Toxteth O'Grady

I'd much rather have a bookies back at Fir Park than alcohol on sale.

I'm not going to have time to listen to it today. Any chance of someone providing a quick summary?

I'm going to sneak in another one. I know most players are out of contract in the summer, but for the likes of McManus, Lasley etc, do their contracts contain a clause whereby their wages will drop if we are relegated?

Someone else might already know the answer to this, but what is the contingency plan if the Well Society fails to raise sufficient funds to repay Les Hutchison in the agreed timescale? In the long term, what does the future hold for Fir Park? Is a move to Ravenscraig a distinct possibility, and if so what is the timescale liable to be?

Other changes... http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2015/02/04/forthcoming-fixture-amendments-2/

Apologies if already posted. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/motherwell-fc-general-manager-alan-5103678 Motherwell FC General Manager Alan Burrows discusses a busy deadline day at Fir Park 11:56, 4 February 2015 By Nick Thomson Well brought in seven players in the January window 18 Shares Share Tweet +1 Email SNSMotherwell's General Manager Alan Burrows discusses the club's transfer dealingsMonday saw Motherwell add FOUR new faces to their squad on a manic transfer deadline day – but General Manager Alan Burrows refused to rule out adding even more new players to Ian Baraclough’s squad. Goalkeeper George Long, midfielder Conor Grant, winger Nathan Thomas and winger Marvin Johnson all arrived before the window closed at midnight, and they join three other January signings in Stephen Pearson, Anthony Straker and Louis Laing. And speaking to the Wishaw Press, Burrows hinted there could be more on the way. “There is still a possibility,” he explained. “Who knows what will happen in the next week or so in terms of players who are now out of contract? “This might not be the end of it.” The news of the new arrivals has been met with widespread delight from the Fir Park faithful, with the signing of Marvin Johnson from Kidderminster Harriers catching the eye in particular with the Steelmen taking the unusual step of paying a transfer fee for the 24 year-old. And Burrows admitted signing the likes of Johnson is part of an ambitious plan instigated by the club’s new owner Les Hutchison. He continued: “One of the key strategies that Les Hutchison and the club have adopted going forward is the ability to identify players that we can sell on at a profit. “We make no bones about that, and it’s one of the real mechanisms to make money within football. “Despite our really fantastic on-field success in recent years, if you look at some of our competitors, they have had an ability to sell players. “We’ve only managed to sell two in Henrik Ojamaa and Henri Anier – but not for the significant amounts of money that other clubs have been able to recoup. “So one of the areas that Mr Hutchison and the club has identified is to improve our scouting system and get players in that are at an age and a level that we believe we can make a very quick return on our investment and sell them on for a profit. Birmingham MailMarvin Johnson, left, is one of seven players to sign at Motherwell “Marvin very much falls into that category. He is a player that the people in charge of our football department have identified for a number of years. “They’ve monitored his progress and believe he can be a real success in Scotland given his pace, excitement and ability to score goals. “The case was made to the new board and what it would take to get Marvin to the club, and it was sanctioned as we believe it is a real investment for the club and he can progress and can be an asset in the next 12 to 18 months.” And despite the new-found positivity the new players and the takeover have brought to the club, the former media guru has warned against any complacency creeping in at Fir Park. He added:“The hard work starts now. We’ve got some clarity off the park, we’ve got some new faces on it, but the big aim now is to get some guys back from injury, add the new guys and hopefully push ourselves up the table. “It would be patronising for us to say it has been anything other than a very disappointing season so far, but there is still a long way to go and it is by no means done and dusted.” Drama of the day took Burrows by surprise Motherwell's General Manager Alan Burrows has told of the range of emotions he experienced on transfer deadline day. Burrows began his role at Fir Park last summer, and after getting most of their business done early, deadline day at the end of the August transfer window was something of a damp squib. But he has explained the highs and lows he and the staff at the club endured as they battled to strengthen Ian Baraclough's squad. He said: "I was there in the summer transfer window and we had most of our business done early-on. "Monday was unbelieveable though. At one point we thought we had everyone we wanted to go for, and within the space of an hour, we thought we had nobody. "It was very up and down all day and Ian [baraclough] had to pull me up by the seat of my pants a few times as we'd missed out on a target. "But then we went to the real high of managing to get Marvin and beating off some stiff competition from a couple of clubs. "The overriding emotion though after the window is a positive one. We believe the squad is stronger than what it was and we have a lot more pace and dynamism than what it had." Burrows also reckons the club's support are thrilled with their January business after receiving a positive response from the online community. He continued: "There's nothing quite like a new player to give the fans and everyone around the club a lift. "I read some of the feedback on Twitter and some of the messageboards - and usually myself and others are getting stick on there. "But last night was a pleasant read. They could see that people at the club were working hard to identify areas that needed strengthened.

Still nothing on the ownership issue?

He's suspended.

Now Sat 7th March.

McManus wins appeal: http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2015/01/08/stephen-mcmanus-appeal/

Motherwell: Twardzik, Reid, McManus, Ainsworth, Sutton, Lasley, O'Brien, Law, Kerr, Ojamaa, Watt. Motherwell subs: Nielsen, Carswell, Erwin, Cummins, Cadden, Thomas, McMillan.

Why the strange kick off time? TV games are usually at lunchtime on a Sunday.

Good to see Hammell back: Twardzik, Reid, Hammell, Ramsden, McManus, Ainsworth, Sutton, Lasley, O'Brien, Law, Ojamaa subs: Nielsen, Erwin, Kerr, Thomas, Cadden, Ferguson, MacLean

5/4 at McBookie

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/other-football/motherwell-fans-have-a-sunnier-disposition-thanks-to-caribbean-191656n.114418063 Motherwell fans have a sunnier disposition thanks to Caribbean investment WHITE knights are back in vogue all of a sudden. James MorganDeputy Sports EditorWednesday 10/12/20140 CommentsSharePrintFinding wealthy individuals willing to pour money into Scottish football had tended to be a difficult enough challenge over the last few years, without then expecting those fortunate enough to have a few quid spare to expect nothing back for their investment. As Rangers fans have repeatedly discovered to their cost over the past few years, anyone putting money into a football club of late tends to then take it back with a few extra zeroes added on to the end of their cheque. The antidote to clubs being run into the ground by individuals or companies motivated solely by commercial gain has been to deliver them into the hands of their fans, the sole group whose intentions are almost always entirely honourable. Making that transition, however, can be an expensive business, with supporters rarely able to make the sort of up-front payment needed to assume majority ownership. Some kind of hybrid scheme, where wealthy individuals provide the initial capital before eventually handing over the running of the club when their money is returned without profit, is the ideal solution, although finding those with both the means and the motivation to get involved is, unsurprisingly, a nigh impossible task. Hearts, though, have struck it lucky and now it seems Motherwell are on the brink of following suit by unearthing their own kind-hearted sponsor. Going into administration offered the Tynecastle club the chance of a fresh start and thanks to the benevolence of Ann Budge, the multi-millionaire IT businesswoman and Hearts supporter, it has become a reality, with the club set to be owned and run by its fans via the Foundation of Hearts in the not-too-distant future. Now Motherwell stand on the brink of something similar. Offered the opportunity to assume the 70% shareholding of former chairman John Boyle should they provide certain financial guarantees, the Well Society, a community group, have been trying for the last few years to raise the necessary sums. Just when it looked as if they would fall short of their target - thus allowing another alternative bid for the club by an Argentinian consortium to take precedent - the fans' offer is now set to go through thanks to the intervention of one expat. Lanarkshire-born but now a Barbados resident, Les Hutchison was made aware of the Well Society's plight and will now - similar to what Budge did with Hearts - effectively bankroll the purchase of Boyle's shares before eventually transferring ownership to the supporters once his investment has been repaid. In the interim, Hutchison will take control, although he not expected to be as hands-on as Budge is at Hearts given he will continue to be based in the Caribbean. The takeover is expected to be formally announced in the coming days, alongside the unveiling of the club's new manager. The wish now is that more clubs will find a way to follow Hearts and Motherwell into fan ownership. A committee of altruistic and wealthy businesspeople who look fondly on ailing football clubs could hold their meetings in a telephone box but Andrew Jenkin of Supporters Direct hopes the adoption of what is known as the German model - where supporters retain a minimum of 50%+1 share of the club, and other individuals or businesses subsidise the rest - could become an established practice in Scotland, too. "I think what Hearts have done and Motherwell look set to emulate will become increasingly popular," Jenkin said. "The problem any fans group faces when they want to take ownership of their club is access to funds. Those groups, though, are now becoming quite business-minded in that they can attract funding from private investors, and then use those funds to realise their ambitions. "We would always want 100% ownership by a fans group in an ideal world, but the reality is that it's very hard for any supporters to generate by themselves the levels of money needed. What we're coming across more is the German model that sees supporters combining with businesses, but with supporters retaining overall control. There's no one model that fits all, and every club has its own set of unique circumstances, but a mixed funding set-up that utilises both business and supporter revenues would seem the best way forward." Jenkin is heartened that, despite having an alternative offer to consider, Motherwell chose to move forward with the bid from the fans. "That is good to see," he added. "You are always assured that supporters have the best interest of the club at heart. You are guaranteed a safe pair of hands taking the club forward and that was maybe something that came into Motherwell's thinking." The only problem is finding more individuals with the same sense of community spirit as Budge and Hutchison. "It's good that these people are wanting to be involved with the fans groups, rather than just purchasing the clubs for themselves or for any personal interests. They want to help supporters and by extension the local community. If they're not looking for anything other than to help out before eventually passing the club on, then that's great to see. "We're still in the early stages with the Foundation of Hearts but it's certainly encouraging. There's certainly no reason why schemes like this shouldn't work. "Unfortunately the reality of Scottish football means there aren't too many people lining up to buy our clubs, or those who can put their hands in their pockets and not ask for much back. But hopefully what is happening at Hearts and Motherwell will encourage more to do the same."

Now on BBC http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30422285

Solano now touting himself for the Hartlepool job: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/ex-newcastle-united-star-nolberto-solano-up-for-the-challenge-of-saving-hartlepool-united-1-6993656

It was absolutely scorchio that day. I remember at the end of 90 mins their stewards allowed us to nip out to a wee shop to buy ice poles before coming back for extra time. Fairly sure we won on penalties.

This. It was always something to look forward to after Christmas / New Year. Just cannie get used to it starting in November at all.

Well Society statement: http://www.thewellsociety.co.uk/2014/11/24/724/ The uncertainty goes on...

Former Notts County manager Ian McParland has applied for the vacancy at Motherwell. (The Sun, print edition)

Another Well Society statement:

Motherwell manager job appeals to Billy McKinlay 10/1 at McBookie...

Ticket info... http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2014/11/05/scottish-cup-ticket-information-2/