Toxteth O'Grady

Announcement within 48 hours... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55546870

Jordan Archer has joined Middlesbrough https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2021/01/05/jordan-archer-joins-middlesbrough/

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/stoke-city-target-motherwell-scotland-23260639 Stoke apparently interested in Stephen O'Donnell

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/55534868

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/6475879/motherwell-lasley-job-robinson/ KEITH LASLEY will be given four games to land the Motherwell job. The Fir Park legend has been placed in temporary charge of the Steelmen following Stephen Robinson’s resignation. SunSport understands the Well No 2 wants the job for keeps, but must prove his credentials in upcoming matches against Hamilton, St Mirren, Rangers and Aberdeen. Robinson quit after the 2-0 defeat to Kilmarnock  —  a result which leaves Well tenth in the table, just two points off the bottom. It’s understood Robbo, who led Motherwell to two cup finals, third place in the Premiership and the Europa League during his four years in charge had been considering his position for a number of weeks. Even on Thursday morning, Fir Park chiefs tried desperately to talk the ex-Northern Ireland star into staying. But with his mind made up, the hunt for his successor is now under way. Tommy Wright, John Robertson and ex-Well ace Derek Adams are among the contenders. But Lasley and first-team coach Maurice Ross will be given the first opportunity to impress. With the January transfer window open for business, Well are conscious they will need to move fast. As well as success on the pitch, Robinson generated over £6million in player sales during his second spell at the club. He said: “I would like to thank everyone at Motherwell for their support throughout my time here, both as manager and assistant. “We have qualified for Europe, reached two cup finals and achieved a third-place finish, on top of also developing some wonderful players. “We cleared the club’s external debt through player sales, cup runs and league positions. “My goal was always to leave the club in a healthier position. I believe I have done this. “I now feel it is the time for someone new to take the club forward, as I feel I have taken it as far as I can.”

Lamie was probably Kilmarnock's man of the match.

Off topic, but there's sad news emerging from Tannadice this evening... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50338260

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55433000 Scottish Premiership: 3-0 wins 'suspended' after St Mirren & Kilmarnock appeals Last updated on23 minutes ago23 minutes ago.From the sectionScottish Premiership Kilmarnock and St Mirren have appealed against the SPFL decision The 3-0 Scottish Premiership victories awarded after Covid regulation breaches by St Mirren and Kilmarnock have been "suspended pending appeals". Motherwell were given wins over both, and Hamilton Academical were handed the points for a game against St Mirren - all of which were postponed in October. But after St Mirren and Kilmarnock protested, the punishments are on hold. It means Motherwell slip to 10th in the Scottish Premiership and Hamilton are now just a point off the bottom. Kilmarnock & St Mirren lodge appeals Premiership duo forfeit fixtures St Mirren and Kilmarnock admitted infringing social distancing rules on buses and at meals, and players from St Mirren also shared cars to and from training. Both clubs admitted the violations and were fined £40,000, suspended until 30 June. The appeal against the decision taken by a sub-committee of the SPFL will be heard by the Scottish FA on 14 January. The SPFL say that they "will update the Premiership table pending the outcome of the appeals process". Motherwell slip from sixth to 10th, and Hamilton are now just a point off the bottom

Any streams on the go?

Archer, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Gallagher, Grimshaw, O'Hara, Maguire, Campbell, Watt, Lang, Long. Subs: Chapman, Johnston, McGinley, Lamie, Devine, Crawford, Polworth, Cole, Hastie.

Archer, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Gallagher, McGinley, O'Hara, Campbell, Polworth, Lang, Long, Watt. Subs: Chapman, Devine, Lamie, Grimshaw, Maguire, Crawford, Cornelius, Seedorf, Hastie.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/motherwell-boss-stephen-robinson-tells-23115019

Oh my gosh https://spfl.co.uk/news/kilmarnock-fc-and-st-mirren-fc-disciplinary-outc

Don't forget his "players lives are at risk" comments following the semi final, in which his team didn't even feature. Unsurprisingly, nobody in the media called him out on it. Edit - here's a link https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/15614309.brendan-rodgers-scottish-refs-are-threatening-lives-and-careers-of-players/

https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2020/11/23/how-to-watch-motherwell-v-st-johnstone/ £12 for ppv.

https://www.nottheoldfirm.com/interview/stephen-robinson-provides-positive-motherwell-injury-update-as-boss-is-left-thrilled-with-scotland-progression/ “Jake’s been running. I’m trying to get him to join in proper training but the physio is being careful with him which is right. We can’t rush when he’s been out this long. An extra few weeks won’t hurt anyone. “It’ll make sure we don’t have any reoccurrences of the injury. We will be delighted to have him back.”

£17.50 to watch via St Johnstone ppv

Motherwell v St Johnstone in last 16.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/54888577

Today's BBC gossip

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Gallagher and O'Donnell both keep their places.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/spfl-covid-forfeit-plans-rejected-22947400 SPFL Covid forfeit plans rejected as clubs take stand against call-off plans The governing body had hoped to be allowed to dish out punishments for postponements but clubs have refused to allow them that power. Scotland's clubs have joined together to boot out a controversial proposal to impose mandatory 3-0 defeats for coronavirus call-offs. But they can’t agree on how to end the season if the pandemic forces another lockdown. Record Sport understand a sizeable majority of clubs from all four senior divisions have rejected the SPFL’s plan to dish out standard “walk-over” punishments to any side unable to fulfil league fixtures because of a Covid-19 outbreak. The move had been tabled in a bid to streamline procedures which have led to league bosses launching disciplinary probes into potential protocol breaches at both Kilmarnock and St Mirren that led to call-offs. A “no vote” is expected to be confirmed this week but it’s understood no such consensus has been reached regarding a raft 
of additional suggested contingency measures should the season face further disruption. Speaking when the clubs were sent a letter and questionnaire last month, Neil Doncaster said: “When the SPFL rules were drawn up many years ago, no- one could have foreseen the impact which Covid-19 would have on our game. “The fact that our rules did not expressly cover the situation where a season must be curtailed with a number of matches remaining to be played, caused a great deal of uncertainty and delay in reaching a resolution last season. No-one wants to see that repeated. “Many of our clubs support the principle of drawing up a set of protocols long before we get to the situation where league positions understandably influence the individual approach of clubs to these difficult situations. However, the proposal to allow the board a clearly specified and limited degree of authority to take action if we are unable to complete the season did not have sufficient support in the summer. “Given the ongoing challenges caused to sport worldwide by Covid-19, several clubs have now indicated they have changed their position. "The board wishes to establish if a sufficient number of clubs now wish to revisit this issue, so we can significantly reduce the uncertainty and division that arose towards the end of last season. “Those circumstances were caused by the need to curtail the season, make promotions and relegations and cancel the play-offs, all in a written resolution. As we know, this effectively meant asking members to vote for the relegation of their club and other clubs in circumstances where the season could not be completed, with all the issues this prompted. If there is sufficient support to secure an amendment to the SPFL Rules, then all clubs will know well in advance of any need to curtail the season what the outcome will be – so far as it concerns league positions, promotion, relegation, play-offs, fees and qualification for UEFA competitions. “The questionnaire is designed to assist the Board in recommending a resolution to member clubs as a means of giving the SPFL Board the express power to deal with any further Covid-19 related disruption to Season 2020/21.”

Looks like the weather conditions today will make this even less of a spectacle, if that's possible.

Today's BBC gossip: