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Kayla Jardine has extended her stay at the club until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old, who re-joined the club on an initial six-month loan deal from league leaders Rangers, will remain in claret and amber until the conclusion of season 2023/24 after an extension agreement was reached with the Ibrox side.

The Scottish youth internationalist has found the target three times this season, providing competition in the Motherwell forward line.

“I am delighted to keep Kayla at the club ,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Kayla has been an excellent addition to the squad. She is a very exciting young player who brings real creativity and goals in the final third.

“We are pleased to get this over the line and are looking forward to her progression in the remainder of the season.

Victory over league rivals Dundee United prior to the festive break had the women of steel looking into the forthcoming year with confidence and optimism following a period of inconsistency, but an early Scottish Cup exit to Partick Thistle and a league defeat to Hearts have left the squad to reflect on their disappointing opening to 2024.

Misfortunes and inconsistency have continued to hinder signs of progression and positive displays in recent weeks, but defender Bailley Collins is confident that performances will soon be rewarded.

“Like every season, there have been ups and downs,” Collins said.

“There have probably been more downs than we’d have hoped for but, we’ve also had many strong performances and can take positives from most of our games so far.

“We’ve created chances that should have been capitalised on and lapses in concentration have seen teams punish our decision-making, by converting their own chances.

“It’s those split seconds that can win or lose you games and it’s those moments we are working hard to improve on and tighten up.”

Motherwell looked set to replicate their Scottish Cup successes of the previous season after cruising to an early advantage over Partick Thistle, with summer acquisition Morgan Cross securing two successive penalty kicks after being impeded twice in the Thistle penalty area.

The Dunfermline-born striker netted the first, with Collins converting the second, as Paul Brownlie’s side sought to recreate their route to Hampden Park after reaching the Semi-Final stage last season. However, Thistle netted a quickfire double moments into the second-half and a decisive fourth in the latter stages of the game to end the women of steel’s quest for silverware.

“It’s always disappointing to be knocked out of a cup early, especially when the team were so successful in the competition last season,” Collins explained.

“The game was won and lost in those moments across both halves and unfortunately we largely contributed to our own downfall. Three defensive errors cost us getting through to the next round, which is frustrating because we set ourselves high standards and we know that was nowhere near good enough.”

A frustrating note for the squad, as reflected by various results across the domestic calendar, with momentary lapses in composure undermining countless resolute performances that merited a more accurate reflection in the SWPL league table.

“Conceding goals from set-pieces have been our Achilles heel,” Collins noted.

“Recently resulting in our cup exit, but has also cost us a number of results in the league too. It’s frustrating when we defend so well as a team in open play, but when it comes to set-pieces; the opposition are too often getting the better of us.

“Our defensive structure has been good for the most part. We’ve created lots of chances, however that final decision to pass, cross or shoot, combined with composure in front of goal has undoubtably cost us points.”

With the women of steel facing a two-week hiatus from the domestic calendar before retuning to face Hibs in the capital, Collins described the next steps for the side ahead of the final set of pre-split fixtures in the 2023/2 SWPL campaign.

“The key for us is to remain positive and focused,” Collins said.

“If we keep doing what we know we are good at then the results will come. We train hard every week to better ourselves in all areas of the pitch and in all aspects of the game.

“Our aim is to pick up as many points as we can both home and away, and to finish as high up the league table as possible. We know what we are capable of and have shown that, so it’s now about finding that consistency in our performances and showing it with our results.

“The confidence we played with against Hearts we must now take into our next fixture against Hibs. Over the break we’ll keep working hard on the training pitch, we’ll focus on us and giving ourselves the best opportunity to get a positive result from what we know will be another challenging game.”

Motherwell entered into the hat for the fifth round draw of the Scottish Cup on Saturday, beating League One side Alloa Athletic 3-1. 

A double from Blair Spittal and one from Georgie Gent saw the Steelmen comfortably progress to the next round.

The away side came into the game unbeaten in their last six and would have been looking to take a Premiership scalp but those hopes were instantly dashed by Blair Spittal’s first-minute strike.

New recruit Adam Montgomery advanced down the left and cut it back to the midfielder who curled a fine effort over PJ Morrison Although it came crashing down off the bar, the linesman ruled the ball had crossed the line, in the absence of VAR.

Motherwell looked largely comfortable, with Canadian pair Harry Paton and Theo Bair both coming close but in the 27th minute, Alloa were level.

Former ‘Well man Conor Sammon got forward, cut in past Calum Butcher and curled in a fine effort into the net past Kelly, much to the delight to the travelling faithful.

Alloa looked to sit in from there, making it difficult for the Steelmen to carve out any clear opportunities, and the first half finished even.

Andy Graham’s side nearly took the lead early in the second half as Liam Kelly was forced into a good save to deny Quinn Coulson’s header.

Georgie Gent, praised post-match by manager Stuart Kettlewell, got the Steelmen back ahead on the hour mark.

The left-wing back, playing in a more advanced role, took a great touch to get himself away from his man and fired a powerful effort beyond PJ Morrison from just inside the box.

Five minutes later he was again involved in the penalty box, this time being fouled to earn his team an opportunity to enhance their lead from 12 yards.

However, after a long delay for an injury, Blair Spittal saw his effort saved, as Morrison dived to his left and palmed it away to safety.

Alloa rarely threatened and the lead was confirmed with two minutes left to play.

Blair Spittal grabbed his second of the game with a superb curled free-kick from 25 yards to round off what was a largely comfortable afternoon.

The draw for the fifth round will take place on Sunday night.

Stuart Kettlewell’s post match as his side overcame Alloa Athletic to reach the next round of the Scottish Cup.

• Into the hat
• Recruitment needed
• Georgie Gent

Striker Kaitlyn Canavan and defender Georgie Rafferty have both joined Kilmarnock on loan until the end of the season.

Canavan featured on 14 occasions across the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, netting once in an assured 4-0 Lanarkshire derby victory over local rivals Hamilton.

Former Celtic and Glasgow City centre-back Georgie Rafferty has struggled to find regular first-team action this season after returning from a long-term injury spell, making only one appearance in the current campaign.

The pair head out on loan to the SWPL2 promotion-chasers in search of regular first-team minutes. Kilmarnock sit second in the SWPL2 league table, one point clear of Livingston in third.

Good luck, Kaitlyn and Georgie.

Andy Halliday has joined Motherwell from fellow cinch Premiership side Heart of Midlothian. 

The 32-year-old joins on an initial loan deal running until the summer and will then become a permanent Motherwell player on a one-year deal.

He started his career at Livingston, where he made 20 appearances, scoring two goals in the process. Having caught the eye of many, he earned a move down south to Middlesborough in the English Championship.

Loan spells at Walsall, Bradford City and Blackpool would come during his time at the Riverside, further aiding his development.

Halliday then came back home in 2015 to join Rangers where he lifted further silverware in the form of the Scottish Championship and Challenge Cup. He went on to make over 150 appearances for Rangers before his eventual departure in 2020 for Hearts.

Joining Hearts, he helped the Jambos regain their top flight status and has made 109 appearances for the Edinburgh side.

In total, Halliday brings experience having played over 400 games of professional football and can operate in numerous areas of the pitch.

“I’m delighted we have been able to get Andy on board,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“There was other clubs interested in Andy so the fact he has came here, says a lot for me.

“To get a player with the ability, experience and versatility that Andy possesses is a huge positive for us. It will give everyone a boost going into our next match.”

Halliday will wear the number 11 jersey this season.

“It’s a good feeling to be here,” Andy Halliday added.

“I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow and seeing all the supporters at Fir Park.”

Andy Halliday has completed all the relevant paperwork and is eligible for selection in tomorrow’s match against Alloa Athletic.

Theo Bair says although the winter break came at a time when he hit peak form, the Canadian was thankful to see his family and is now fully ready for the restart.

The Canadian striker is looking for the consistency side of things to be apparent in his game, in the next half of the season.

Stuart Kettlewell addresses numerous transfer speculations and confirms that Arsenal have recalled striker Mika Biereth from his loan spell at the club.

The manager talks us through how the recruitment side of things has been going and previews Alloa on Saturday.

Arsenal have recalled Mika Biereth from his loan spell at the club. 

His parent club have made the decision to bring the Danish striker back from his loan early and we are left disappointed to lose the player at this stage of the month.

“This is hugely disappointing and a decision that is completely out of our hands,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“Mika has made a huge impact in his time here and has been well loved by the supporters. Despite this news, his loan has been a major success for player.

“He’d had a loan spell abroad where he didn’t enjoy his time. That has been the opposite here and you can see by the amount of goals and assists, he’s developed well.

“The coaching staff have done an excellent job here in working with Mika and clearly, with interest in the player rising, we have gave him a platform and exposure.”

Although Stuart Kettlewell confirmed this news in his press conference on Thursday morning, we have been waiting for the relevant documentation to be completed before officially announcing.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone at the club and the supporters for the last six months,” Mika Biereth said.

“I’ve loved every minute of my time in Scotland and felt like I built a real connection with everyone. I wish the club and players the very best for the rest of the season.”

All the best for the future, Mika.