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As seedings and matches for early rounds are preset early, a non seed beating a seed simply replaces that beaten seed in the next round. No reseeding takes place. I think up to round 3 but it may last longer than that. So we could end up being non seeded and play another non seed depending on earlier results. Whatever, it should be fun watching how it plays out.

I put your criteria into AI - here's a shortlist of 4, from which Jorgen Vik has potential . 🟢 Tier 1 — Strong Fit, Most Realistic Alfred Johansson — Rosenborg BK (Swedish, 35) The profile almost writes itself. A UEFA Pro Licence holder with a sports science degree, Johansson came through the FC Copenhagen academy system before being appointed Rosenborg head coach in December 2023 — the same pathway Jens walked. His preferred system is a 4-3-3 attacking setup, with a focus on developing young talent and innovative tactics. He has just signed a contract extension with Rosenborg through 2028, so there'd be a cost — but for a club heading into Conference League football, that conversation is worth having. Swedish, ambitious, progressive. Exactly the profile. Jørgen Vik — Tromsø IL (Norwegian, 35) A local boy from Tromsø, Vik spent four years as assistant at the club before being promoted to head coach in 2024. He currently has Tromsø sitting top of the Eliteserien — a remarkable achievement with a club of limited resources. His contract runs until December 2026, meaning the timing could work perfectly. His record — 20 wins, 4 draws, 11 losses in 35 games — shows someone capable of building something. Less well-travelled than Jens was, but the upward trajectory is very similar. 🟡 Tier 2 — Interesting, Worth Exploring Sindre Tjelmeland — Molde FK (incoming) (Norwegian, 36) This is the Jens blueprint almost exactly. Tjelmeland was mentored into coaching by Kjetil Knutsen at Åsane, took IK Start through nearly 100 games in the Norwegian second division, then joined IFK Göteborg as assistant before moving to Lech Poznań under Niels Frederiksen. He's described by Lech's sporting director as "one of the most talented Scandinavian coaches of the new generation" — ambitious, tactically sharp, always seeking growth. He's just been appointed Molde head coach starting May 24, so it's immediately off the table — but worth monitoring if that move doesn't bed in quickly. Stefan Billborn — IFK Göteborg (Swedish) Currently in his second season at IFK Göteborg in the Allsvenskan. Göteborg are underperforming relative to their stature and Billborn may be looking for a fresh challenge. Less of a name than the others but fits the Scandinavian, possession-minded profile.

Absolutely this ^^^

Aye, but we dont have to like it! 😜😜😜 Hopefully that wont happen though. I dont want any of our guys staying in Scotland when they move on. Im sure they would be much happier in England or abroad! 😜😜😜

If Celtic meet or better the reportted £3 million price tag we have put on Watt, and the player wants to go and accepts the no doubt vastly improved personal terms on offer then he will be away to Celtic, thats how it works.

I think the club know exactly what type of manager we are looking for and although we wont be able to replicate Jens, the qualities should look a lot like him. Forward thinking coach who likes expansive possession based football, can demonstrate a track record of being able to coach his ideas but also has the appropriate personal qualities to make it happen. The last part is almost as important as the rest. We need someone with a bit of stature, but who also has the emotional intelligence to motivate and manage players and "gets the club". Given all of that, Id expect it will be another young-ish and ambitious coach. If they happen to be Scandinavian, mores the better!

Its always better to be seeded and play a lower ranked team, its a cup comprtition so for me progression is the main objective, and not a one off glamour tie. Reaching the group stages for Motherwell would be brilliant, so anything that eases our path is welcome.

For me there's a mind & heart conflict. Statistically JBA was only ever going to be here for a year but by god it would have been great for a 2nd season. I really fancied our chances of doing well in Europe and even better in the league. Tough act to follow and top managers at MFC are a rare bread. It's not just points, goals conceded, clean sheets,lowest games since 1959 or the expansive football. He brought an attitude of 'we can win every game' - I simply didn't want it to end but it has and time to move forward. Thankfully Kyrk has his head screwed on and I fully back him and the others to do well. Suspect we're 80% of the way there already. Can only hope we stabilise what we've created in 12 months.

Seeded for me. Fun as a glamour tie would be, I'm more interested to see how this team fares against the sort of opposition that usually paps us out of Europe at a canter first.

Was just having a look at the latest update and, as it goes on, it's looking more and more likely we'll be unseeded. And there's some big name seeded teams in there - Copenhagen and Panathanaikos, with Ajax in the play-off final against Utrecht. Our old friends Katowice are currently poised to be in there too. I suppose the question is do we want to be unseeded and get a draw against the likes of Ajax, or sneak in to the seeds and end up in the likes of Azerbaijan or Kosovo (or Ireland again!)?

I’m also relaxed about it, as I saw it coming a while ago. I’ve said my piece on it above anyway, and now I’m just looking forward to the European games.

If he went then after 1 game would be valued at £25 million!! 🤣 I saw Cardiff linked so £2.5 million plus turnbull would be great piece of business

Yup i am relaxed to and also relieved as I feared him going to Sellik. He has made us such an attractive proposition and there a few sellable assets we can cash in on (well done to board placing min £3 million on Watt). As said before I expect another unknown and no doubt club already been doing the groundwork. Also fact Fadinger happily signed extension when he must have known Jens was going makes me think players are fine. Jens could repay the favour by giving us £10,000,000 for Just! 😁

If Watt goes to Celtic I shall mow the grass outside with my mouth!The personal abuse he got from the Celtic fans after being outspoken about that game was embarrassing so they can just behave with the AI generated bs.

Yeah have been pretty relaxed about it all it was always on the cards crap sure but it was always going to happen. This could possibly be the norm for us going forward but if whoever comes in steers to a fantastic season and leaves with making the club better then i am totally 100 percent down with this system.

As with Wimmer and Askou the next manager will be someone who we have never heard of, probably no experience of the Scottish game, and in general all the excellent qualities JBA had that gave us such a great season.

I'm relaxed about it too. The fact that the traditional "Who do we want next?" thread hasn't been rolled out yet suggests that most of us feel the same way and trust our new board.

Bob Dylan's still there though. Like MFC, he's changed his manager a few times with varying success.

They pay double what anyone outside our league pays. Dems da rools! 😜😜😜

I seem to be a lot more relaxed about JBA's departure than almost everyone else. Last season was thoroughly enjoyable and all credit to him for transforming us on the field. However when I looked at his CV last year, I noticed he had had 7 coaching/managerial jobs in 8 years; the longest lasting about 2 years and 4 months. On that basis, I never expected him to stay very long, and I doubt he'll stay long at Toulouse either, for whatever reason. Our board now has a proven long term system in place and I have faith in that.

Usual paper talk on a player Celtic and Rangers crap.Bidding war is good if we do decide to sell Watt. Good statement from chairman Kyrk stating clubs position on JBA if a big club came in for him and obvious we have been making plans behind the scenes. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/16291016/elliott-watt-asking-price-rangers-celtic-motherwell

Chin up mate

Seriously? Where the laughing emoji showing that you’re joking? “deconstructed and have to rebuild whole philosophy and set up” From the chairman’s statement today "It's no secret that we have got a strategy in place that we will continue to build upon our model, using the same principles, as we enter this new campaign. "Managers leaving a club can be a hard pill to swallow, and whilst we appreciate Jens for what he has done here in the last 11 months, we have been continually working on contingencies and learnings to ensure we do not rip up and start again but continue to build and grow. "There's lots to be excited about. "We have over 20 contracted first-team players, European football on the horizon and crowds are 40% up at Fir Park. "We will continue working hard behind the scenes and will update supporters in due course. This is the start of a journey, not the end."

The best I'm taking is that we have had an amazing season, and the man that helped us to achieve that has left the club and a great position that the Board has a clear intention to build on.

I'm utterly deflated too. I've learned not to get used to good times as well fan but getting tired of it now as even when we show slight improvement, we are deconstructed and have to rebuild whole philosophy and set up. Totally deflated. Will probably give site a miss for a while.