Willie Collum will take charge of Saturday’s Scottish Premiership meeting with Hearts at Tynecastle.
Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s second Motherwell match of the 2013/14 campaign. His only other was the recent 3-0 win over St Mirren at Fir Park when Lionel Ainsworth and a Henri Anier double separated the sides.
Willie is no stranger to ‘Well fans having been a top-flight whistler for a number of years, taking charge of six Motherwell matches last term too.
The first was the 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in October 2012 when Danny Grainger’s long-range effort separated the sides.
He also took charge of both William Hill Scottish Cup clashes with Aberdeen last December.
In the first meeting at Pittodrie, Niall McGinn headed home a late equaliser to cancel out Jamie Murphy’s opener 10 minutes from time.
There would be disappointment for the Steelmen in the replay as goals from Rory Fallon and Joe Shaughnessy helped the Dons progress to the next round.
Motherwell were handed a lifeline in injury-time when Michael Higdon netted from the penalty spot, however Craig Brown’s side held firm in the final minutes.
He was also the man in the middle for the narrow 3-2 win over St Johnstone in January; Michael Higdon’s hat-trick sealing a terrific three points and also the disappointing 3-0 defeat at Ross County shortly after.
He also handled the James McFadden-inspired 4-1 victory over Hibs in March and, finally, the 4-3 defeat to Inverness Caley in the Highlands in May.
His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads six wins, twelve defeats and five draws from twenty-three matches (in all competitions).
In those games, Motherwell have scored 34 and conceded 43.
46 players have gone into the book, 20 wearing Claret and Amber, while four players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road five years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk four seasons ago, Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10 and, most recently, Henrik Ojamaa in that game at Caley last season.
Martin Cryans and Brian McGarry will run the lines with Craig Charleston on fourth official duties. The referee observer is George Smith and the SPFL Delegate is Ricky Gray.