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With this whole affair I think there are a few things everyone can agree on: There was a trigger clause in his contract, brought to public attention in a newspaper article (more about that below), known about in private before and confirmed by AB by what he didn't say at the AGM. The trigger clause was a win win for both player and club, here is some extra money .... play well and you'll earn a move in Jan and we get a wee kickback. If not you get that extra money for 2 years, stability and we retain your services to next summer and get a larger sum or see out your contract till 2022 and retain an International defender in the squad. He's not played as well as he did last season. Most rational supporters will have no issue with a player looking to move to better themselves at a higher level, make more money or for family/geographic reasons. It is no more than you'd hope for yourself in your own career. Most rational supporters will have no issue if a player conducts themselves with a degree of decorum and respect for their employer, especially if they are captain. However, most rational supporters will have issue if a player looks too much like a mercenary and does their talking in a tabloid opposed to on the pitch. The timing of his injury was unfortunate for fuelling conspiracy theorists and for retaining his Scotland starting position. He will be boo'd by a significant amount of the home support upon his return in anything other than C&A, (if Reynolds is despite leaving under the best of terms then Dec has no chance). I do have an issue with the club captain either under his own volition or at the direction of a representative to use a friendly hack to remind those of his availability and that in a few weeks time there would be a transfer fee required because he would then have 18 months left of his deal. "Roll up! Roll up! this offer won't be here for much longer".

Lucky teams win cups, and in the context of Scotland that usually means the rare seasons that both ugly sisters have went out in earlier round. We have made 4 finals since 91 which I think is a decent record for a club our size. 2005 LC Rangers 2017 LC Celtic 2011 SC Celtic 2017 SC Celtic So no easy Diddy teams in the final for us, occasionally a team will have a good result and beat Celtic or Rangers in a semi final as we did in 91 but it is very rare for both of the ugly sisters to be out before the semi finals. So would the likes of StM or StJ have won had they been playing Rangers or Celtic, probably not.

Alexander was brought in to stop the rot and keep us up which was everything to us all in the current economic crisis. Barring a catastrophic disaster he has accomplished this , so for that I am certainly grateful. Sadly a lot of people have forgotten though that Robbo and his signings put us in the horrible position he came into. The however in all this for Alexander and the club and fans is if you honestly think resigning/being left with the core of players that put us in this position is going to improve us next season you are deluded - resigning Crawford and Mugabi has already set the tone for what is in store next season and Alexander signed some dross when he arrived as well. Some will be happy with the small wee club , punching above our weight for years pish but I’m not . We should be challenging top 6, especially with the revenue we have generated of late, have some form of entertainment value along with giving youth a chance - signing crawford and mugabi alongside Lamie I just don’t see us improving. I’ve seen better junior and under 18 players . I hope I’m proven wrong but just can’t see it . Robbo and those that gave him free reign have a lot to answer for .

The “wee club, punching above our weight” thing is nonsense. Self defeating nonsense and a ready made excuse for not performing well in games or competitions. I am under no illusions about the size of club we are, we are obviously a ‘smaller’ club than the Old Firm and the City clubs but outside of that, there is not much difference in size of supports etc. From our point of view we have been a top flight club for well over thirty years, in which time have won the Scottish Cup, regularly competed and finished in the top half of the league which has on a good few occasions now earned us European qualification. And yet STILL, we have supporters saying “oor wee club, we really shouldn’t expect anything other than survival” and other such nonsense. Some inside the club seem to buy into that too it would appear. So how long do you have to punch above your weight before that becomes your weight?

The academy can only produce players that are willing to come/stay at Motherwell. We’re up against Rangers, Celtic, Hamilton, Livingston, Hibs and Hearts to get players in and then any decent club down south to keep them long enough to make the first team. We have done well in recent years but we have also lost a few potential first team players at the same time.

Sand in his vagina.

That's how I took it, as well as Polworth editing his own hype videos and ranting to his wife about through balls.

Unfortunately, it looks like that revenue stream that we've built up will be somewhat demolished by the fact that the deal offered to fans who bought season tickets this season will see many get their season tickets next season for absolutely nothing. We can hope that a fair chunk of fans will waive the opportunity for that, but we don't know for certain. The contract thing is an interesting discussion point, because there's always those who point at players who sign on a one-year deal, do very well, then move on for free. What no one really brings up though, is the number of players we sign on short-term deals, aren't good, and we're happy to let them move on at the end of the season. As much as it would be grand to have our best players tied down to long-term deals, we cannot risk having a squad full of players who didn't make the cut but who aren't going anywhere else due to lack of interest. Regarding the players we've re-signed for next season? We have to place some faith in the manager. I personally think that Mugabe has shown an improvement since the change in manager, and Stephen O'Donnell on a two-year deal is a tremendous piece of business. In all honesty I don't even "expect" survival. I go into every season with survival as the number one priority. Once we get into a position where it looks like we won't be fighting it out at the bottom of the table, my aims turn to top six, then top four, and so on. But I don't "expect" anything. In a league where the likes of Hearts, Hibs and Dundee United can go down, we're certainly not in a position to assume we're better than that.

The race is on to see who will Hibs it.

Excellent post. I’ve often posted on these pages about a distinct lack of ambition at the club and the ‘wee club’ mentality. Yes, in world football terms we’re tiny but in Scottish football, we’re not. We’re 34 years in the top flight, the 8th largest support in the country and generated revenue streams in recent years from prize money and player sales that 39 from the other 41 professional teams in the country would only dream of. There is a distinct lack of vision which is very evident at times from the club. The AGM chat surrounding short term contracts was telling. Yes, players have more freedom to move on, but any club needs a nucleus of players which embody the values of the club, in order to be successful and have continuity. St Johnstone are a prime example of this currently. Hibs have their long serving players as do Aberdeen - when it comes to that, we’re rudderless. I cannot see the vision in the signing policy currently. In my mind, we only have 2 players signed for next season which would be starting for a top 6 team, in O’Donnell and Watt (Carson if fit). Disconnection with fans has never been higher for any club and utilizing this window to inject new impetuous and energy and bring people back is absolutely critical. Instead, we’re signing squad players that are already part of the worst Motherwell side I can remember in 30 years. Before anyone says it, yes the window isn’t open so we cannot sign players however we’ve been quite open with the fact we’re planning on running with a much smaller squad next season (ie. 18-20 players). As I understand it, we’ve already got 12/13 players now signed up for next season however, suggesting that we’re bringing 6 or so players in over the summer. They’re going to need to be shit hot to keep the club and their largely inept team mates in the league never mind kicking on and competing well above the relegation spots and pushing for top 6.

Likewise I really hate the "we are not Barcelona " pish .... as if we are expecting to be anything like Barcelona. If St Mirren and St Johnstone can win two cups in my lifetime why can't Motherwell.-

Right manager, decent squad, no reason why we can't compete for top 6 - and better - most years. We'll have poor campaigns, happens to everyone. Since our last relegation Dundee Utd have spent 5 seasons in Div 1/Championship, Hibs 4 and Hearts have gone down twice in the last 5 years. Sometimes we'll have to grin and bear it, but the trick is not getting into a tailspin. Given our apparent inability to buy, never mind buy big, recruitment and management are everything to us. Whoever recruited this crop needs hunted (if they're still here) and Alexander will get his chance to prove this isn't good enough over the summer.

Hopefully the likes of Crawford, Mugabi will be squad players next season and not regular starters otherwise we will be in for another dismal campaign. I’m happy for GA to get the summer transfer window before he is properly judged in the job. As for your point on the “punching above our weight” mentality, that is something that is unfortunately deeply entrenched in the club these days and I believe plays a huge part, perhaps subconsciously, in a lot of the apathy we have seen over the last few years, even on the park. Any player or manager joining us will know that there is no real expectation to go the extra mile or to try and win a Cup, because so many within the club and the support are happy to see us as this tiny wee club that are miraculously able to play in the country’s top league. I love the club and always will, but I truly despise that outlook.

Step forward Eddie Nolan.

I see absolutely nothing in his play or manner that shows even the slightest bit of leadership on or off the park. Also during this season no one has came forward and grabbed the team by the scruff of the neck and rallied those around them, virtually every player has been waiting for someone else to do it. I have a feeling that GA will bring someone new into the club who he can trust to take on this role. Our last two captains have certainly not filled the role with any confidence if anything both went backwards

Cole showed little last night to suggest there would be teams after him. He was well shackled by the Morton defence, and when he was given crumbs he did little creatively with them.

But we can take penalties now, it’s our thing

Followed by a (one fingered?) brush of the shoulder in Lennon's direction. Class.

Hastie's penalty must be one of the best ever in our history. An absolute rocket right into the top bin. Higdon vs Celtic a few years back was sublime too.