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We are a provincial club. It's will forever be the case that our success stories will leave us vulnerable to those with more financial clout, bigger fanbases, increased stature. I understand the negativity, but the reality is that if we do well then ultimately we're 'punished' ie loss of best players/manager. For me the difference this time is we are a club on the up. The bulk of the squad is under contract, so you would hope there would not be the usual churn of players. If clubs are interested in our players, we are in a position with many to demand a very decent fee. No need for us to sell for peanuts. Financially, I would expect the club to be in a very good place. On the pitch, we have European football to look forward too and for the first time in a while, solid foundations to build from. Players will be interested in joining Motherwell. Albeit, we will be a stepping stone, but that is how it works. Always has, always will. We have an opportunity now to really push on and I just hope the board do not squander this, regardless of who goes. To their credit, the board have shown an ability to think outside the box with the last couple of managerial appointments and for young up and coming coaches, we'll be an attractive proposition. For me, this is the way to go. We need to move on from the managerial merry-go-round of looking at the usual candidates north and south of the border. Ultimately, I would love JBA to stay, along with the likes of Just, Watt etc, but the reality is they move on to something bigger. As a club, if we show we can do that then more players/manager will be interested in a stint at Fir Park. Essentially, we're a shop window. It doesn't mean we can't continue to build something. It just puts the board under that bit more pressure to make the right appointments and for our scouting department to identify the right players. I'll leave you with this thought. Take a look at Bournemouth. Since the start of the season just finishing they've lost key players like Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Semenyo and Ouatarra, not to mention manager Andoni Iraola leaving once season is finished. Yet through all this they potentially stand on the verge of Champions League football. That demonstrates a well-run club with not just a focus on the present, but always planning for the future. Losing players/managers does no necessarily have to mean a return to mediocrity.

We should be on the phone to Guardiola, weve played like Man City this season so he would hit the ground running, and feel right at home,, plus his career would be complete with a spell managing in Scotland, nothing ventured norhing gained.

The point is he leaves the club in a much better state than Kettlewell, has laid the foundation for future managers to build on, recruited some excellent players who will raise significant funds when sold, assisted in the development of our new training facilities and provided a season of football none of us will forget. Apart from that, a complete waste of time.

If we end up back to the usual crap, fair enough. But no one saw this season coming, so let's give them a chance. For me the point is, it's my club. Till death us do part - for better or worse.

Reports now saying JBA is on 3 man shortlist for Toulouse job. So reports yesterday not as accurate as being suggested.

What's the point ? One good season now back to the usual crap , it will always be the same . We get one good season and then we are unable to keep anyone. Demoralising. :(

As been mentioned look at our crowds this season as fans want to be entertained and I have no doubt a lot of neutrals have come to watch us play. The Chairman, chief exec , board all switched on and will know the bar now set and any return to the hoofball we witnessed under not just SK not Alexander's team were brutal to watch

We've been so pleasing on the eye this season that I'd be devastated if we returned to anything resembling 'Kettle/Alexanderball'. I honestly think it would make me think twice about renewing at the end of next season. And I don't say that lightly.

Shockerooney another X post suggesting no deal has been done, its not official until JBA is pictured in France with a Toulouse scarf in one hand and z baguette in the other https://x.com/i/status/2057172498651738157

It is what it is. We are 140 years old, we’ll survive the departure of Jens. I also do not see us reverting to kettleball? I think the powers at be have seen the financial impact of what has happened playing in this way and they will go all out to try and find a like for like. im disappointed but not nearly as disappointed as I was when I was 10 and Davie Hay left.

The facts are we simply aren't a big enough club to hold on to talent. I think it will be a very different team next season. Even if we had managed to hold on to this team and coaching staff there is still the possibility we wouldn't have been as good or possibly even struggled. That's why almost all players and staff go, they have to take their chance to move up as there is no guarantee it will come again. You're talking in most cases from going from having a decent living to millionaire status. It's not something you gamble on. I think there is going to be a lot of unrealistic expectation going into next season. Fans need to realise there won't be any like-for-like replacements. Every player and coach is an individual and the team is a combination of individuals. There will not be a seamless continuation. There will be a whole set of new challenges as there always is with every new season. As a support I hope we recognise that.

Aye, I’d already accepted it weeks ago. I just want it resolved early so we can move on quickly. With Daws now in his new role to provide continuity, and Kyrk and the board committed to the new model, I don’t see any reason to be concerned.

I dont want to sound spoiled but I will struggle to go back to bland soulless football again!I think back to Kettleball and the stuff we have witnessed last season for me just proves anything is possible no matter size of club or how much money you have we have seen it with our own eyes. I said before have nothing but faith in the Kyrk and the board to get it right again progress has been seen and progress has been made. Up the Well!

Agree Grizzly - im pretty sure Kyrk also referenced it last month in his video update. He said something along the lines of irrespective of who's in charge this is the type of football we'll be playing. I thought at the time it sounded like an acceptance that Jens would move on but chose to ignore and kept hope he'd stick around.

My mate was at AGM few months back and they said that was the model they were continuing with so fingers crossed

Absolutely. In-form players who are on the radar of bigger clubs know exactly how the game works. If they're entering the final year of their contract and won't sign an extension, we have 2 opportunities remaining to make money from them. Now would normally be preferable to January, but we've Europe to consider this year. We'll see what transpires if and when offers come in. I'm certainly not greetin about our situation or fighting reality. Life goes on, irrespective. We've just had an unforgettable season that's re-energised the entire club. Now we continue down the bumpy road, even if it's with a new driver.

Is it bad that overnight Ive gone from hoping Jens would stay, to just wanting it announced so we can move on? Im going to go and look up the 5 stages of grief! Edit: looks like Ive gone straight from denial to acceptance!

If JBA goes this week, with the club still trying to sell season tickets, it would absolutely be in their interests to make a statement, as you suggest.

Most of us think that the club will continue on the same path of exciting total football now. However, it would do no harm at all for the directors to release a very public statement, once JBA departs, to the effect that the journey continues and confirm this. That would certainly help to keep increased crowds onside. It doesn't need to morph into a detailed account of candidates, timelines etc.

A very good point and i know its a different level but yes you can add Bournemouth into that mix also, constantly losing tip players but replacing them with other gems that they then sell on for a great profit. At that rate we can invest in stadium, youth academy etc but if Jens goes I hope we still retain the massive incase in crowds we were seeing. No reason why we shouldn't. COYW

Can only follow him if we agree to sell them. Players know how the game works, and any professional worth their salt makes their own way in their profession and doesn't follow a manager. I'm also very sure most of our players knew exactly what was going to happen with JBA, and probably joined us hoping they could do the same. We're clearly trying to build a model to work from that doesn't leave us dependant on a specific manager or player to function. Kind of what you see at Brentford and Brighton, who have seen other clubs poach staff and players from them constantly, but they continue to have success. That doesn't mean we will hit the highs of this season every year, but it should mean that we don't get too sentimental about these things when they happen and make rash decisions. Whether JBA moves tomorrow or in a years time, it will be interesting to see how we handle that, and who comes in, as that will be a good indicator of how much of our success is just from JBA, and what is down to our overall leadership group.

Toulouse, that’s a bit of lautrec for anyone wanting to go see his new team play.

Yes, very likely. Not only a ban for him but probs more vindictive "doubling down" on our players, like Slattery's treatment. Highly-selective small-minded vindictiveness seems to be a thing witth the authorities. Very sorry to see him go but glad he's going abroad rather than going to The Uglies. Seems JBA was too honest and progressive for the Neanderthals in this country.

I’m not sure, but I don’t think he was on a ‘fixed-term’ contract. I think it may have been a 1-year rolling contract so I don’t know if there will be a huge sum due to us in compensation.

I’ve no idea but I would think you’re not far off the mark at that figure.