| 7 | Hibernian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Kilmarnock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Motherwell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Rangers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | St Mirren | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New skipper Carl McHugh sat down to chat with MFC TV’s Lewis Irons at ‘Well’s pre-season base at the Carton House Hotel.
The Irishman speaks of his pride to be given the armband, his aspirations for the coming season and one of the best singers he’s met in football – Gaël Bigirimana!
For more exclusive content, subscribe to MFC TV’s official YouTube channel – CLICK HERE
Motherwell’s fixture with Hearts, scheduled to take place at Tynecastle on Saturday 26th August, will now be played at Fir Park.
As a result, the proposed second fixture, scheduled for Saturday 9th December at Fir Park, will now take place at Tynecastle.
The club agreed this after a request by Heart of Midlothian was made due to stadium redevelopment work currently ongoing at Tynecastle.
Motherwell FC has today appointed Craig Hinchliffe as goalkeeping coach, replacing the departed Marlon Beresford.
Hinchliffe, 45, has previous coaching experience with Partick Thistle, Dundee Utd and most recently at York City, that coming after a playing career that spanned over two decades.
He takes up the post vacated at the weekend by Marlon Beresford, who was headhunted for a goalkeeping coach role in the Middle East.
Hinchliffe will start straight away and has already travelled to Ireland with the squad for a week’s training at Carton House, working directly with Trevor Carson and Russell Griffiths.
‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “The timing wasn’t great and it was imperative our pre-season plans were not interrupted in any way, which is why we’ve brought Craig in.
“Marlon was great around the club and we didn’t want him to go, but the opportunity he has is quite literally life-changing, so he moves on with our best wishes for the future.
“Craig is someone who has come highly recommended to us. He has the highest goalkeeping qualification you can achieve; he has coached at some good clubs and with some really good managers and knows the Scottish game inside out. I am delighted he’s joining our set-up.”
[pullquote]Motherwell has an excellent reputation within the game and I am excited at the prospect of working with Trevor, Russell and the young goalkeepers we have here too.[/pullquote]
Beresford himself said: “I’ve loved my short time at Motherwell and have been so impressed with how the club is run, the set-up and the people around Fir Park, who are all first class.
“I am leaving with an extremely heavy heart, but I was presented with something completely out the blue last week and it was just too good to turn down for my family and I.
“I want to wish everyone at Motherwell all the very best of luck for the future.”
And the incoming Hinchliffe added: “I am delighted to be back in the game and teaming up with Stephen Robinson and the staff here at Fir Park.
“Motherwell has an excellent reputation within the game and I am excited at the prospect of working with Trevor, Russell and the young goalkeepers we have here too.
“It’s my job to improve and mentor the goalkeepers at the club, and that’s my ultimate focus. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Marlon for his short time at Fir Park and wish him every success in his future career.
Motherwell Football Club is today delighted to announce Keith Lasley has been appointed Stephen Robinson’s assistant.
The legendary midfielder will hang up his boots as he makes the cross-over into coaching after a memorable and successful playing career at Fir Park.
The 37-year-old skippered the club to consecutive runners-up league finishes and wore the armband in Champions League qualifying matches in a playing career spanning nearly two decades.
Lasley is one of the highest appearance holders in Fir Park history, playing almost five hundred games in Claret and Amber and was rewarded for his impeccable service with his testimonial match against Bolton Wanderers in 2015.
But his Fir Park venture continues and with proud memories as a Steelman, Lasley admitted he was emotional but also excited to make the progression in to coaching.
Speaking to MFC TV, Lasley said: “It’s a big change obviously, but this is something I’ve been planning for for a long time and this side of the game is something I’m passionate about.
[pullquote]I’m just thankful to have been around this place for as long as I have – from the first day I walked in here, off a building site in to Motherwell and thinking that I would go on to play however many games, captain the club, play in Europe and play until the age of 37 is beyond my wildest expectations.[/pullquote]
“It’s not fully sank in that I won’t be pulling on that jersey again but I’m sure that will take a little bit of time – but the excitement of this opportunity is starting to outweigh that certainly.”
He added: “It’s hard in a short space to cover it to be honest but the main factor is that I’m just thankful to have been around this place for as long as I have – from the first day I walked in here, off a building site in to Motherwell and thinking that I would go on to play however many games, captain the club, play in Europe and play until the age of 37 is beyond my wildest expectations.”
‘Well boss Stephen Robinson knows that he is appointing an ideal number two to head in to the 2017/18 season with.
The Northern Irishman said: “I spent a great deal of time speaking to a number of potential people for the post over the last few weeks, but Keith was by far and away the outstanding candidate for the job.
“He is extremely qualified in that he has his UEFA B, his A and his Pro Licence and has coached with our Under 17s and our Under 20s, but just as important, it helps keep a ‘Motherwell’ identity within the coaching staff, which I personally think is extremely important.
“He understands what it is like to play and do very well here, and has a huge passion for Motherwell FC and the supporters. I am really looking forward to working with him.”
Summer signing Alex Fisher spoke to the broadcast press for the first time since his arrival from Inverness CT.
And the 6ft 3in front man admitted he has found the move from the Highland outfit to the Fir Parkers an “easy transition”.
The English forward believes that the squad will be in shape in no time as the work to get up to match fitness gets underway.
Fisher said: “I came up a couple of days before pre-season, just to get used to the area and find an apartment and get settled in.
“The first day back was just standard fitness testing and everything you’d expect at this time of year and it looks like there’s more of this to come.”
[pullquote]I didn’t know too much about the Motherwell team before but it’s been a really easy transition and they’ve made me feel very welcome.[/pullquote]
“It’s only been three-and-a-half or four weeks since the last game of the season so you like to have a bit of down time but you get kick started again pretty soon.”
He added: “We’re all in relatively good shape and we have different bodies so it takes different amounts of time to get used to getting up to speed but as long as we’re all ready to go come the 15th of July that’s the ultimate aim.
“It’s quite a small league so you cross paths with a lot of the same players a lot.
“I didn’t know too much about the Motherwell team before but it’s been a really easy transition and they’ve made me feel very welcome.”
Alex’s first press conference as a Steelman can be viewed exclusively on MFC TV’s YouTube channel.
Squad numbers for the forthcoming 2017/18 season have been confirmed.
These numbers are subject to change should players arrive or depart.
The list thus far reads:
1. Trevor CARSON
2. Richard TAIT
3. Steven HAMMELL
4. Ben HENEGHAN
5. Gaël BIGIRIMANA
6. Stephen McMANUS
7. Chris CADDEN
8. Carl McHUGH
9. Louis MOULT
11. Elliott FREAR
12. Ryan BOWMAN
13. Russell GRIFFITHS
14.
15. Andy ROSE
16.
17. Alex FISHER
18.
19. Jacob BLYTH
20. Craig CLAY
21.
22. Allan CAMPBELL
23. Dom THOMAS
24.
25. Jack McMILLAN
26. Ross MacLEAN
27. Craig TANNER
28. Shea GORDON
29. Adam LIVINGSTONE
30. Luke WATT
31. David TURBULL
32. Dylan KING
33. Liam BROWN
34. Barry MAGUIRE
35. Jake HASTIE
36. Dylan FALCONER
37. Jordan ARMSTRONG
38. James SCOTT
39. Peter MORRISON
40. Alfredo AGYEMAN
41. Kyle MacDONALD
42. Jamie SEMPLE
Motherwell FC will face Rangers at Fir Park in the opening game of the 2017/18 season.
The Steelmen will then take on St Johnstone (a), Ross County (h) and Hearts (a).
The first Lanarkshire derby is at New Douglas Park on October 14th and Stephen Robinson’s men face St Johnstone in the last match before the split next April.
Motherwell FC is today pleased to announce that goalkeeper Russell Griffiths has penned a one-year deal with the club.
Following his arrival from Everton in January, the 21-year-old finished the 2016/17 campaign in strong form but was not offered a new deal by parent club Everton.
And Stephen Robinson had no doubts about offering the young stopper a one-year deal as the Fir Park gaffer continues to enjoy a busy summer in the transfer market.
Speaking exclusively to MFC TV, Griffiths said: “I’m raring to go and I’m looking forward to a good pre-season to get me ready for the start of the season.
[pullquote]I’m raring to go and I’m looking forward to a good pre-season to get me ready for the start of the season.[/pullquote]
“I’m glad that I’ve got in today and finalised everything so I’m really looking forward to kicking on and trying to seal the number one spot this season.”
‘Well boss Stephen Robinson added: “Russell showed a tremendous attitude towards the tail end of last season and put in some terrific performances for us in an important run of games.
“We’re delighted to have secured Russell’s signature and to have that competition for the number one jersey is crucial.”
You can watch Russell’s full interview on MFC TV’s official YouTube channel.
Images from Dalziel Park as the first team and Under 20s return to training.
Snaps courtesy of SNSPix
[svgallery name=”training220617″]
With the 2017/18 campaign just around the corner, watch MFC TV’s review of last season ahead of the fixture announcements on Friday.
Lewis Irons sat down with MFC TV commentator Graham Barnstaple and Deputy Head of Sport at the Herald & Times Scott Mullen to take a look back over the 2016/17 season.
For more exclusive content, subscribe to MFC TV’s YouTube channel.
