Motherwell

Image source, SNS

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell is eyeing up "one or two" replacements for Theo Bair after the striker's move to Auxerre.

The exit of the Canada international - who scored 15 goals in 41 appearances in his sole season at Fir Park - leaves Zach Robinson, Filip Stuparevic and Moses Ebiye as Motherwell's only senior options up front.

"I need to bring in one or two to give us that bit more strength and quality at the front end of the pitch," Kettlewell told Well TV.

"We’ve lost a major asset. I don’t look back on that, I applaud big Theo on what he’s done and the monetary value that adds to the football club, which has been fantastic for us.

"We brought him in, he got 15 goals and produced the performances to capture the eye of big clubs and we received a big fee off the back of that.

"We have to go and replace that and make sure the guys that are here continue to improve but I think, without question, you can see that we need to go and try and add bits of quality to that frontline to give us different options."

We asked for your views after Erik and Courtney Barmack withdrew their offer of investment in Motherwell.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Frazer: It wasn't a good deal for Motherwell so it's not the end of the world. We are in a good place financially at the moment but we do need an owner or an investor to move the club forward.

Drew: The problem with fan ownership is always going to be cash. The collapse of the deal will scare off investors. Fallout from this will rumble on too. Is it really a bad idea to hand over shares? I’m of the opinion the Well Society committee are just unhappy about giving up a lot of control (big egos). Get over it! Put the club first.

David: Now that the Well Society have chased away the only investment on the table, where do we go to now? Any future investors will have serious concerns about getting on board. The club board accepted the offer to invest but are now in a difficult position in attracting funds from elsewhere. The better players will now need to be moved on quicker.

Stuart: If this decision is indicative of the Barmacks' "passion and commitment" to Motherwell, then this is a lucky escape! It serves as a warning on how fickle third party investment can be.

Col: The takeover proposal contained too much risk for a club like Motherwell. Committing up to £4m of club funds to AI media projects, in the hope of raising the club's profile was naive at best.

John: Yes, I would like to see some money come in to the club, but he was asking for too much for very little money.

Christopher: The Barmacks have taken an honourable decision by withdrawing their offer. I totally understand they did not want to cause division within the club. However, over to you Well Society. You got what you wanted. Can they raise nearly £2m over the next three years? Remember they are going to the same fan base every year. I fear Well will be left behind.

Jaffa: If this guy was seriously interested he would have put more money on the table, we're better off without him. We are Motherwell, we will survive as we always do due to incredibly loyal supporters.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell teenager Olly Whyte has joined Lowland League side Cowdenbeath on loan until January.

The midfielder, 17, has been involved in several matchday squads for Stuart Kettlewell and was named on the bench twice last term.

Having taken part in pre-season with the senior side, Whyte makes a temporary switch until the new year.

Image source, SNS

Stuart Kettlewell lamented a "slack" performance by his players at part-time Montrose after the League One side snatched a draw in the Premier Sports Cup.

Despite Motherwell leading from a powerful first-half Shane Blaney header, Ali Shrive sent the game to penalties - where the visitors recorded a 5-4 win.

“Without being arrogant, the end result is not acceptable," manager Kettlewell told Well TV.

"I believe as a Premiership side we have to come and win games against part-time teams.

"Guys in the part-time environment have come from their work today having played on Saturday, and I think our energy levels and quality have to shine through.

"The game was very comfortable to a point, we were in complete control, but one of the biggest facets of football is making sure you’re ruthless in the final third.

"We then started to become really slack and it gave Montrose motivation and momentum in the game."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

For reported fee of more than £1.6m, external, Theo Bair's Motherwell exit is still some way off the club record £3.25m they received for David Turnbull in 2020.

But, all things considered, it's quite difficult to think of a better bit of business from the Fir Park side.

Amid a barrage of criticism for the executive board's handling of the Barmack family's investment proposal, Bair's departure equates to over a third of the entire club's recent - and heavily criticised - valuation.

However, the Canada international's exit - announced just six hours after the Wild Sheep deal was withdrawn - is a welcome positive for the club.

Heaps of credit must go to manager Stuart Kettlewell and his coaching staff, as well as Bair himself, for the striker's transformation.

Bair's Motherwell arrival was a bit of a surprise given his rough ride at St Johnstone, where he scored just once in 18 months. A two-year deal was also a shock, but that was a gamble that has paid off big time.

The forward scored in Motherwell's Premiership opener last August at Dundee. He scored just once after that, though, and found himself in and out of the team until December.

Mika Biereth's return to Arsenal and injury issues meant Bair was thrown back into the team at the end of the year. A double against Livingston was the start of a six-game scoring run, during which he netted eight times.

Another five came in the final months of the campaign to take his tally to 15, as well as six assists. Then came his inclusion in the Scotland PFA team of the year and a place in Canada's Copa America squad.

The 24-year-old adds to a long list of success stories Kettlewell has helped scribe: Ross Stewart, Kevin van Veen and Biereth. Who's next?

Image source, Getty Images

Marvin Kaleta believes his Motherwell loan gives him the best chance to "learn and progress" as a player.

The 19-year-old right-back has temporarily joined the Fir Park side from Wolves.

Kaleta joined the Premier League club's academy from Manchester City in 2020 and has played regularly in their youth teams.

"The manager told me about how good this loan move could be for my development," the defender said.

“At this stage in my career, I want to learn and progress. I feel I can do that most by playing first-team football here at Motherwell."

Manager Stuart Kettlewell believes Kaleta will bring "quality and character" to his side.

The Fir Park boss has previously benefitted from Premier League loans, as have the players he has coached, such as James Furlong (from Brighton) and Mika Biereth (from Arsenal).

“With Marvin, I feel like we're getting a young player who has raw ability and room for growth," Kettlewell said.

"He has played plenty minutes down in England so we feel this is a good move for him."

Now that Erik and Courtney Barmack's proposed investment is off the table we want your views.

Are you happy it's no longer an option? Were you keen for his investment? Would you like to see another investor come in?

Give us your thoughts here, external.

Marvin Marvellous Kaleta has joined Motherwell on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The right-back, 19, joined Wolves from Manchester City's youth team four years ago and was named Under-21 player of the season after 27 outings in Premier League 2.

Kaleta becomes Motherwell's seventh summer signing.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, SNS

Paul McGinn was the "obvious" choice to become Motherwell's new captain, says manager Stuart Kettlewell.

The experienced defender takes over from goalkeeper Liam Kelly, who departed earlier this summer to re-join Rangers.

Since arriving from Hibernian in 2022, McGinn has been a consistent performer for the Fir Park side in the following two years.

Fellow ex-Scotland international Stephen O'Donnell will be vice captain.

Kettlewell said the fact both players have played over 1,000 games between them made it "an easy decision".

"[McGinn] is an example to any young player," the Motherwell boss added.

"To be a captain you have to have some affinity within the group and Paul has that. You have to have series influence on the pitch and Paul also does that."

Image source, SNS

Stuart Kettlewell has been speaking to the media as his Motherwell side prepare to face Montrose in the League Cup groups on Tuesday night.

Here are the key points:

• Tom Sparrow looks as if he'll miss out on Tuesday's match, Kettlewell stresses it's nothing too serious but he's the only fresh injury concern.

• Liam Gordon is still building back up and Steve Seddon will miss out again after a planned small procedure.

• He says Tuesday's game will be a totally different test as Montrose "always punch above their weight."

• On handing Paul McGinn the captain's armband, the manager says it's an "obvious" choice, insisting McGinn is an example to any young player and is a voice and big influence in the dressing room.

• On Theo Bair's potential exit, Kettlewell says talks are moving to an "advanced stage" and reveals that the reported fee is wide of the mark.

Motherwell striker Theo Bair is heading to Auxerre, with the French club paying just over £1.2m for the Canada international. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Defender Dan Casey has lauded the efforts of his Motherwell teammates during pre-season.

Stuart Kettlewell's side return to competitive action against Edinburgh City in the Scottish League Cup on Saturday.

"We didn't get a lot of time off,” Casey told Motherwell FC's website.

“We got told before we left that there was a standard expected for when we returned and that we had a time that we had to make for the pre-season running tests.

“There’s no hiding place. If you don’t do the work, you’re going to get left behind. Credit to everyone, we all came back and did well. Everyone made the time.”

"It was a tough first week but we got through it together. I made the requested testing time by five seconds. That’ll do me.

“Long distance running isn’t for big men like me, it’s for the skinny midfielders!”

Liam Kelly, the 28-year-old Scotland squad goalkeeper, insists that his return to Rangers is worth sacrificing the Motherwell captaincy, regular action and potentially his international place for as understudy to Jack Butland. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

With nine new faces replacing 11 departures, Stuart Kettlewell has been the busiest Premiership manager this summer so far as he looks to reshape Motherwell into a side that can challenge for the top six this time out.

Amid the mixture of journeymen and players yet to live up to their potential from home and abroad, the most intriguing question is who will replace Scotland squad goalkeeper Liam Kelly after the club captain’s move to Rangers’ bench.

Parent club West Ham United have high hopes for 21-year-old Krisztian Hegyi, who has arrived on loan fresh from spending last season gaining experience in the Dutch second tier with Den Bosch.

However, the Hungary Under-21 cap has been rotating during pre-season with Aston Oxborough, the 26-year-old former Norwich City youth who will be hoping to play more than the two League Cup games he managed last season. Who will start at home to Edinburgh City?

• Read Clive's full piece here

Image source, SNS

Goalkeeper Matty Connelly says he can "continue to grow and progress" at Motherwell, after he signed a new one-year contract with the Fir Park club.

The 21-year-old made the step up from the Motherwell youth academy in 2019 and has been out on loan with East Kilbride, Falkirk, Gretna and Stranraer over the last five seasons.

"I’m really happy to remain at Motherwell," Connelly said.

“I feel I can continue to grow and progress here and learn from my fellow keepers Krisztian [Hegyi] and Aston [Oxborough].

"We are a tight-knit group and we bounce off each other well."

Image source, SNS

Eight Motherwell academy graduates have penned professional deals with the Fir Park club.

Strikers Nathan Lawson and Harry McLean have signed on, as well as midfielders Rocco McColm and Scotland under 16 international Zander McAllister.

Defenders Jon-Joe Friel, Andrew Arnott and Jay Gillies also make the step up, alongside goalkeeper Jack McConnell.

“It’s an exciting time for all eight individuals,” academy director David Clarkson said.

“They have put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, which is commendable. But now it’s time to go up another level.

“We believe we can give a young player the best chance of having a successful career and look forward to working with all eight players."

Image source, SNS

Shaun Blaney hopes to instil a "buzz" around Fir Park by helping Motherwell to a run in the Premier Sports Cup.

Stuart Kettlewell's side kick off their campaign by welcoming Edinburgh City to North Lanarkshire on Saturday.

Motherwell start the group stages as favourites to progress to the last 16 in a group also consisting of Partick Thistle, Montrose and Clyde.

"We're not getting too far ahead of ourselves," Blaney said.

"It's been said already that the aim is to finish top of the group. We'll go out on Saturday and hopefully start that campaign with a win.

"I'd love to see the buzz about the place with a cup run. It's definitely something I'm very up for and the lads are all pulling the same way.

"We're probably in a better stage than we were last season in terms of people we have in. We've gelled well. There's some very good quality through the door."

We asked for your thoughts on what would be a successful season for Motherwell. Here’s what some of you had to say:

Anonymous: We need to be in the top six to make it a successful season along with a decent cup run. We are more than capable of doing it, we would have made top six last season had we not gone on a 15-game winless run, we cant afford that to happen again.

David: I genuinely believe Stuart Kettlewell is assembling a squad talented enough to push for Europe. Injuries last year hampered our season, so let’s hope our bad luck regarding injuries is over.

Adam: A good season would be a consistent level of performance especially at the back. A top-six finish would be a very good season and I believe that it is possible to achieve. Maybe a cup run and winning a final would make our season a fantastic one.

David: The pre-season results have been encouraging and recruitment has been pro-active and we seem to have built a fairly robust squad. If things click with the new players and Lennon Miller stays, top six is a possibility. Realistically, seventh or eighth would be fine.

Grant: The biggest thing we always hope for is staying up, we don't have the money that the majority of the other teams have and we punch above our weight every season so anything other than staying up is a bonus, a good cup run would be good.

James: Top six is a priority, a lot of new signings so they all have to gel quickly, hopefully a successful season in the two cup competitions.

Chris: This will be Motherwell's toughest season for over 20 years. I would take tenth place now if it was offered. Anything above this will be a bonus. Not very ambitious I know but realistic. However, I would love a decent cup run or two. I am looking forward to the new season. It will be a rollercoaster!

Gary: Top six is a must this season. Motherwell fans been underwhelmed by performances and lack of consistency. New signings seem positive but lots of distractions off the field in regards to investment. Hopefully avoid the high number of injuries that were seen last season and start competing in the cups once again.