Motherwell

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Motherwell will kick off the new season by welcoming four-tier Edinburgh City to Fir Park in the Premier Sports Cup.

The capital side were relegated to League 2 last term following a season plagued by financial issues.

Stuart Kettlewell's men then travel to Montrose and Clyde before rounding off the campaign at home to Partick Thistle.

Fixtures (All times BST)

Motherwell v Edinburgh City - Saturday, 13 July (15:00)

Montrose v Motherwell - Tuesday, 16 July (19:45)

Clyde v Motherwell - Saturday, 20 July (15:00)

Motherwell v Partick Thistle - Sunday, 28 July (15:00)

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Sam Nicholson has extended his stay at Motherwell, signing a two-year contract with the Fir Park club.

The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan in North Lanarkshire, scoring twice.

Having made 16 appearances in claret and amber, the midfielder has "all the ingredients" to make an impact next term, according to Stuart Kettlewell.

“Sam has shown his quality,” the manager said.

“His match fitness wasn’t quite there when he first came in but when he got a run in the team, I think everyone was impressed with his energy and pace.

“He works hard for the team and will offer lots to us next season. With a full pre-season under his belt, he will have all the ingredients for a successful campaign.”

Nicholson says he is already looking ahead to the new season after making his move to Motherwell permanent.

“I had to be patient when I first arrived but just tried to take my chances when they came," he said.

“The fans and club as a whole have been welcoming and a joy to represent. That’s why I was keen to return permanently.

“The excitement is already building for next season.”

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Motherwell striker Jon Obika has retired from playing and accepted an offer to join the club's coaching staff for next season.

Englishman Obika, 33, joined the Fir Park club in February 2023, inititally on loan, but was restricted to just 14 appearances last season because of a recurring hamstring problem.

He hangs up his boots having played more than 400 games in a 15-year career that started at Tottenham and included spells at clubs including Crystal Palace, Brighton, Oxford and St Mirren.

Obika cited Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell as a "big part" of his decision to call time on his playing career and focus on coaching.

"I just feel this is where I'm supposed to be," said Obika. "When reflecting back, I just knew this opportunity doesn't come around often under people you value and respect. I feel honoured.

"When he [Kettlewell] first came in, just watching how he took over and across the 18 months seeing him work, he is someone you want to deliver for. I feel in this role I can deliver for him."

Kettlewell believes Obika's experience and personality is a "perfect combination" for coaching.

"Obviously it's been a big decision from Jon to hang up his boots and one we wanted him to take his time over," the manager added.

"Thankfully he has agreed to our proposal and now we can look forward to him bringing fresh ideas to the backroom team next season."

Players come and go, but sometimes a new face will arrive and win the hearts of supporters unexpectedly.

Who's the lesser-remembered player that showed up at Motherwell with little expectation and perhaps had more passion than talent, but turned into a hero loved across the fanbase?

Give us your shout. , external

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Chief executive Neil Doncaster says crowd figures are "hugely promising" after the SPFL broke its attendance record for the second year running.

Over 5.15m supporters took to the stands to watch their side across all SPFL competitions in 2023-24, covering the Premiership, Championship, League 1, League 2, League Cup and the SPFL Trust Trophy.

The year-on-year figure marks an increase of 64,122 on the season prior's record high, when the number of people attending SPFL matches surpassed 5m for the first time.

A total of of 4,746,052 fans attended games across the four divisions, with Premiership matches attracting 3,760,765.

Scotland continues to have the best attendances figures per capita across its top four divisions in Europe with 21.3 per 1000 people - 65% ahead of second-placed the Netherlands.

Doncaster said: “After topping five million fans across an SPFL season for the first time in season 2022/23, it is hugely promising to see attendances growing even further this season.

“Our supporters are renowned across the world for their dedication and passion and regularly record the highest per capita attendance in Europe."

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Motherwell will open the new season in Group G of the Premier Sports Cup where they face Championship side Partick Thistle as well as Montrose, Edinburgh City and Clyde.

The group stage gets under way on the weekend of 13-14 July and wraps up on 27-28 July.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up join European participants Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren in the last 16 on the weekend of August 17-18.

Click here to view the draw in full.

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Motherwell's pre-season preparations will include a friendly with recently relegated Livingston.

The West Lothian side will travel to Fir Park on Saturday, 6 July.

Stuart Kettlewell's men return to training on 18 June before travelling to the Netherlands for a two-week camp.

There they will face Dutch sides FC Twente and DSVD Deuringen.

We asked for your views on who you would like to keep - and who you would be happy to wave goodbye to - at Motherwell.

Here's what some of you had to say...

Eric: Of those offered new contracts I'd like to see Sam Nicholson, Stephen O'Donnell and Bevis Mugabi sign. Callum Slattery and Matthew Connelly can go as far as I'm concerned.

Isaac: Nicholson and Slattery are definite keepers. O'Donnell too. He's been a great squad player this season and brings experience to the dressing room. I'd keep Mugabi as a squad player but wouldn't be too sad if he leaves.

David: Both O'Donnell and Mugabi can go, with O'Donnell now past his best and Mugabi being a liability as seen in the St Johnstone match. I would like us to go for Shamal George from Livingston as he looks an improvement on Liam Kelly. The rest I would give a one-year deal to see if there is any improvement. But maybe a change in the dugout is what is require.

Ally: If Theo Bair is sold, then someone like Simon Murray from Ross County would be ideal. Georgie Gent back would be a bonus.

Last week, Motherwell announced that Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson, Stephen O'Donnell, Bevis Mugabi and Matty Connelly all have new Motherwell contracts sat on the table.

With negotiations ongoing, who would you like to see extend their stay at Fir Park and who would you be happy to wave goodbye to?

Let us know. , external

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Liam Kelly says being Motherwell captain "means everything to me" as he delivered an emotional farewell to the club and fans.

The Scotland goalkeeper, 28, is leaving Fir Park this summer after more than 100 appearances in a three-a-half-year spell including an initial six-month loan from QPR.

Kelly, who has been linked with a move to Rangers, said on Instagram:, external "To all my team-mates, thank you for being the great guys that you are and making every day we spent together so enjoyable.

"To my managers, goalkeeping coaches and all the staff at the club, no matter your role, however big or small, thank you, it's been an honour to represent you.

"To the amazing supporters of the club, through all the good and bad, we've experienced it all together. We aren't perfect, but what we always knew is that we would turn up side by side and give everything every single week.

"That unwavering loyalty and togetherness through the difficult times when everyone started to write us off as they always did is the sole reason why this great club will be in the top flight yet again for the 39th consecutive year.

"Being your captain means everything to me."

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Scotland goalkeeper Liam Kelly and Calum Butcher will leave Motherwell on the expiry of their contracts this summer, the club have announced.

Callum Slattery, Stephen O'Donnell, Bevis Mugabi, Sam Nicholson and Matty Connelly have been offered new deals and are currently in negotiations.

Aston Oxborough and Paul McGinn have both signed extended contracts until next summer, with the latter having the option of another year, while Blair Spittal departs having signed a pre-contract with Hearts.

Barry Maguire and Callan Elliot are also among the players leaving as free agents, while loan signings Georgie Gent, Jack Vale, Adam Devine, Adam Montgomery and Oli Shaw all head back to their parent clubs.

That leaves the Fir Park side with 11 first-team players heading into pre-season, with Theo Bair, Lennon Miller, Dan Casey, Shane Blaney, Davor Zdravkovksi, Andy Halliday, Harry Paton, Ross Tierney and Moses Ebiye also under contract.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell confirmed midfielder Butcher, 33, turned down a new deal.

"It's never nice to see players leave the club, but I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all who are departing," added Kettlewell.

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Motherwell midfielder Davor Zdravkovski is eyeing his first international cap after being called up by North Macedonia.

The 26-year-old has been involved in his national team's squads since arriving at Fir Park, but is yet to get minutes under his belt.

He will be hoping that changes as North Macedonia prepare for two international friendly matches at the start of next month.

Zdarvkosvi's side first travel to Rijeka to take on Croatia on Monday 3 June, before heading to the Czech Republic a week later.

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Motherwell chief executive Brian Caldwell says collaboration with the Well Society is integral to any potential investment from former Netflix executive Erik Barmack.

Caldwell, who took up his role last month, told club media he needs to "reverse the trend" of losing money and open new "income streams".

Barmack and wife Courtney are looking to invest in the Fir Park club, with the two sides currently in discussions having agreed a non-binding Head of Terms.

"I think it's really important with any takeover, with the sensitivity of this, especially with it being fan owned is that the Well Society have buy in and come with this whole transaction going forward," Caldwell said.

"Obviously it has been well documented that Erik [Barmack] is very keen to move it forward as quickly as possible but again, we all need to understand that it's important we get it right. It's important that everyone is happy with things going forward.

"I think the only way we do that is to take a little bit of time to make sure that when it does get ready to go to a vote, everyone is on board, that this is what's good for the football club and any investment coming in to the club itself is positive going forward because it's getting increasingly hard.

"We're losing money every year at the moment and how do we reverse that trend? It's part of my job to find new income streams and try and save costs where we possibly can and encourage more people back.

"That's a slow burner, that can take time to try and make any in roads but again that's something I'm talking to the Well Society about, how can we do that, let's work together.

"For me that's so important that we work together. I've said it before, we all want the same thing."