| 7 | Hibernian | 35 | 10 | 12 | 13 | -6 | 42 |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 35 | 10 | 11 | 14 | -12 | 41 |
| 9 | Motherwell | 35 | 9 | 13 | 13 | -3 | 40 |
| 10 | Ross County | 35 | 8 | 9 | 18 | -25 | 33 |
| 11 | St Johnstone | 35 | 7 | 10 | 18 | -25 | 31 |
| 12 | Livingston | 35 | 4 | 9 | 22 | -38 | 21 |
Alan Archibald has left the club to take up the first-team coach position at Kilmarnock.
Archibald was appointed lead development coach at Motherwell at the end of the March this year, after departing Partick Thistle.
The 45-year-old now joins Derek McInnes’ backroom staff ahead of the 2023/24 season.
We would like to thank Alan for his efforts since March and wish him well for the future.
Net World Sports are the UK’s number one football goal and equipment supplier, housing more than 10,000 products. They are the world’s number one football goal supplier.
Net World Sports are the UK’s number one football goal and equipment supplier, housing more than 10,000 products, 95 per cent of which are their own brand. Offering their products to customers in more than 180 countries across the globe and manufacturing more than 100,000 of their FORZA branded football goals every year, earning them the moniker as the world’s number one football goal supplier.
As part of the relationship, Net World Sports have provided the club with a variety of their FORZA training equipment, including mannequins, POD goals, slalom poles and coaching boards.
“Its fantastic news for the club, especially the Women’s first team and I’m really excited about the partnership,” head of women’s Paul Brownlie said.
“Net World Sports provided high quality equipment and this only helps enhance the quality within our training sessions. Staff and players love using the equipment. Using the equipment has helps the players to develop technically and helps aid with tactical development.”
“We’re really excited to have formed this great partnership with Motherwell FC, which will see Net World Sports supplying our training equipment throughout the whole club,” Becky Brown Marketing Executive at Net World Sports added.
“We are certain that our high-quality FORZA equipment will assist all teams in their training, and preparing them for those important game days. I look forward to working with the team over the next year and strengthening the partnership.”
To learn more about Net World Sports, click here.
We officially celebrated the naming of the Tommy McLean Stand during the final cinch Premiership match of the season against Dundee United on Sunday.
New signage was unveiled as players and staff who worked closely with McLean gathered to mark the significant contribution the former manager made to the Lanarkshire outfit.
Chris McCart and Iain Ferguson of the 1991 Scottish Cup winning side, and Brian Martin, Alex Burns and Bobby Russell, joined former coach Cammy Murray on the pitch to mark the occasion.
Well Society chairman Douglas Dickie handed over a framed photograph of the Tommy McLean Stand to Murray, who worked alongside McLean as part of his coaching staff, and who represented him on Sunday at Fir Park.
“Tommy made a tremendous contribution to the history of Motherwell Football Club,” Cammy Murray said.
“He deserves to have his name in the fabric of Fir Park, alongside other great figures in the club’s history. He couldn’t be here in person, but I know he is humbled at this gesture.
“Tommy really is one of a kind. As a coach and being involved with him, I never came across anyone with the knowledge he had. He had this great ability to change things in the game and he gave the fans a decade they’ll never forget.”
Steve Kirk hailed McLean as the “best coach and manager” he’d ever worked under.
Well Society members voted to rename the South Stand after McLean in 2021, the same year he was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.
It wasn’t just his tactical genius and man-management that was top notch. He was financially astute as well, acting as a club director alongside his managerial role, and bringing outstanding players like Davie Cooper to Fir Park.
“Tommy brokered the record deal for Phil O’Donnell which allowed the club, at that time, to go forward with the stadium’s South Stand – and it’s absolutely apt that now it’s named in tribute to him,” Douglas Dickie said.
“I am delighted that the club, and the fans, were able to celebrate his impact together at the weekend. We will share pictures and footage from the day with Tommy, to remind him how much he means to the club.
“Tommy is one of the most important figures in the club’s 137-year existence and certainly the most influential in our recent history.”
McLean’s first feat as manager was to steer the Steelman safely back to top-flight football in 1985.
He helped steady the club financially and, over his 10-year tenure, brought in a mix of youth and experience which delivered the Scottish Cup in 1991 and the club’s first venture in European football.
Formers players, fans and club representatives pay tribute to Tommy in this short video.
With the 2022/23 season at an end, we can provide the following update on players’ contracts.
“I want to personally thank each individual player for their efforts since I arrived at the club,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“Everyone has made an impact at this club in their tenure and helped steer the club to not only another season in the Premiership, but to a strong finish that will only benefit this club at the start of next season.
“We are still speaking with a number of players at this very early stage of the summer and hope to get clarity on each situation very soon.
“For the players departing the club, I wish them all the very best in the future.”
With the fight for seventh place going down the final day, Dundee United were the final opponents for Motherwell in the 2022/23 season.
In a season where the ‘Well were written off by many, Stuart Kettlewell’s ethos of fighting until the very end came the forefront at Fir Park.
Completing the remarkable story, Kevin van Veen scored for the 11th consecutive game, beating Hughie Ferguson’s club record. The Dutchman has written himself into Motherwell history forever.
Dundee United weren’t going down without a fight and despite going one down, fought back to make it 2-1 with Jamie McGrath converting a controversial penalty and Steven Fletcher finishing early in the second half.
With an array of chances, Blair Spittal would eventually find the back of the net to draw his side level.
Max Johnston came off the bench and made an immediate impact, knocking in at the far post however the linesman flagged Spittal offside in the build up.
The young Scottish full-back wasn’t to be denied his goal on 82 minutes, when he headed home at the back post from a James Furlong cross to secure a win in the final game of the season.
With Motherwell ending the season on 50 points, with 30 points gained under Kettlewell’s reign, the result completed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes and kept confidence high going into next season.
Liam Kelly is off on international duty once again, with the Motherwell stopper named in the latest Scotland squad.
Scotland continue their EURO 2024 qualification campaign, when they take on Georgia and Norway.
The dark blues will be on their travels first, with an away fixture against Norway on 17 June.
Their second fixture is back at Hampden when Georgia come to town on 20 June.
“A huge thank you from me to the supporters.
“Even for me getting my kids on the pitch, the reaction was perfect. We’ll see you next season.”
Motherwell fought back in a storming second half to claim a 9th win under Stuart Kettlewell’s remarkable run as boss. And in another fabulous run Kevin van Veen rounded off his fabulous season with a couple of goal scoring records.
His goal after five minutes made it 11 games on the trot breaking both the club’s record run of scoring in 10 consecutive games held by Hughie Ferguson for over a century and the SPL one claimed by Mark Viduka 22 years ago.
And in memorable season for van Veen and ‘Well fans, the striker’s tally of 25 league goals also hoisted him to runner up to Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi.
His early strike should have unsettled a relegated United but instead Jim Goodwin’s gutsy side responded with goals from Jamie McGrath and Steven Fletcher.
But having looked down and out the Steelmen put the United defence under extreme pressure in the final 30 minutes. Blair Spittal’s equaliser paved the way for Max Johnston’s winner eight minutes from time.
There was a colourful carnival atmosphere inside a sun-drenched Fir Park as Motherwell set about making certain of ending the season 7th in the cinch Premiership.
The Fir Park fans showed little sympathy for their counterparts in the Tommy McLean stand, a predicament they might have faced themselves but for the astonishing run of form since Kettlewell took over the manager’s job.
With ‘Well’s central impressive defensive pairing Dan Casey and Calum Butcher still injured, it meant a rare home start for Bevis Mugabi and Shane Blaney. Free from any pressure of relegation, there was also a starting debut in midfield for 16 year-old Lennon Miller.
Jim Goodman’s men, on the other hand, faced mission impossible having to consign Motherwell to a heavy defeat while hoping Ross County faced a similar thrashing at Rugby Park.
Without a Tom Cruise type hero in their ranks and facing ‘Well’s goal scoring marvel, the Tannadice side never stood a chance of avoiding the drop to the Championship.
And it took van Veen less than five minutes to grab his 29th goal of the season and write himself into the record books.
Sean Goss dispossessed Glenn Middleton wide on the left and his low pass sent the Dutch striker racing towards goal. Having side stepped the advancing ‘keeper van Veen took time to steady himself from a tight angle to hammer the ball into the far corner of the goal.
That forced United to be even more adventurous and Middleton almost redeemed himself after 10 minutes but his drive 16 yards from goal was well blocked by Liam Kelly.
As the Tayside men pressed ‘Well deep into their own half more chances came their way.
Kelly twice left his line again to deny Middleton and then bravely at Kiernan Freeman’s feet. When that forced the ball back to Steven Fletcher, the former Scotland striker thought he had fired home the equaliser but Paul McGinn popped up on the goal line to clear.
At this stage, play was almost entirely contained in the Motherwell half but after 24 minutes the home side created a opening to double their lead. Van Veen fed the ball out to Stephen O’Donnell and by the time the full back whipped a cross to the back of the six-yard box, the ‘Well striker had raced to meet it only to guide his header back beyond the ‘keeper and his back post.
United’s commitment to attack was rewarded after 28 minutes when they were awarded a penalty following VAR intervention. Mugabi’s handball in the home box went unnoticed until referee Steven McLean was invited to review play on the touchline monitor.
That resulted in the ref pointing to the penalty spot and for the second time on his visit to Fir Park, Jamie McGrath struck his penalty kick low and under the right arm of the diving Kelly.
Five minutes later ‘Well passed up a terrific opportunity to regain the lead. This time van Veen was the provider clipping a delicate cross onto the head of the unmarked Mikael Mandron but 10 yards from goal he directed the ball well off target.
Instead, it was United who came close to taking the lead just before the interval. Freeman’s lofted cut back was met by the towering Fletcher but his downward header hit the outside of Kelly’s left hand post.
However, it took the Tannadice striker only three minutes into the second half to find the net. Peter Pawlett raced down the left and when he laid the ball across the box to the unmarked Fletcher he gave Kelly no chance confidently stroking the ball past the ‘keeper.
That sparked some much need life into the home side and the somewhat subdued ‘Well fans.
A Goss corner had the players packed in the visitor’s box and when the ball broke to Blair Spittal his thumping volley took a defection for another corner. Once again it found its way to Spittal and his floated ball into the six yard box was met by Mugabi. His powerful header looked certain to cross the line until Newman produced a fabulous one handed save to force the ball out.
The United ‘keeper then reacted quickly to block a shot from Mandron which took a wicked deflection on its way to goal.
The pressure on the visitor’s goal was intense and James Furlong was unlucky with a low effort which hit the foot of the post.
Having gained the momentum, Kettlewell made a triple substitution, after 63 minutes bringing on John Obika, Max Johnston and Callum Slattery.
Obika immediately had a strike just wide of goal but the equaliser was only delayed until the 69th minute.
A slick exchange between Obika and van Veen at the edge of the box set up Spittal and he drove the ball beyond Newman to make it 2-2.
Four minutes later the Fir Park fans were on their feet as Jonhston hammered the ball low across a packed goal line and into the corner of the net. But the celebrations were curtailed as ref ruled it out for an offside in the build-up.
Goss then had a chance to make it three when he raced through a static defence. But rather than finish it himself he elected to try and set up van Veen but from a tight angle he could only force a save from Newman.
With ten minutes reaming there was still a sense among the home stands that a winning goal was on the cards.
And it duly arrived in the 82nd minute after a steady build up involving half a dozen players around the United box. The delivery from Furlong across goal was tempting and Johnston gladly accepted sneaking in to powerfully head home as Motherwell recorded yet another win and end the season on a high.
Shane Blaney has had a very complex season.
Starting by knocking Motherwell out of the Europa Conference League, to then joining Motherwell and battling back from injury to get into the team.
The Irish centre back has had to be patient for his chance in the starting 11 but believes he has shown the correct attitude whilst waiting in the wings.
Motherwell will be travelling to Delden, Holland for a seven day training camp ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Stuart Kettlewell’s men will head to Holland on the 24th June and will return on the 1st July.
The camp has been a popular destination for many football clubs, with Aberdeen, Holland youth international sides, Iceland, Turkey, Macabi Tel Aviv, FC Utrecht, AZ, Real Zaragoza and Club Brugge all visiting in previous years.
We plan to take part in friendly matches during the week.
News on pre-season matches will be announced when they have been confirmed.
The facilities can be found here.
