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Stephen Robinson, fresh from signing a new contract, talks about the job of being boss, transfer targets and taking on tricky Championship opposition on Friday night.

Motherwell host Greenock Morton in the second match of the Betfred Cup group stage, with both teams having won their opening fixtures.

On signing a new contract

” I think it was always going to get sorted out. We’ve had a busy summer.A lot of things [have] been happening. So it’s good.

“I’m very happy to commit my future It’s a fantastic football club.  People have been very good to me.It’s worked well and I still see us moving
forward and developing.

“We’ve got to cup finals.  We’ve developed a lot of young playersFinancially we’ve brought a lot of money into the football club that has put us on a steady footing.We are looking to keep doing that.

“On the pitch is my main concentration to try keep moving us forward, keep developing our young players and bring in more exciting players to sell.

“There’s lot of issues you’ve got to deal with as a manager. As I say, this is a football club that people do things together. I’ve got total support from the board.  The fans have been terrific with me.It does make life easier when that’s the case.

“The model of the football club is to develop young players and sell them. And to make sure we keep trying to bring in good value players that we can create assets from. The football club exists on selling players. We don’t have a massive owner. We are fan-owned. And it has to be that case.

“It’s frustrating at times because you think you’ve built a really good side and then it gets broken up. This is probably the third squad we’ve put together again with eight or nine players. It’s a challenge. It’s one that I very much enjoy. And there are no surprises. We know that’s going to happen.

“Obviously within our coaching staff and playing staff we bring in, we’ve aspirations of getting into that top six and pushing on and still trying to play the football we played in the last six months of the season.”

On transfer targets

“We’ve got to a stage now where it has to be a starter we bring in.We don’t want a squad player.

“We don’t want the same as what we’ve got. It has to be somebody who is going to be a starter who is going to be better than what we’ve got.

“We’ve built our squad. We are happy with our squad. Now we are just looking maybe for that final bit of the jigsaw.

“If it doesn’t come, I’m more than happy with what we’ve done.”

On facing Greenock Morton

“I think we always had that gameplan against  Queen of the South, that we would bring the two boys on.

“When you bring the boys up from England, they are behind. It’s getting that right balance between giving them the game time and making sure they don’t get injured. That’s the difficult one for us.

“We have got some decent players, we’ve got some very good young players who are on the verge of things. James Scott has been starting. David Devine, Adam Livingstone, Jamie Semple who started as well.

“[That is] as well as the wide players we’ve got. Ilic has come in, he’s only been in the club a few days. He will get better and better.

“Casper Sloth, we’ve given some time off for family reasons. I think once we get him going, over a period of time he will be a good asset as well.”

Stephen Robinson and Keith Lasley have agreed new contracts with Motherwell Football Club.

The management team have signed until 2022, adding two years to their respective deals, which were due to expire at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season.

Under their guidance, the club has reached both the Scottish and Betfred Cup finals, as well as narrowly missing out on the top-six in each of the last two seasons.

The club has also generated significant revenue in player sales through players developed through their coaching, as well as progressing a significant number of players from the youth academy to regular first team football.

“The board is delighted both Stephen and Keith have extended their contracts at the club,” Motherwell FC chairman Jim McMahon said.

“We set clear targets for the management of our football club. Firstly, we ask them to put out a competitive team on the park every weekend.

“We also ask that the to recruit and improve players, and marry that with developing and progressing our own young talent from the academy into the first team.

“Effective player trading is also a big part of any football club. But for our fan-owned and fan-funded club, it is vital.

“Both of them have pushed tirelessly to achieve those goals and we are delighted with what they have accomplished so far.

“They have created a true culture at our club of hard work and continual improvement, an ethic that is evident in everyone they come into contact with.

“We are excited to work closely with them as they continue their efforts for the betterment of Motherwell Football Club going forward.”

Since his appointment in March 2017, Robinson has taken charge of over 100 games as Motherwell boss. He was joined in the dugout by Lasley in the summer of 2017, with the former ‘Well player retiring after 481 matches as a player.

In the 2018/19 season, 8,181 minutes were given to players aged under 21 produced by the club’s academy, more than any other club in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

“I’m delighted to have committed my future to the club,” said Robinson.

“The club have been very good with me and we all feel we can keep pushing the club forward.

“We work within certain parameters, but we feel we have had relative success in achieving our goals. I’m delighted to be staying.”

Assistant manager Lasley added: “I’m obviously very happy to be continuing with the club. I’ve had a long association with Motherwell and I’m delighted to be able to continue working here.

“I’ve learned a lot with the manager as I continue my development as a coach, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Motherwell face Greenock Morton at home on Friday night in their first game at Fir Park of the 2019/20 season.

Stephen Robinson’s men are already a match into the Betfred Cup group stage campaign, having defeated Queen of the South 3-0 away from home last weekend.

Kick off on Friday is at 7.45pm and, if you’re outside the UK/Ireland, you can watch the game live on our streaming service.

To subscribe for £12 a month, head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk. All home Ladbrokes Premiership games are available on the service, as well as the majority of away matches.

If you’re in the UK/Ireland, you can get live audio commentary from every game, including Friday’s match with Morton for just £5.99 a month.

Christopher Long will miss the Betfred Cup game with Greenock Morton, in line with concussion protocol.

The forward was taken off early in Saturday’s win at Queen of the South, after taking a blow to the face.

He is now required to miss Friday night’s game as he recovers. A return date will be announced following ongoing assessment.

Motherwell are back at Fir Park for the first time in 2019/20 on Friday night, as Greenock Morton visit in the Betfred Cup group stage.

Having defeated Queen of the South 3-0 on Saturday, the Steelmen head into their second game against Championship opposition in quick succession buoyed.

Ticket prices for all matches are set at £12 for adults and £6 for concessions. Tickets are available online now and can be printed at home, or brought to the gate on your smartphone.

Supporters can also pay at the gate at Fir Park. Kick off is at 7.45pm. The game will also be televised on BT Sport and on our live streaming service.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell sit top of Betfred Cup group E after week one, with Dumbarton for company after they defeated Annan Athletic 1-0.

Morton sat out the first matchday of Betfred Cup action, but have played two friendlies in pre-season. A 1-0 loss at Forfar Athletic was followed by a 3-2 home loss to top-flight St Johnstone.

Team news

Liam Polworth is available, after missing the win at Queen of the South due to suspension.

David Turnbull (knee), Christopher Long (concussion), Craig Tanner (knee) and Casper Sloth (compassionate leave) will all miss the match. Devante Cole faces a late fitness test.

Come have something to eat before the game

Both the Centenary Suite and Cooper Bar will be open from 5pm for all fans to come in and enjoy food and drink before the match.

Can’t make it? Listen or watch live

If you’re abroad, you can watch a live video stream of the match direct from Fir Park.

Just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk and subscribe. Packages start at just £12 a month and get you every home Ladbrokes Premiership game, as well as the majority of away matches.

If you’re in the UK or Ireland, there’s live audio commentary available on the service too for £5.99 a month.

Stephen Robinson celebrated the injection of pace and invention into his Motherwell side, after opening the 2019/20 campaign with a 3-0 win at Queen of the South.

Liam Donnelly’s penalty broke the deadlock after Jermaine Hylton was felled, before Sherwin Seedorf and Hylton added late goals to put more emphasis on the manner of the victory.

Motherwell got off to the perfect start in the Betfred Cup group stage, with a 3-0 win at Queen of the South.

Liam Donnelly, Sherwin Seedorf and Jermaine Hylton all netted to ensure all three points returned back up the M74.

But with just 18 seconds gone, it was back to the drawing board as Christopher Long took a severe blow to the face, forcing the change with James Scott.

The youngster had Motherwell’s best chance of the first half, being sprung in behind the Queen’s defence. But goalkeeper McCrorie was alert and quick to get out and block the shot at source.

The hosts also carved out chances. A goalbound strike from Murray was blocked at close quarters by Liam Donnelly. Shouts went up for handball, but referee Don Robertson was unmoved.

Stephen Dobbie also saw a shot from close range as the half wore on, finding Mark Gillespie alert to save.

It took 10 minutes in the second half for Motherwell’s best chance to that point. Semple’s corner from the left was flat and guided, and met by Charles Dunne.

His header crashed off the crossbar and, with it still shaking, Donnelly’s headed rebound was nodded off the line.

Jermaine Hylton and Sherwin Seedorf were introduced early and the former had a big penalty shout with 22 minutes remaining. The referee ruled he had been hacked down outside the box, however, and the subsequent free kick went to waste.

The deadlock was then broken. Hylton was felled in the box, and Liam Donnelly stepped up to fire home the first goal of the season.

The dam then burst, with the new boys at the heart of it with five minutes to go.

Seedorf burst in from the left, before smashing the ball into the net for his first professional goal.

Then, in stoppage time, Hylton made room and fired an unstoppable effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

Motherwell: Gillespie, Tait, Gallagher, Dunne, Carroll, Donnelly, Campbell, Semple, Cole (Seedorf), Ilic (Hylton), Long (Scott).

Croatian winger Christian Ilić is Stephen Robinson’s ninth recruit of the summer.

The versatile 22-year-old is comfortable on either flank and appeared as a substitute for ‘Well in a pre-season game at Darlington last weekend.

He has signed a one-year contract with the club and has been given the number 16 shirt.

“Christian brings us another pacy option to play anywhere across the forward three,” manager Stephen Robinson said.

“He’s already got top flight experience in a strong league and has impressed us with his ability on the ball, the intelligent runs he makes and his desire to be here and develop.”

Ilić was born and brought up in Friesach in Austria, near the Slovakian border, to Croatian parents.

He played youth football for a number of local sides before signing for Sportclub Weiz in 2012.

He earned a move to TSV Hartberg two years later, making his debut in the second tier at the age of 18 and helped them to the Austrian Bundesliga.

Last season he made 17 appearances in the top tier, scoring twice.

Supporters can listen to live commentary from our opening Betfred Cup game at Queen of the South.

Our live service is up and running again for the 2019/20 campaign, with all live game coverage available on subscription.

All subscribers will also get access to extended match highlights and the chance to watch full matches back.

Priced at £5.99 a month for fans in the UK/Ireland and £12 a month for international supporters, the following games are coming up at tv.motherwellfc.co.uk:

To subscribe, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk and choose your subscription option.

The Motherwell boss discusses his summer transfer business, a short pre-season and trying to navigate a tricky Betfred Cup group.

The Steelmen face Queen of the South on Saturday in the opening match in the four-game group stage.

On the short pre-season break

“We’re back very quickly. You don’t get much of a break now in modern football.

“It’s only been four weeks our boys altogether had off. So we are back at it.

“We’ve enjoyed being back. A lot of new faces. A lot of energy about the place and looking forward to the season.”

On transfer business

“The players might have had four weeks off but myself and Martin Foyle certainly didn’t.

“And that’s the job. You have to get in before people. I believe we’ve done well. we’ve signed a lot of exciting players.

“We’re trying to continue on what we did  on the last six months of the season. We’ve signed wide players with pace and energy. I am looking forward to the season.

“I think I am done. I’m knackered. I can’t sign anymore. No, we are very close to being done.

“We still have a little bit left if something came up that suited us, perhaps in the forward area.

“It’s massive. That’s the hard bit. You do lose players. We lost all our wide players So that was the biggest recruitment for us – wide areas. We’ve done that. I believe we’ve done that well.

“Hopefully we will hit the ground running. We did that two years ago when we brought in a lot of bodies.

“They’ve integrated well, all the new boys. What we have is a good base of boys that have been here quite a while. worked under myself and Keith for a long time.

“They keep that atmosphere going, they keep that drive going. They are integrated very, very quickly.

“One of the new boys said he feels like he’s been here a year. That’s a good positive from my mindset.”

On facing Queen of the South

“Cup competitions come so early in pre-season. We are still in the middle of pre-season.

“We’ve been very successful in the last few years. We’ve got to the final and quarter final in this competition.

“It has set us up for relative success. But it is a tough time of year. People are still finding their form and fitness. New players are still coming in and getting integrated.

“But everyone is in the same boat. Queen of the South will be the same as us.

“The astroturf pitch down there, we just have to deal with. We have to go and be positive. Make sure we take the game to them. Press high up the pitch and take the game to them to try get a result.”