MelvinBragg

Kind of sums up my feelings on the matter. I don't have a bad word to say about the guy and he would go with my very wishes. I'd still be pretty gutted he'd be going. Interesting thing is that the Express article states that the money would go to the new manager to re-shape the squad. Time will tell on that one. Thing is, I'm sure the candidates would have expressed a desire for money to spend. Don't know, though, if they'd want their top striker sold in order to have said money to spend...

Ach, don't worry. With the players that are leaving, the wage bill will be down to next to nothing anyway. On a serious note, should no television deal materialise then there really will be no real major loss of income from relegation. Since administration we've run a fairly tight ship so we should be one of the clubs mkost equipped to cope should the worst happen. The thing is, my friend, better start trying to get your head round the idea. Cos if these rumours are true, it's a distinct possibility. John Boyle has a very big month ahead of him...

I notice you didn't say that they'd be sane for applying for it though...

If we are to sell Clarkson for £800,000 and Quinn for a similar amount, given the squad we have at the moment, the manager should be insisting that the cash be spent on bolstering the squad. What's that? We don't actually have a manager to make any such demand?? That's why the club are selling them now?? As I said in another thread earlier in the summer, part of me wishes we were in Division 1 anyway. Good away days; Ayr, Raith, Dunfermline, Inverness, Ross County, Queen of the South...

I've heard that the new manager will be unveiled on Monday and it'll be Michael 'King of Pop' Jackson. Let's face it, he's the only guy mad enough to take on the gig if we sell Clarkson and Quinn...

While not wishing to be all doom and gloom, I think some people on here are taking being positive to a ridiculous level. "Easily replace these players" someone said. Ah, that's Mark McGhee found it so easy to bring players to the club that were better than what we had . In the last year we've lost McCormack and Porter (you could argue Sutton will replace Porter to an extent), do you really want to sell another guy who'll get you at least 10 goals a season? In a year's time, Murphy may be fitter for purpose, others may have come to the fore, so letting Clarkson go for nothing might not hurt quite as much. Maybe the squad will be in a better nick... Oh, and Paul Quinn is the physically strongest, most ruthless (in a good way) and the greatest will to win of all our defenders. Flog the ginger liability and keep Quinn, give him the armband and a new contract. OK, I know the last part won't happen but I can dream...

I honestly believe that were we to sell both these players, you're looking at the calculation being how much we received in transfer fees for them against how much relegation will cost us. Are they irreplaceable? No, but with a squad as thin as ours, to sell two guys who would bust a gut for your club as well as being two of your best players would be nothing short of folly. Of our marketable assets, Reynolds is the one I think we would find it easiest to replace. Sadly, I also think he's the least marketable at the moment. If we sell Clarkson and Quinn for £500,000 combined, we might as well change the sign above the door to Oxfam and register as a charity...

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but I would hope for the sake of preparing for the new season, it was done quicker than that...

Prepare to moan then. I reckon this Friday will mark the 2 weeks. And I don't see anyone being in place by then...

The Punch and Judy, the Welsh papers, now the Stockport Express. I'm telling you, big man, ye've got too much time on your hands . On a serious note, I'm wondering how accurate their list would be. I don't imagine they'd be too well versed in Scottish football and therefore might have plucked the last three names that they had heard of mentioned in the press and added them with Gannon. Gannon sounds like he's be a good appointment from listening to people who watched his Stockport side. Of the names listed, I reckon it'd be between McAllister, Nijholt and Gannon for me. Sanchez has all the attributes to make him sound like a good appointment, but there's just something about him that doesn't appeal and I can't put my finger on it. But as football fans we're allowed to be irrational...

Aside from the fact that you've just done his team talk for their manager, now you're suggesting it'll be "less pretty" if they don't let everybody in. Suggesting what? Violence? Aye, they're really going to want to move to the bigger stadium to let more Motherwell supporters down now, aren't they...?

Are we Cardiff's feeder club now? Seriously, if they're apparently interested in Clarkson as well, they better have a massive cheque in their pocket, well into 7 figures. If we lose these two guys, the heart would ripped right out of the team and for me, relegation would be inevitable... As for Klimpl, I say again, feel free. I don't see him being a priority for Aberdeen. Apparently they're looking to tie up Kerr and McDonald on longer contracts and if they're in for Hughes, I think they'll be fairly well covered in centre midfield...

From the BBC gossip page... JB trying to repeat the trick from last time of having a number two in place for a manager to work with? My guess, more likely it's lazy journalism...

Aye, if there's not much TV money, it goes to Nijholt, the one guy with experience of working with mainly young players...

I tend to agree with you here, Dave. With the list of teams we were drawn against being narrowed to four, it was very easy to do research into size of ground/probability of getting a ticket before the draw was made and therefore not have to rush into booking travel. I know it's very easy for me to say this as someone who had no intention of travelling, no matter where the game was. Having said that, I think the Welsh are being a bit daft if they normally move their bigger games to another stadium. Or maybe they've had a look at our squad and figured that the tie might not be over after the game in Airdrie and don't fancy turning their home leg into a game where their support is outnumbered or 7 to 1...

Interesting article in that JB is playing his cards very close to his chest. How many is "many candidates" to be interviewed? I'm glad we're casting the net fairly wide but would have hoped that the field would have been narrowed by now. I suspect that some of the new names mentioned have just been thrown into the mix simply to freshen up the story every day. And I reckon Ricky Sbragia will be more interested in sitting with his feet up for six months than any SPL job. My money would be on the fact that we're looking at Sanchez, McAllister or Nijholt (Nijholt if money situation is particularly bad). Anyone suspect that the perception of Llanelli as an easy tie has relaxed JB about the recruitement process and the time it's taking?

Those with Setanta might want to hold off on cancelling it for another month given that they did have the rights to the Europa league games apparently. If they can scrape together enough cash to keep those rights for the moment then, they might get Motherwell fans' money for at least July...

Darren Smith is a funny one. Doesn't seem to run like a footballer should, looks awkward. But the number of times he's come off the bench to score important goals, considering the number of appearances he's made, is phenomenal. His goal against Aberdeen at the end of last season will live long in the memory, if only for his sheer joy in celebration. Great sub to have. But never looks the same player when he starts a game...

I take it Colin Calderwood's not in the running then . You could argue then that it's in the club's interests to let us believe that McAllister and Nijholt are in the running given that they're populist choices. Then go with someone they feel might do a better job, but at least the fans's favourites have been considered. Or have I watched too many conspiracy movies...?

I would really hope that Gary McAllister is in the running. With the sort of talk that "there's no reason Motherwell can't be third or fourth", that's the kind of ambition that I'd like to hear from a candidate. I was backing Nijholt last week (and he'd still be my second choice) but as time's gone on, I've grown sure that McAllister would be a fantastic appointment...

Thank god the good lady doesn't read the Herald...

The squad at the moment GK Fraser DF Craigan Reynolds Quinn Hammell MF McGarry DL Smith Lasley Fitzpatrick O'Brien FW Sutton Clarkson Murphy If you add in Hutchison and Saunders as two guys who've looked like they could step up that takes the number up to 15. If you're looking for another 3 guys to make a step up, you're looking at a minimum of seven signings to make it up to a squad of 25. I think you're dreaming if you think that's going to happen. Beevers and Boyle would bolster the defence. A couple of centre midfielders would be required, and a striker is a priority. That would be five signings. If you want another goalkeeper, I reckon we're going down the loan route again...

I would say 5 is your bare minimum, assuming no one leaves. If the two guys, Beevers and Boyle, arrive then your new manager has three players to find. I'm thinking two midfielders and a forward myself...

I think it was as Craigan himself said, players have to be careful. The wince was probably more "I knew this question was coming...". Came across really well as always. The bit about being willing to clean the boots if it helps was good. Funny feeling the rest of the players will have theirs out waiting for him tomorrow...

Stolen from another thread but I think it illustrates the point I was making earlier. We're going into these two games with two recognised centre midfielders in the squad. Good job neither lasley nor Fitzpatrick could be described as lazy. Hardly easy to motivate players who have no pressure on them whatsoever. Actually, looking round the full squad, you could hazard a guess at our starting eleven and everyone on this site would probably get at least 10 out of 11. Saves Llanelli trying to guess, I s'ppose...