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Stephen Frail is the new assistant manager of Motherwell Football Club. 

The 53-year-old joins as Stuart Kettlewell’s number two in the dugout and will begin his role immediately.

Frail had spells with Dundee, St Johnstone, Tranmere, Hearts and Morton before retiring in 2002.

Well versed as a coach, Frail has had experience at international level with Northern Ireland and at club level.

In 2005, he was number two at Hearts for over two years before stepping up as manager of the club for the rest of the 2007/08 season.

He was Micky Mellon’s assistant at Dundee United and was most recently at East Fife working alongside Darren Young.

“I am delighted to be here and given this opportunity,” Frail said.

“Stuart phoned me last week with regards to coming in and we discussed at length the short-term and long-term visions he has at the club.

“It was an easy decision to make. This is a good club and I’m well aware of the history of it.

“From my perspective, I’m looking forward to getting back on the training pitch again.”

“When I took the job, I knew I wanted an experienced head in the dugout with me,” manager Stuart Kettlewell added.

“Stephen is highly regarded and respected in the game and is someone who has coached at various different levels, at club and international level.

“He is an excellent coach who builds good relationships with players and has been in work recently.

“I’m very much looking forward to working with Stephen and hopefully forging a successful time at Motherwell.”

It’s a trip back to familiar territory for Motherwell managerStuart Kettlewell as they take on Ross County in the cinch Premiership.

With seven points collected out of nine so far, the Motherwell manager has bee drilling in the mindset of ‘the next game’ in the hope that his player focus purely on each game as it comes and give it their all.

Lauren Davidson got a brace as Motherwell fell to a 3-0 defeat to Glasgow City.

Emily Whelan also got on the scoresheet as Motherwell remain in the hunt for a top-six spot in SWPL.

Emily Mutch was called into action within in the first 15 minutes. Jenna Clark’s header was well saved from a corner and put around the post.

City continued to press forward when Whelan cut the ball back to Clark whose shot was blocked and Davidson’s subsequent effort was wide of the mark.

Mutch again proving difficult to beat, saved King Kodak’s effort from the edge of the box.

But the Motherwell stopper was eventually beaten on 27 minutes. Davidson involved again, played the ball on a plate for Whelan who tapped home in the 6-yard box.

The hosts doubled their lead when Claire Walsh’s cross-field pass found Davidson who fired home from a tight angle.

However, Motherwell tried to force some openings for themselves. Louisa Boyes and Lucy Ronald both having efforts on target from range but were comfortably stopped by Lee Gibson in the City net.

City made it three with 17 to go. Whelan powered her way to the byline before cutting the ball back to Davidson who finished to make it 3-0.

Richard Foster has been appointed head of coaching. 

Joining the club and starting immediately, Foster will oversee coaches within our academy at all youth levels.

Alongside this, he will be coaching our Under 16s team and will be involved at Under 18s level. With Stuart Kettlewell’s role of lead development coach vacant, since he became first-team manager, Foster will be coaching the Under 18s until a replacement has been appointed.

Foster began his career at Aberdeen where went on to make over 200 appearances for the Dons.

In his time, he turned out for Rangers, Ross County, St Johnstone, Bristol City and Partick Thistle while also being selected for Scotland duty in 2012.

He was assistant manager with USL Championship side Detroit City for the 2022 season before returning to Scotland earlier this month.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for me at the perfect time,” Foster said.

“Motherwell is renowned for developing young players that go on to have sustained careers within the game and they have some great, young talent coming through with excellent people working here.

“This all makes me feel very fortunate to be given this role and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

We make the long trip north to take on Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday 4 March.

Kick-off is 3pm

Tickets

Tickets are available online by clicking here

Ticket Prices

• Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and T&C’s apply.

How to follow game online

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

The Story of the Match

Saturday’s game is a “six pointer” at the bottom of the league. Ninth placed Motherwell sit three points above County and both sides will be looking for a crucial three points as they eye a way out of the relegation dogfight.

Motherwell have shown signs of life following the Scottish Cup exit to Raith Rovers. They have taken seven points from nine in what has been a good start for Stuart Kettlewell.

Kettlewell faces his former side, whose home form has picked up in recent weeks. They beat Dundee United 4-0 last weekend and a draw with Hibs and 3-0 win over Kilmarnock sees them unbeaten in three at home.

The Steelmen have won their last two visits to Dingwall, most recently a blistering second half performance where Van Veen’s hat-trick contributed to a 5-0 win with further goals from Slattery and Efford.

Match Officials

• Referee: Don Robertson
• AR1: Alan Mulvanny
• AR2: Chris Rae
• Fourth Official: Chris Fordyce
• VAR: Kevin Clancy
• AVAR: Frank Connor

Defender Logan Dunachie has joined Forfar on loan until the end of the season. 

The 6ft 4in centre back spent the first half of the season on loan at Lowland League side East Kilbride.

A colossus at the heart of the defence, the 19-year-old has featured on the first-team bench twice this season but he will now join up with Ray McKinnon’s squad as Forfar pursue a spot in the play-offs after a slow start to the season.

“Logan has spent time training with the first-team and his loan move to East Kilbride was a worthwhile one,” academy director David Clarkson said.

“His height is something that could be very beneficial for any team he plays with and after speaking with Forfar, we feel this is an ideal place for him to play for the rest of the season.

“It’s a division up from where he had been playing earlier in the season so we want to see him make that step up and continue his development.”

Motherwell are in midweek action against Glasgow City on Wednesday 1 March. 

Kick off is 7.35pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets can be purchased online.

Tickets are £8 for adults, £2 for under 16s and over 65s go for £6.

The match is also being broadcast live on BBC Alba.

Story of the match

Glasgow City are chasing the title this year and sit in pole position.

Three points clear of Celtic, City’s last slip up was in November when they drew with Rangers in SWPL.

Motherwell are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning three and drawing two.

Kaela McDonald-Nguah and Carla Boyce were on the scoresheet against Hamilton in their last outing, when Motherwell won the Lanarkshire derby 2-1.

The two sides last met back in August, when after nullifying City for 90 minutes, Motherwell conceded with the last kick of the ball to go down 1-0 at the hands of City.

Calum Butcher is your Paycare February player of the month. 

Signed at the start of February, Butcher has won both votes, comfortably, on Twitter and Facebook.

He has been playing at the heart of a back five under new manager Stuart Kettlewell, alongside Paul McGinn and Dan Casey.

Winning Sky Sports man of the match against Hearts and making the SPFL Team of the Week following wins against St Mirren and Hearts, Butcher has quickly established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet and a leader on the pitch.

It was the start of a new era at Motherwell, with Stuart Kettlewell taking the reigns for the first time as permanent manager of the club. 

Travelling south to take on a Kilmarnock side who had picked up 93% of their points total this season at Rugby Park, Motherwell would need to be at their best to get something out of the game.

Kettlewell described the match as ‘a game of two halves’.

The first period, Kilmarnock would be on top and took the lead on 17 minutes through Scott Robinson.

A stern half time team talk done the trick and the Steelmen came out flying for the second half.

Jon Obika, Kevin van Veen, Paul McGinn and Stephen O’Donnell were all denied by man of the match Sam Walker in the Killie goal.

With the clock in stoppage time, Motherwell were awarded a free kick 25-yards out where it was simply now or never.

Up stepped Slattery who fired the ball into the top corner to send a 900 away support into rapture.

It’s time to pick your Paycare Motherwell FC player of the month for February.

Kevin van Veen, Blair Spittal, Calum Butcher and Dan Casey are all in contention.

To vote, head over to our Facebook page.

February matches

• Motherwell 0-2 St Johnstone
• Aberdeen 3-1 Motherwell
• Raith Rovers 3-1 Motherwell
• Motherwell 2-1 St Mirren
• Motherwell 2-0 Hearts
• Kilmarnock 1-1 Motherwell

Kevin van Veen

The Dutchman took his tally for the season to 15, netting three goals this month.

He dispatched a penalty against Aberdeen and gave the Steelmen some hope against Raith Rovers before scoring the vital opening goal against St Mirren.

Blair Spittal

A man also bang in form is midfielder Blair Spittal.

Spittal played a sublime pass through for Kevin van Veen who opened the scoring in the match against St Mirren.

He was also on hand to score against Hearts to secure three points against the Jambos.

Calum Butcher

A rock at the centre of the defence, new recruit Butcher has settled in quickly to life at Fir Park.

Playing as a makeshift centre back, he has added steel to the backline with commanding performances against St Mirren, Hearts and Kilmarnock.

He picked up the man of the match award from Sky Sports in our win against Hearts.

Dan Casey

Casey has hit the ground running in his four appearances since arriving from American side Sacramento Republic FC.

The Irishman was thrown straight into the starting eleven due to injuries to Lamie and Blaney, with no game time since late October, and has shone on the left side of the back three.

With a clean sheet against Hearts, he was also particularly impressive against Kilmarnock, dispossessing Doidge as he looked certain to double Killie’s lead.