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Motherwell FC can today confirm a historic deal, which may lead to the Steelmen being the first fully fan-owned club in the Scottish Premiership.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by majority shareholder Mr Les Hutchison and the ‘Well Society in which Mr Hutchison has agreed to sell his 76% shareholding to fan group the ‘Well Society for £1. This MoU allows the advanced negotiations to continue to a mutually agreed conclusion over the coming weeks.

In addition, Mr Hutchison has agreed to provide the club and Society with working capital over the next few months and deferred loan repayments to ensure the Society has every chance to succeed.

The deal concludes a five-year effort from the Society to own Motherwell FC, a role they will take on as soon as all legal agreements are signed.

Mr Hutchison will immediately step down from his role as Director and Vice Chairman. Mr Jim McMahon is now Chairman, Douglas Dickie is Vice Chairman, Tom Feely is appointed as a Director with other Board members continuing. All Directors are members of the ‘Well Society.

The deal finalises Mr Hutchison’s fourteen months at Fir Park, where he not only stopped the club falling into foreign ownership in the winter of 2014, but provided the investment required to allow the club to remain in the SPFL Premiership during the 2014/15 season and to allow fans to enjoy the upcoming 130th and 25th anniversaries while still in the top division.

Commenting, Mr Hutchison added: “I am extremely pleased at the great progress we have made both on and off the park. The new systems and processes now in place together with an excellent management team has ensured a successful turn around at the club.

“I would like to personally thank Mark McGhee and Alan Burrows for their huge contribution to the improvements at Fir Park.

“I would also like to thank everyone at the club who adopted the many changes I introduced to create a solid foundation to build on and who worked tirelessly to advance the Business Plan during what was and is a transitional period.

“With the fans, via the ‘Well Society, nearly in full control, the onus will very much be on them and the wider community to stand by their club in the weeks, months and years ahead

“As well as thanking everyone who has joined and is contributing to the ‘ Well Society, I would also like to wish the extremely dedicated individuals who will now drive the club forward all the very best in their endeavours. I’ll be supporting from afar.”

‘Well Society interim Chairman Douglas Dickie added: “This marks the start of an exciting and important period for the club and the ‘Well Society is indeed indebted to our members whose significant financial contribution has directly assisted Motherwell FC in achieving the improvements as highlighted.

“There is still a substantial amount of work yet to be done and I would ask that existing members and fans continue and join in the support in order that we can achieve our initial goal in sustaining a community and fan-owned Motherwell FC.”

Over 90,000 people in Scotland have been diagnosed with dementia a disease which has a devastating effect on the both the sufferer and their families. 67% of people with dementia are women and the number of people with dementia is projected to double within the next 25 years.

People with dementia have difficulty remembering what has happened in their life which leaves them feeling vulnerable, isolated, and less confident. However, their memories from years ago often remain detailed and intact.

The Bank of Scotland Foundation is providing Motherwell Football Club Community Trust with £14,400 to deliver Memory Well an innovative reminiscence therapy project that will be delivered weekly to a total of 400 individual participants over the course of one year.

The objectives of the Memory Well project are to provide weekly reminiscence therapy sessions over the period of the year in a range of locations, provide respite periods for carers, develop memory books of pictures and memories for participants in the project, and deliver dementia awareness sessions in local primary schools. The project will also establish a buddy system where students in local secondary schools will help participants create a memory book of their most cherished photographs, and memories.

Over one year the Memory Well Project will provide reminiscence sessions in a wide range of community locations including care homes, sheltered housing complexes, libraries and community centre, and at Fir Park Stadium home of Motherwell Football Club. The sessions will cover the core themes of sport, art, music, film and TV, and time and place to ensure that whatever their interest the project can deliver activities to interest the participants.

In addition people with dementia are often misunderstood because of the myths and misconceptions others have about the disease. It is, therefore, important that this stigma is addressed particularly in young people who may have grand parents or older relatives suffering from the disease. As a result an important part of the project will see Motherwell FC Community Trust community coaches receive appropriate training to deliver dementia awareness sessions in local primary schools which will focus on developing young people’s knowledge and understanding of dementia and contribute to creating dementia friendly communities.

Commenting on the funding award Community Trust General Manager commented “We really have to thank the Bank of Scotland Foundation for making this award. So many in Lanarkshire are touched by dementia we look forward to working with our partners in North Lanarkshire Council, NHS Lanarkshire and the national project based at Hampden to make a difference”.

Motherwell have suffered an injury blow with the news Stephen Pearson has been ruled out for six weeks.

The former Scotland International, who has been excellent for the Steelmen this campaign, had to be substituted after 34 minutes in Friday’s bruising encounter with Dundee United, a game that also saw skipper Keith Lasley and Josh Law withdrawn due to injury.

The midfielder, who is still in a Glasgow hospital, was later given the news he had several broken ribs and a punctured lung, which will rule him out until the end of next month.

The 33-year old said: “I’m gutted to miss our upcoming games, but there’s very little I can do for this other than rest up.

“I’ll hopefully be back as soon as possible to help the lads as we look to finish the season strong.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell come back from a goal down to beat Dundee Utd 2-1.

Action images from tonight’s 2-1 win over Dundee Utd at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

[svgallery name=”dundeeutd110316″]

Mark McGhee was pleased with his side’s second half improvement, which gave them a 2-1 win over Dundee Utd.

The Steelmen were below par during the first forty-five, but went in level after Marvin Johnson cancelled out Henri Anier’s opener.

The brusing win, which lifts the Fir Parkers into the top six, at least for one night, came at a cost though with Stephen Pearson, Keith Lasley and Josh Law limping off injured.

“Stephen, we are a bit concerned that he has damaged his ribs and he’s certainly struggling a bit,” McGhee said.

“Las has a real dull one is in there with quite a lot of discomfort. Josh Law is the same.

“We have won tonight, but it’s been at a cost.”

[pullquote]They put in a tremendous amount of work in the second half and, in the end, thoroughly deserved to win the game.[/pullquote]

McGhee’s priority was still avoiding relegation trouble rather than a top-six finish.

“We might be back out the top six tomorrow, but more importantly it puts three more points between us the team sitting second bottom,” he added.

“In the first half, we were very fortunate to go in level. I thought we were really poor.

“We didn’t work anywhere as hard as we have been and certainly we didn’t work as hard as we did in the second half.

“But the fact is we did get the equaliser fortunately and it gave us the platform to sort out a few things at half time and work harder in the second half.

“We certainly did that. They put in a tremendous amount of work in the second half and, in the end, thoroughly deserved to win the game.”

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell came from behind to make it four wins out of five and climb into the top six after an important 2-1 win over Dundee United.

After falling behind to a strike from former ‘Well man Henri Anier, the Steelmen came battling back in a bruising encounter and an equaliser from Marvin Johnson just before half-time set up the home side to dominate the second forty five.

And although only Louis Moult’s 17th goal of the season separated the sides, it was enough to haul ‘Well eighteen points ahead of the Tannadice club.

Last week’s goal hero Loius Laing was missing with a groin strain as Josh Law returned to fullback in an otherwise unchanged ‘Well.

Looking for a third consecutive win and three points which would increase the gap over United, Mark McGhee’s men started in a determined fashion and should have been in front after only four minutes.

Chris Cadden, at the second attempt, crossed low from the right and Scott McDonald’s touch looked to have sent the ball over the line until Michal Szrimnik somehow hauled the ball back.

United’s third choice ’keeper then had a few nervous moments as he failed to hold shots from Johnston and McDonald.

At the other end Connor Ripley smartly blocked a back post header from Anier although the Estonian was offside.

After 22 minutes the former ‘Well striker was marginally onside at the edge of the box when he collected a pass from Paul Dixon before lashing a left foot drive high beyond Ripley to put the Taysider’s ahead.

That goal dented the home side’s confidence and as their play became disjointed United created a couple of more openings.

Dixon, who was finding too much space on the left, cut inside and his right foot drive was well blocked by Ripley before the ‘Well ‘keeper, at full stretch, pushed away a low angled shot from Billy McKay.

Morgaro Gomis, who replaced Stephen Pearson after 34 minutes, sent Johnson in behind the visitor’s defence but after some trickery created space he shot tamely into the side netting.

Just when it looked like ‘Well we’re heading up the tunnel a goal behind at the end of a poor first half they conjured up an equaliser. Law floated his free kick into a packed penalty box and Johnson’s back header carried the ball over the ‘keeper and under the crossbar to level the scores.

That goal revitalised the Steelmen and they pressed the United from the restart. A couple of teasing crosses flashed across Szromnik’s goal before the ‘keeper dived to push away Johnson’s cross as Moult waited.

Johnson, using his pace and strength through the middle, was proving a real handful for United and a quick change of feet opened up the visitors only to see his chipped effort deflect off Morris and onto the crossbar.

After 62 minutes ‘Well were forced into another change when Morris’ thudding tackle left Keith Lasley limping off to be replaced by Dom Thomas. His immediate contribution was a cut back for Johnson who couldn’t turn to get a shot on goal.

However, a couple of minutes later the pair combined as ‘Well deservedly took the lead with the eventual winner.

Thomas started the exchange of passes with McDonald who sent Johnson to the goal line and his driven ball across goal found the unmarked Moult who stroked home his 17th goal of the season.

As United tried to find a way back into the game, ‘Well exposed gaps at the back and should have extended their lead. Moult released Cadden who watched his low drive palmed away by Szromnik.

After that apart from hefty challenges goalmouth incidents were rare until the closing minutes.

Moult was again the link sending Thomas down the left and his cross was perfect for the waiting Johnson until the United ‘keeper raced from his line and beat the ball away.

As the game entered the additional five minutes and ‘Well fans dreading another late blow, the home side comfortably defended their advantage.

In fact the only threat on goal came at the other end when Johnson once agin cut through the Taysider’s bedraggled defence before his low measured finish was deflected beyond the ‘keeper and his post.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

Get in Motherwell!!

FULL TIME!!

94′ | 2-1

Johnson breaks away, cuts inside and sees his shot deflect wide for a corner.

93′ | 2-1

Paton booked for pulling McDonald back then taking a swipe at him with his foot.

90′ | 2-1

Five minutes added on.

87′ | 2-1

Moult bursts away down the left and curls in a cross towards Johnson but Szromnik gets first to it again.

86′ | 2-1

Motherwell sub, Kennedy on for Law.

84′ | 2-1

Corner to Utd…….claimed well by Ripley.

MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote for their Man of the Match now. Tweet their name, age, selection with #MatchAttaxMOTM.

75′ | 2-1

Double Utd sub, Ofere and Fraser on for McKay and Dow

65′ | 2-1

Morris wrestles Cadden to the deck and receives a booking.

71′ | 2-1

Very very close looking offside call there are Thomas burst through on goal!

67′ | 2-1

Counter attack from ‘Well as Moult breaks away inside his own half. He threads it to Cadden who shoots but Szromnik makes the stop

65′ | 2-1

It’s that man @louismoult who pokes home Johnson’s delightful low cross! Come on!

GGGGOOOOAAALLLLL!!!!

65′ | 1-1

Close! Thomas jinks away from Donaldson but Gunning recovers and clears his low delivery

60′ | 1-1

Two subs then,

Utd sub: Durnan on for Morris

‘Well sub: Lasley off for Thomas

59′ | 1-1

Stoppage in play as Lasley and Morris receive treatment after a full blooded challenge from the Utd man.

55′ | 1-1

Off the bar! Johnson’s shot from outside the box takes a deflection and goes out off the woodwork!

54′ | 1-1

….Spittal fires straight into the wall and Hammell clears.

53′ | 1-1

Free-kick in a very dangerous area for Utd…..

52′ | 1-1

Great play again from Johnson but Szromnik gets enough on the low cross to divert it away from the waiting McDonald

49′ | 1-1

Cadden’s cross from the right loops just over the Utd bar.

Motherwell get the second 45 underway. COYW!!!!

HT: Motherwell 1 – 1 Dundee Utd

45′ | 1-1

Johnson gets the vital header on Law’s clipped free-kick!! 1-1!

GGGGOOOOAAALLLLL!!!!!

43′ | 0-1

Ball over the top finds McKay who volleys low at goal. Ripley is equal to it and puts it wide for a corner.

41′ | 0-1

Lovely footwork from Johnson gets him into the box but he scuffs the ball wide of the post. Gunning then booked for time-wasting

34′ | 0-1

Motherwell sub, Pearson makes way for Gomis.

31′ | 0-1

Dixon cuts inside on his right foot and forces Ripley into a good save, diving low to his left.

22′ | 0-1

Goal – Anier lashes a shot into the top corner from 20 yards. 1-0 to Utd

19′ | 0-0

Motherwell corner….headed wide for another. From that delivery, Moult is judged to have fouled his man.

16′ | 0-0

Law’s free-kick is headed wide for a corner….delivery falls to Johnson but he blazes it well over the bar!

15′ | 0-0

Johnson with a stinging low shot from 20 yard. On this slippy surface, well worth an effort but Szormnik gathers.

14′ | 0-0

Now it’s Utd’s turn to have the ball in the net but again the flag is up, this time for Anier.

11′ | 0-0

Close! Johnson’s powerful low shot is palmed out to McDonald but the Aussie is ruled to be offside.

9′ | 0-0

Good chance for Utd again as the ball is played wide to Dixon inside the box but gets his footing wrong and fires wide.

4′ | 0-0

Great chance there for McDonald about 2 yards out. Szormnik gets a hand on it and somehow it doesn’t go in?! Looked over?

1′ | 0-0

Fast start for Utd who have a chance in the 1st minute. Ball falls to Rankin inside the box but he slices into the sidenetting.

Utd kick the game off. COYW!!!!

Both sides come out the tunnel, home kit for ‘Well and Utd are in white and black. #MFCvDUFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

“We might be back out the top six tomorrow, but more importantly it puts three more points between us the team sitting second bottom,” he added.

“In the first half, we were very fortunate to go in level. I thought we were really poor.

“We didn’t work anywhere as hard as we have been and certainly we didn’t work as hard as we did in the second half.

“But the fact is we did get the equaliser fortunately and it gave us the platform to sort out a few things at half time and work harder in the second half.

“We certainly did that. They put in a tremendous amount of work in the second half and, in the end, thoroughly deserved to win the game.”

Dundee Utd Manager Mixu Paatelainen

“We always knew their pace up front was going to give us a real test and it did. They have pacey players and very direct players and they used it well.

“But to lose the goal at the end of the first half the manner we did… Was it a free-kick? It’s questionable. That is a big blow. But we defended softly, we should have been earlier up there to head the ball away.

“First half we looked very bright and created loads of openings and looked pretty comfortable. Obviously goals change games and how players feel, and losing the goal so late was a big blow.

“But the way we performed first half, we should have done that second half as well and worried them. But we didn’t.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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‘Well boss Mark McGhee’s maintains his main aim is to try and guide the club away from the bottom two positions.

Three wins in the last four matches has lifted the Steelmen into the ‘middle’ of the table, but with a host of clubs bunched together, it’s still very much all to play for.

McGhee knows victory of Dundee United in the BT Sport Live game last this evening may well lift his side into the top six, albeit perhaps temporarily, but he insists his focus is more about trying to increase the gap between the teams below.

“One of the instructions I was given when I arrived here was to try and ensure the club weren’t in one of the bottom two positions come the end of the season, so that’s still my target for now,” he said.

[pullquote]Although a win here tonight would, at the very least temporarily, lift us into the top-six with three games to the split, for my money it affords us a bigger gap over the likes of Hamilton and Kilmarnock, and Dundee United, obviously.[/pullquote]

The Fir Park boss expects a tough encounter though.

Like ‘Well, Dundee United have won three of their last four matches, included back-to-back successes at against Ross County, no mean feat.

The teams met as recently as one month ago, when ‘Well ran out winners, but McGhee is sure it’ll be an altogether more difficult task this evening.

He continued: “We aren’t expecting an easy time of it though, that’s for sure. You cannot help but be impressed with the mental strength Mixu has shown to keep his head above water because the night we beat them at Tannadice last month, they were down.

“I don’t mean relegated, but depressed about what had happened and looked flat. So to recover from that, win the games and bounce back the way they have has been quite impressive.

“They play in a certain style that makes it tricky for the opposition, but we will need to combat that and try and impose ourselves on the game. We can take confidence from the win over Partick Thistle here a fortnight ago and hopefully kick on.”

Referee for this tonight’s BT Sport Live clash with Dundee Utd is the experienced Crawford Allan.

It will be Crawford’s fifth Motherwell fixture of the current campaign, with a mixed bag in the other games.

He handled the season opener at Inverness, when a Wes Fletcher goal earned the Fir Parkers their first three points in the campaign.

Then, two months later, he was in charge for the impressive 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie, when Scott McDonald’s goal earned Mark McGhee’s side a good point.

The next was the disappointing 3-0 reverse at the Global Energy Stadium in late November, when a depleted Steelmen suffered a heavy loss in the Highlands.

However, his most recent was the solid 2-0 win over St Johnstone at Fir Park just after Christmas, which was in the middle of a solid ‘Well run at the time.

Crawford will be a very familiar face to most Scottish fans, having been a steady stalwart over the last decade.

He handled four matches during the 2014/15 season too, including two Friday night defeats at Pittodrie, ‘Well losing 2-1 and 1-0 respectively, the instantly forgettable New Years defeat at New Douglas Park and the 1-1 draw with Ross County at Fir Park last season.

Tragically, Allan took charge of the ‘Well game on the 29th December 2007, forever etched in history as the date when Phil O’Donnell tragically passed away in the 5-3 victory over Dundee United.

Speaking publically, Allan admitted Phil’s death had a profound effect on the whistler but won heartfelt praise for the way he handled what was an extremely difficult situation and his sensitive approach will be forever appreciated by everyone at Motherwell Football Club and is recognised each time he returns to Fir Park.

In another twist of fate, Crawford is only one of two referees to have ever taken charge of a Motherwell away game at Fir Park as the Steelmen faced hosts Gretna during the 2007/2008 campaign.

His record in charge of the ‘Well is a fairly mixed, with the Fir Parkers winning ten, drawing eight and losing eight of the twenty six games in total. In those games, 70 players have seen yellow, 42 in Claret and Amber, whilst four have been sent for an early bath, the most recent being Shaun Hutchinson in that match against Hibs two seasons ago.

Allan will be ably assisted by Brian Templeton and Stuart Hodge with Mike Roncone on fourth official

Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm Chris Cadden has signed an extended contract through to the summer of 2018.

Cadden has been a hit since cementing his spot in Mark McGhee’s first team squad since early January, scoring his first top-league goal against Dundee at Dens Park six weeks ago.

The 19-year old is a product of the Steelmen’s Academy, having first joined ‘Well on youth terms back in 2006, aged just ten.

He also had a productive spell on loan at Albion Rovers last season, pitching in with two goals in eight games for the Cliftonhill side, helping them clinch the League Two title.

The energetic midfielder, who can also operate on the flanks, has been rewarded with a new deal that ties him to Fir Park for at least the next two seasons.

Speaking about his new deal, the youngster said: “I’m delighted to sign my contract and get my future sorted out.

“It’s been brilliant these last few months. The gaffer [Mark McGhee] has been unbelievable for me and I want to try and learn as much as I can from him and Stephen Robinson.

[pullquote]My own personal aim is to retain my place in the first-team and hopefully keep learning and improving as a player. I’ll work as hard as I can for the team, and hopefully we’ll have a good end to the season.”[/pullquote]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee added: “Chris has been outstanding over these last few months.

“Everyone at the club is delighted he has committed to us, as we know there was interest from elsewhere, including England.

“However, the lad is sensible and comes from a good football family who recognise the importance of his development, and that’s what Motherwell FC is all about.

“Chris’ rise should act as an inspiration for all our lads in the Under 20s, all our lads in the Academy or any parent considering Motherwell as an option for their son.

“We’re serious about our new strategy of developing and trusting younger players, and the likes of Chris, Ben Hall, Dom Thomas and others are proving that.”