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Another point I've mentioned before, but I think it's worth giving it a post of its own in this thread, is the proposed training facility at Dalziel Park. When the plans were first published, I gave my thoughts on the design and, if I'm honest, I hope the final product is significantly more ambitious than what's shown in the planning documents. However, with the extraordinary tsunami of transfer income we've generated this summer, I think it's only right that we revisit whether Dalziel Park still represents the best long-term investment for the club. The documents submitted to North Lanarkshire Council describe this as Phase 1. That consists of the new building, equipment/storage sheds and converting the running track pitch to an all-weather surface with floodlights. That wording itself suggests/infers there will be a Phase 2? What does that look like? Upgrading the five-a-side pitches? Covering one with indoor dome? Additional parking? Or does it ultimately make sense to become a full club base, allowing us to move operations away from K-Park and cease renting? If that's the intention, there are further costs to consider. We'd need facilities capable of hosting Women's and Academy fixtures. Under current SWPL 1 ground regulations, the minimum capacity is 1,300 spectators. At present we effectively work around this by using K-Park, which only holds around 660 spectators (400 seated). A permanent home would also require things such as (from SWPL guidance): Broadcast-standard floodlighting. A press area. A main camera gantry on the halfway line. A reliable secondary power supply. Dugouts meeting competition regulations. Appropriate changing facilities and supporting infrastructure. When the plans first appeared, a few people took a punt and estimated the building alone at somewhere between £1.5 million and £2.2 million, which doesn't seem unreasonable. Looking at comparable projects, the additional infrastructure isn't insignificant either. FIFA Quality Pro artificial pitch including engineered sub-base, shock pad and drainage: £850k-£1.1m Broadcast-standard floodlighting: £150k-£250k Backup generator and associated services: £80k-£100k A modest 1,300-capacity stand with changing rooms, media facilities and basic hospitality: I'd struggle to see this coming in at much under £1.2m Additional parking, landscaping and site works: £150k+ Obviously not everything would necessarily happen at once, but it's not difficult to see the total investment reaching £4-5 million over any multiple phases. The other aspect I'm less clear on is ownership. Dalziel Park is a charitable trust and, unless I've misunderstood the arrangement, Motherwell wouldn't actually own the land. We may have an excellent long-term lease with favourable terms, but ultimately it would still be a major investment on a site we don't control as an asset. Happy to be corrected if I've got that wrong. None of this is intended as criticism of any Dalziel Park facility. If the club proceeds with it, it will be a significant improvement on what we have now. Few clubs are co-located but that's down to land availability, if Celtic cold have secured 10 acres beside Parkhead, would they still prefer Lennoxtown? What I'm really asking is whether this summer has changed the equation. If Ravenscraig has now entered the fray to genuinely being considered for a new stadium, should we pause before committing several million pounds on Dalziel Park's phase 1 & possibly 2 and ask whether some or all of that investment would be better directed towards a wider football campus instead? We'd still need at least three full-size grass training pitches for rotation, along with 5/7-a-side pitches. But many of the expensive elements we're potentially talking about at Dalziel Park .... hospitality, changing rooms, media facilities, floodlighting, generators, kitchens, parking, offices, catering and security, would already exist as part of a wider stadium development. Would a gym block booked from 9-12 Monday to Friday not be monetised to the public outside those hours? The biggest challenge is the main playing surface. A natural grass stadium pitch simply isn't designed to cope with 40-plus competitive matches every season, particularly when the women's season extends into the summer and removes much of the recovery and renovation window grounds staff traditionally rely on. That raises an interesting question. Is there a technically and financially viable way of incorporating an interchangeable natural grass and artificial surface (or second grass pitch) within the stadium footprint? It would undoubtedly consume a significant portion of any savings made elsewhere and add considerable engineering complexity, so it's far from a cheap solution. However, if it could be achieved, the benefits are substantial. You'd create a venue capable of operating virtually 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It could host first-team, women's and academy football, community use, multi-sport events and commercial hires, while ensuring every Motherwell FC team has a permanent home on a single site. The increased utilisation would also create revenue opportunities that simply aren't available from a stadium that's used for a couple of dozen afternoons each year. Maybe the answer is still Dalziel Park. Maybe a split-site model remains the best option. But even with a rebuilt POD there would be a host of duplication of facilities with Dalziel Park and a weekday disconnect that doesn't exist currently. I'm just not convinced that, after the financial position we've put ourselves in this summer, it isn't worth stepping back and asking whether our long-term infrastructure strategy should be a little more ambitious than it looked 12 months ago.

I resemble that remark. Resent , bloody predictive text.

We used to have fish and chip shops in those days.

Used to lick out septic tank with back of tongue......eeeeeeeee........luxury

Still do in Coatbridge.

Although, if you wanted hot running water you had to kindle a fire in the living room fireplace to heat the water.

Aye! And they also had cheeky wee bastards Like you back then as well 😂😂

We even had electricity and running water in the 60s.

Surely even that nugget doesn't foresee anything other than a 'well win

Did they have bananas 🍌 in they days grandad.

I remember when we drew them away in the cup in what must have been the early 80s. It was a nil - nil draw at Ochilview, but we won comfortably in the replay. 6 - 1, if my old memory isn't playing tricks.

stenhousemuir always triggers an old memory for me when we beat them at fir park, in the Scottish cup, I think. Andy Weir scored the winning goal for us in a 3-2 victory. I think it was the Motherwell times the described his goal as a banana shot. 😂😂 I’m thinking that was maybe mid 60’s??

Definitely and there is an incentive for us to get through. You’d expect Celtic to beat Dundee Utd removing the latter from the Quarters and also that Del and Rangers take care of St.Mirren so we won’t need to worry about playing them in a Cup tie in this tournament.

Happy enough with this draw though Stenhousemuir sailed through their group so it’s definitely not a gimme. Hopefully we don’t burn ourselves out in the (potential) European game on the Thursday night because this one is more important. We won’t be able to wear our new Claret away kit for this one either, which isn’t a bad thing.

Some good games in that draw.

If I’m correct then due to us playing on the Thursday, the game will be on the Sunday or Monday but if we get through against HJK - a big if I know - will it be on the Sunday or will the Scottish league screw us for money if Premier want to screen it live on the Monday?

Happy with this draw

We'll need a league squad and a cup squad, like the big teams.

Are the winning numbers posted anywhere? Missed the draw at the game

The quadruple is still on 😂

3-0 Stenny..........I am stealing MJC's thunder 🤣🤣

Decent draw

Away to Stenhousemuir

Year of the good draw!

Away to stenhousemuir in last 16, happy with that