talks to the Scottish Football Podcast about the club's teenage midfielder Lennon Miller

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Motherwell assistant manager Stephen Frail has been speaking to the media before his side's trip to Clyde in the League Cup on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• The squad available to manager Stuart Kettlewell will be "pretty much the same as we had the other night" with Frail adding "we should be as strong as we were against Montrose".

• Frail thinks the squad is "short in terms of numbers" and they could do with at least one more signing to help with both depth and quality.

• He adds the club are "hopeful" to get a signing in the door quickly in order to "gel them in with the squad and get them up to fitness as quickly as we possibly can".

• On goalkeeper Aston Oxborough, Frail says he has been "really impressed" with his level in training, and says the 26-year-old gives Motherwell "stature and presence" between the sticks.

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Former Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan believes Lennon Miller will "only get better" after the midfielder's wonderful breakthrough in the 2023-24 season.

Miller, 17, made 32 appearances for Motherwell in the last campaign, impressing fans and pundits alike with his performances.

"His first full campaign he played 30 plus games, that will do him the world of good," Craigan told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"Physically, I still think there's a lot of development there, which he will know himself.

"Mentally, he's on the ball. Nothing seems to faze him, whether you go to Ibrox or you go to Celtic Park, you go to Tynecastle, you go to Aberdeen, the big intimidating grounds, he's quite happy to take part in the game.

"Technically he's very, very good. Physically his game will develop as he goes on. I think he's only going to get better."

When asked how far Miller can go in the game, Craigan says it is important he isn't pushed too far, too quickly.

"What level he can get to? I'm not so sure. I think it's unfair sometimes to compare him to previous players who have left the club. Just allow him to flourish, allow him to grow, keep encouraging him.

"The manager showed great faith in him by putting him in and he's repaid that faith with some of his performances."

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has revealed that he tried to sign Dennis Adeniran, the 25-year-old midfielder who has arrived from Hapoel Petah Tikva, five years ago for Motherwell. (The Herald), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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The Well Society have confirmed 78% of votes cast in their ballot rejected the Barmack family's Motherwell investment proposal at the time it was withdrawn.

The club announced that Wild Sheep Sports would be pulling their deal off the table on Tuesday morning, citing "significant divisions within the fanbase".

The decision came midway through a two-week voting period, during which 56% of eligible members had voted.

In a statement detailing the results of their ballot, the Well Society revealed:

• 1,531 votes were cast by Tuesday, 16 July at 10:00 BST

• 330 Well Society members had voted to accept the proposal (21.55%)

• 1,201 Well Society members had voted to reject the proposal (78.45%)

"Whatever your view, you have demonstrated a clear passion for our club and its future," the board of the club's majority shareholder said.

"Attention now immediately turns to deliver on the strategy set out in our plan for the society and Motherwell FC.

"We would reiterate we are open to external investment and will continue the work already done to bring in partners who we feel can help push the club further forward in true partnership with fans."

Image source, Motherwell FC

Motherwell have revealed a new-look "dark steel" away kit for the 2024-25 campaign.

Modelled by right-back Stephen O'Donnell, the strip is complimented with a trim of the club's tartan on the sleeves.

"Similar to our home kit, this was born from ideas and opinions discussed at focus groups held at Fir Park last year," Motherwell say.