Motherwell

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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There are plenty of unknowns at Fir Park heading into the new season.

The change of manager in Jens Berthel Askou. The expected loss of wunderkind Lennon Miller. The corpulent squad that has been trimmed back in places.

Although, given the timing of the new boss' arrival, it's hard to tell what he will inherit.

Six players had their contracts end come the campaign's close, while a further 10 left after their loan spells expired. Let's have a look through the squad to see who remains.

In goal, Aston Oxborough impressed when fit last season. He is expected to stay as number one, with Calum Ward providing back-up. No dramas.

At right-back, there is a surplus of options. Jordan McGhee has arrived from Dundee - although his versatility means he can play centre-back or centre-mid.

Stephen O'Donnell and captain Paul McGinn are other possibilities, who can also slot into a back-three. There's also Australian Johnny Koutroumbis, who has a battle on his hands for meaningful minutes.

Left-back is trickier. Both Steve Seddon and Dom Thompson are out of contract, leaving just academy product Ewan Wilson. If either of them sign a deal, that side should be shored up.

The only two natural centre-backs remaining are Liam Gordon, who enjoyed a decent debut season, and Kofi Balmer, who didn't match those heights.

In midfield, Miller is expected to depart while Davor Zdravkovski and Harry Paton can walk away for free.

That leaves Callum Slattery, who was superb on his return from injury, and Andy Halliday - the player's player of the year at the club last season - as well as new signing Lukas Fadinger.

There is a serious shortage of wide players. Sam Nicholson missed almost all of last season through injury, with just Tom Sparrow bolstering the senior ranks.

The little Welshman enjoyed an impressive debut campaign but was often shunted to wing-back. He looked better further forward.

Up top, Motherwell need goals. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has more vowels in his surname than Premiership goals so far, while Zach Robinson didn't win over Motherwell fans the way he did in Dundee.

Moses Ebiye is another out of contract, and Filip Stuparevic is recovering from an ACL injury picked up last winter.

Tawanda Maswanhise was so often a bright spark last season and can be relied upon, but his six-goal return needs support.

What does Askou need then? Clarity at left-back. At least one centre-back, maybe two. A couple of wingers, and a striker who can score. And desperately, desperately, he needs some pace in the team.

Who do you think should be high up on Askou's shopping list? Let us know your thoughts HERE.

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The SPFL confirmed attendances have risen for a third consecutive season and thanked fans for their "incredible support".

Crowds across all leagues, cups and play-off matches totalled more than 5.3 million, a rise of nearly 185,000 from the 2023-24 season.

"We will be having further meetings with key stakeholders over the summer to review the most recent season and look ahead to 2025-26," the SPFL statement ends.

"We remain committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable matchday experience for players and supporters - they are the lifeblood of our game and deserve nothing less."

We asked for your views on the appointment of Jens Berthel Askou as the new Motherwell manager.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: Looking at his track record, it could have been much worse than what we got. A couple of promotions is also quite good as it shows he can perform well with lower budgets, as long as he doesn't need to get Motherwell promoted anytime. I'm quite optimistic about this. Welcome to the ‘Well!

John: Good to see Motherwell go with a young, fresh European coach rather than the normal names that get banded about. He has a decent background too. Good luck to him.

Ross: It's pleasing to see that once again the club have thought outside the box in appointing a coach from overseas. Whether it's a success or not, time will tell but I'm excited. We can now move forward into the new season.

Callum: I'm really disappointed, I felt that we had the opportunity to go back to what has brought success to the club, appointing experienced Scottish managers. Even more so when Craig Levein and Mark McGhee are so available.

James: Good to see Motherwell trying something different. Hopefully see him trying to play passing football and maybe bring in a few Scandinavians that Motherwell can develop and sell on.

Graham: Was very excited about moving forward with Michael Wimmer, and I am happy and impressed that ‘Well have gone a similar route with another continental appointment.

He seems to have impressed the board with his ambitions and youth policy. Hopefully this new appointment will last longer than Wimmer‘s four months! Good luck to our new manager.

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Livingston have added more Scottish Premiership experience to their squad with the signing of defender Shane Blaney from Motherwell.

The 26-year-old joined the Fir Park side in January 2023 from Sligo Rovers and made 54 appearances for the Steelmen.

The centre-back featured just 17 times last season as he was hit with injury troubles.

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Well Society director Derek Watson thinks Jens Berthel Askou's "ambitious" appointment shows "fresh thinking" from "on the up" Motherwell.

Former IFK Goteborg head coach Askou replaces Michael Wimmer at Fir Park having enjoyed promotion in Denmark and trophies in the Froe Islands.

"Many people in the media and football world - like during the previous vacancy - roll off similar names who have worked often worked in Scotland, but I think this shows fresh thinking," Watson told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland.

"It's out of the box, as it should be for Motherwell and for the UK's first top-flight fan-owned club."

Askou has won promotion to the Danish top flight with both Vendsyssel and Horsens. In between those jobs he won a league and cup double in the Faroe Islands with HB Torshavn.

"It's an ambitious and exciting appointment," Watson added. "This is a manager who's had a taste of success and wants to go on to bigger and better things.

"The strategy that the executive board have had when they've been appointing managers reflects the significant reset that's been happening across the club across the last year.

"I think Motherwell have got a reputation of being a football club who develop young talent and move them, on so there is no reason it shouldn't be similar for managers.

"We want young managers to come in, be ambitious and see Motherwell as a good platform to develop their career if they have success."

With the new season fast approaching, Watson believes this move has put the Lanarkshire club "in a very good place".

"Hopefully the manager brings in some fresh faces and some fresh ideas but I would like to hope that Motherwell are a club on the up.

"I think we're in a very good place."

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Jens Berthel Askou won promotion to the Danish top flight with both Vendsyssel and Horsens.

In between those jobs he won a league and cup double in the Faroe Islands with HB Torshavn.

In June 2023, he took over at IFK Goteborg for a year before joining Sparta Prague as an assistant coach.

In January, he took up a similar post at FC Copenhagen working under manager Jacob Neestrup.

"We had a high number of impressive applicants, but we were really drawn to Jens," said Motherwell chairman Kyrk Macmillan.

"His track record of working with big clubs, delivering success and developing young players matches up with all our philosophies.

"He has handed 26 teenagers debuts in five-and-a-half seasons, which I think is evidence of Jens implementing his ideas and morals.

"The data and numbers impressed us, but more importantly, after speaking with Jens a number of times, he is a really ambitious character and a leader who was extremely keen to get the role here at our club."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland

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It's becoming the Motherwell way to taken an alternative approach to things.

Much like the recruitment process for Michael Wimmer, the Fir Park club have gone down an unfamiliar route, bucking the trend of Hearts, Dundee and Kilmarnock, to bring in their new manager.

Arguably Jens Berthel Askou has more of a pedigree than his predecessor. He's won trophies and promotions, including a domestic double in the Faroe Islands. There's also names like IFK Goteborg and FC Copenhagen on his CV.

He talks of being hungry for success, but success in Scotland may look quite different. With a budget that a fan-owned club can offer, a league and cup double parade going along Windmillhill Street seems fanciful. However, being bold in chasing ambition is something in line with the Motherwell way of thinking right now.

A young and dynamic board led by chairman Kyrk MacMillan, who previously was a CEO with a Danish fashion firm, are attempting to forge their own path and do things their own way. But Askou has a lot to do, and quickly, when he arrives next week.

The bulky squad left for him report for pre-season training on Wednesday, along with new recruits presumably eyed up by Wimmer. He also has to face losing his star asset, Lennon Miller, whose value and profile will only have gone up since starring for Scotland on Monday.

Askou's appointment was predictably unpredictable. Knowing Scottish football, what happens next will most likely be the same.

Motherwell have appointed Jens Berthel Askou as their new manager.

The 42-year-old Dane, who was most recently assistant manager at FC Copenhagen, will be calling Fir Park home.

Plenty names had been mentioned, so we want to know what you think about the new boss.

Give us your thoughts here.

Central Coast Mariners boss Mark Jackson is a surprise candidate to become the new Motherwell manager. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic are expected to rekindle interest in 18-year-old Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller and have also been keeping tabs on Hearts left-back James Penrice. (Daily Record), external

Lennon Miller, also linked with Sunderland, Eintracht Frankfurt and Royal Union St Gilloise, insists his focus is more on pre-season with Motherwell than speculation over his future. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

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No team won more fouls in the Scottish Premiership last season than Motherwell.

The Steelmen were fouled 468 times - according to Opta - 20 times more than second-most fouled, St Johnstone.

Lennon Miller won 70 of those fouls, while midfield partner Andy Halliday won 58.

Tawanda Maswanhise won 46, with Callum Slattery earning four fewer.

Sunderland are preparing a £10m bid for 18-year-old Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller, who made his first Scotland start in Monday's win away to Liechtenstein. (SportsBoom), external

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A move to Europe would suit midfielder Lennon Miller if he is to depart Motherwell this summer, says former Scotland striker Steven Naismith.

The 18-year-old, who has just one year remaining on his Fir Park deal, is reportedly attracting interest from a number of clubs after a stellar campaign.

The youngster ended a memorable season with a first Scotland start, impressing in midfield and providing an assist in the 4-0 win in Liechtenstein.

Ex-Hearts boss Naismith says he has "loved" seeing Scottish players, such as Lewis Ferguson, Josh Doig and Aaron Hickey, go abroad at a young age and feels Miller could be next to benefit from a move to the continent.

"My generation, players going abroad was something that rarely happened," the former Rangers forward said on BBC Sportsound on Sunday.

"European football would suit Miller better, because his big attributes are he's good technically and his awareness is very good.

"Other parts he can learn, Ferguson is the prime example of that. Ferguson's turned into a brilliant all-round midfielder.

"Motherwell will get rewarded for their hard work [with a good fee]."

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Scotland and Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller told BBC Scotland: "It's a good night's work, a proud moment to make my first start and to pop up with an assist is always nice.

"It's always easier when you get that early goal, it calmed everyone down and we played some nice stuff out there.

"I thought we came here tonight and our application was second to none."

On what's next, he added: "I've got a couple of weeks off to come, then it's back to it."

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Motherwell have confirmed centre-back Dan Casey will depart the club after deciding to "pursue opportunities in England".

The defender, who joined the Fir Park side in February 2023, turned down a new contract offer to remain in Lanarkshire.

In more than two years at the club, Casey became a key part of the defence and played 85 times, scoring seven times.

"I've loved every minute of being here," the Irishman said. "Some of my favourite football memories were made here and I'll always be grateful for that.

"A huge thank you to all of the Motherwell staff, my team-mates and especially the fans for everything."

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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."