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Chairman Kyrk Macmillan speaks following the appointment of Alfred Johansson as Manager of Motherwell Football Club.

Macmillan answers questions on the process of recruiting Johansson, summer recruitment, pre-season and season ticket sales.

Tickets for the first leg of our UEFA Conference League tie against Havnar Bóltfelag are now on sale.

Tickets for the first leg on Thursday 23 July at Fir Park are on sale now.

Kick off is 7:45pm.

You can buy yours online by CLICKING HERE. 

Prices are as follows:

FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

FOR NON SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Season Ticket holders have until Tuesday 21^st July at 5pm to purchase their own seat.

Hospitality Packages

Centenary Suite

• 2-course meal
• Main stand seating and ticket
• Half-time tea/coffee and pie
• Pay bar facility
• Match programme and team sheet

Cooper Box

• 2 x complimentary drinks served to your box pre-match
• Access to Cooper Suite pre-match, half-time and at full-time for refreshments
• Half-time buffet served in the Cooper Suite
• Indoor seat in an executive Cooper Box
• Match programme and team sheet

91 Lounge

• Hot plate on arrival
• Main stand seating and ticket
• Half-time tea/coffee and pie
• Complimentary drinks 1 hour before and 1 hour after the match with one drink per person at half-time (10 per person)
• Match programme and team sheet

Dress code for all areas is smart – no jeans, trainers or colours permitted. To book, please phone our hospitality team on 01698 338003 or email hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk

Ticket details for the away leg will be made available shortly.

Motherwell will face Hibernian on the opening day of the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League season following the publication of the fixture list this morning.

Iain Robinson’s side will open their campaign against the Edinburgh-side before crossing the city divide to face defending champions Heart of Midlothian in our first home fixture.

• Round 1 – Hibernian (A) 16/08/2026
• Round 2 – Heart of Midlothian (H) 23/08/2026
• Round 3 – Montrose (A) 30/08/2026
• Round 4 – Rangers (H) 06/09/2026
• Round 5 – Celtic (A) 20/09/2026
• Round 6 – Spartans (H) 27/09/2026
• Round 7 – Aberdeen (H) 04/10/2026
• Round 8 – Glasgow City (A) 18/10/2026
• Round 9 – Partick Thistle (H) 21/10/2026
• Round 10 – Rangers (A) 25/10/ 2026
• Round 11 – Celtic (H) 08/11/2026
• Round 12 – Aberdeen (A) 15/11/2026
• Round 13 – Glasgow City (H) 13/12/2026
• Round 14 – Partick Thistle (A) 20/12/2026
• Round 15 – Hibernian (H) 17/01/2027
• Round 16 – Spartans (A) 24/01/2027
• Round 17 – Heart of Midlothian (A) 07/02/2027
• Round 18 – Montrose (H) 21/02/2027

Ticketing details will be confirmed in due course.

Olly Whyte has wasted no opportunity to impress. Whether that be with the Motherwell FC Academy, training with the first-team, or when he has been sent out on loan to gain valuable minutes. 

His two loan spells over the last two seasons have turned out to be an unequivocal success. Now back fresh from gaining promotion with Stenhousemuir last season, Whyte is now shifting the focus back to Motherwell.

“It feels good to be getting back up to speed after the summer,” Olly Whyte said.

“The first couple of days of pre-season are always tough, and this year has been no different. But I think every player needs that at the start to get everyone motoring for the long season ahead.”

For Whyte, the off-season was four weeks where he continued to work behind-the-scenes as he wanted to hit the ground running in anticipation of a new manager coming in.

But 12 months ago the feeling was similar, and Whyte has just kept his head down as he tried to impress from the off.

“I’ve worked hard over the summer,” Whyte explained.

“It was the exact same last year as well before the previous manager arrived. You just want to come back in good shape and impress the new boss. But when you see the manager has worked in academies and with young players throughout his career, you feel like if you do the right things, you could get an opportunity. But there’s never an expectation from my side for that.

“I think everyone is trying to do a bit extra in these early stages to try and catch the manager’s eye. That’s natural, I suppose. But these first few weeks are crucial for me. First impressions are massive, and for me, whether I go out on loan or not is probably decided in these three/four weeks.

“Last year was another step up for me, and playing 47 games with Stenhousemuir has helped me build up massively.”

Two summers ago, Whyte had been on the fringes of first-team football for Motherwell. He was named on the bench for the first time as the Steelmen took on St Johnstone in December 2023 before keeping his place on the bench a few days later at Easter Road.

But the opportunity to play never presented itself, and by the time of summer 2024, game time was important. Joining Cowdenbeath on loan for the 2024/25 season, Whyte excelled. Playing 31 games, the youngster received the Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, Supporters’ Player of the Year and The Coo Shed Podcast Player of the Year awards for his impressive campaign, which also saw Whyte earn a 12-month extension.

With last year being another resounding success, Whyte believes the two years he has spent away from Fir Park have helped him mature as a player and as a man.

“I think I’ve just grown up over the last two years,” he explained.

“The difference for me has been playing games that actually have huge importance; you play in front of a crowd every week who are so passionate about the team winning, and experiencing all of that every week is so beneficial for me. You’re in the changing room with men who have had successful playing careers and have advice and experience to pass on.

“A lot of people maybe haven’t been so lucky with loan moves, and I’ve been the opposite in that sense. I guess I just put it down to just giving my all every day. I’m always thinking that I want to be part of this team first and foremost when I’ve walked into a loan club and I just want to be part of the team. I wish I could offer more insight, but I honestly don’t know why they’ve been so good apart from that; just working hard, I suppose.

“When you got out on loan, you speak to the staff here about what we want the loan move to do for me, and when it came to Stenhousemuir, it was really straightforward and basic targets – just gain experience. A lot of things went right for me last season. Gary Naysmith was a brilliant manager for me and helped me so much by just putting his trust in me.

“They gave me a platform, and as a team we had such a good bond. We were against the odds to get promoted, but I think what we achieved probably tells a lot about the character and individuals within the squad. The day we got promoted was maybe the best day in my career so far, including all the celebrations afterwards.

“Some footballers can go their full career without winning promotion or lifting a trophy, and that day will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was so special, and I’m proud I played my part in the story.

“Guys like Gregor Buchanan and Ross Meechan were massive in driving the culture in the club. These guys help you understand what it means to play for Stenhousemuir, but you learn stuff about yourself also. The biggest learning for me was that I can actually score goals! Aside from that, the year did give me a lot of confidence in my own ability.

“As a player and a person, I’ve always been a quiet boy, but it’s brought me out of my shell a bit too.”

For young players, looking at the previous MFC Academy stars that have played for the first-team, forged careers or moved on to bigger clubs can be a motivation. Whyte believes the past success stories allow him to believe that if you work hard enough and take your chance, anything in football is possible.

“Everyone that’s come through here, Lennon [Miller] and Davie [Turnbull] for example, grasped their chance when it came,” Whyte stated.

“There’s no doubt that’s the big target, but I need to remain focused for now. It’s quite simple for me in that sense; I just need to keep my head down and work as hard as I can. The staff and players around me are so helpful. Stephen O’Donnell has been brilliant with me, and even last season, he would always stay up-to-date with everything going on at Stenhousemuir. The midfield guys are brilliant too. Oscar [Priestman] and Lukas [Fadinger] know what it takes.

“It’s a really good team environment because all the boys want to learn and grow together. Watching the Motherwell games last season, no team in Scotland was playing that way. But as a midfielder, having the ball is what you want, and it’s exciting. Part of my focus is learning that style and watching lots of clips closely.”

The Well Society is hosting a number of free events in the local community, aiming to bring supporters closer to the club ahead of the new season.

Each night will comprise a Q&A session with a first-team player, an introduction from the Well Society and their role at the club, plus much more.

Dates and locations of the events are as follows:

• Thursday 9 July at Up Front Brewery Strathaven (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday 16 July at The Village Inn in East Kilbride (6pm-9pm)
• Monday 27 July at Ravenscliffe (6pm-9pm)

Full details of the events and your chance to sign up be found on the Well Society website.

Squad numbers for the 2026/27 season have been confirmed. 

Elijah Just has been moved to number 11 from 21, with Oscar Priestman moving to number 12. Callum Hendry is now number 14, having worn number 66 last season, with Regan Charles-Cook moving from 77 to 17.

Lukas Fadinger has changed squad number from 12 to 8.

Ibrahim Said changes from 90 to 19, with Matty Connelly moving to 21.

Motherwell 2026/27 squad numbers

Following an increase in attendance at Fir Park this season, we have created a fan survey ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. 

In a season that saw us record our best attendance at our home since 2005, we want to hear your feedback.

But this survey isn’t just about your experience at Fir Park on a matchday; it also helps us understand your thoughts on a range of topics associated with the club.

We have used the feedback from our previous survey to help build, solidify and improve your experience as a supporter. It also helps the club satisfy Scottish Football Authorities’ requirements on demographic data.

Please answer all the questions as honestly as possible, and we will collate and look to take this feedback on board going forward. Your feedback and opinions are valued and appreciated.

The 2026 Fan Survey can be found online here.

The still calmness of the summer break will subside this week, as the women of steel return from their travels across the globe to begin their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Motherwell will face four behind closed door pre-season friendlies before opening their Sky Sports League Cup Round One Group Stage next month. Iain Robinson’s side will face St. Johnstone, Livingston, and Queens Park before facing English outfit Halifax Women.

Schedule

• 5^th July 2026 – St. Johnstone (A)
• 12^th July 2026 – Livingston (A)
• 15^th July 2026 – Queens Park (H)
• 19^th July 2026 – Halifax Women (H)

All kick-off times are to be confirmed and potentially subject to change. All match information will be communicated in due course.

Despite being behind closed doors, supporters can follow the matchday coverage on the Motherwell FC social media channels. Live match updates will be available via the Motherwell FC X (formerly Twitter) account, with post-match reaction to follow.

We will face Belgian side KRF Genk in a pre-season friendly at Fir Park on Friday 17 July. 

Kick off is 7pm.

This will be Alfred Johansson’s first match at Fir Park as we play our final match before our European adventure begins the following week.

Season ticket holders have until Wednesday 15^th July 5pm to buy their ticket at the discounted price.

For this game, all tickets will be Ticketfast (digital) or collection at the Ticket Office only. The game will not be downloaded onto your season card.

Ticket Prices:

You can buy your tickets online now by CLICKING HERE.

The final captivating pages turned, the unfolded drama to remember, and memories to be celebrated in an enthralling finale to the 2025/26 campaign.

Whether suntanning on the Spanish coast, sandboarding on the Moroccan desert or taking in the sights of the Empire State building – our squad have been well rested, as the return to the training pitch emerges closer every day.

From the beaches of Santa Ponsa, we caught up with defender Shannon Leishman, who reflected on her summer break, and the opportunity to recharge ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

“It was great to have that week or two, where I could fully switch my mind off of football, at least as much as I could anyway, with the World Cup on every TV-screen,” Leishman joked.

“I’m just back from holiday with my family in Santa Ponsa. I think it’s important once you finish the season, you can use that opportunity to rest and recharge before getting back into the routine of training and playing week to week.

“Pre-season preparations are probably the few weeks every footballer dreads, but I’m obviously looking forward to meeting back up with the squad and the staff again, before getting back into some running and gym sessions.

After significant changes in the team throughout last year, there was a sense that rebuilding was needed. Rival relegations, post-split dominance, and heart-breaking farewell’s soon followed, as the 2025/26 Scottish Power Women’s Premier League campaign left much to remember for the women of steel.

As the imminent sound of pre-season echoes firmly in the not-so-distant future, defender Shannon Leishman reflected on the final chapter of a campaign to remember.

“It was a difficult season overall, but we ended the season on a real high,” Leishman professed.

“At times it was difficult, we ended up in the bottom-four which became a bit stop and start. We’d play a game one week, then we’d be off for two-weeks.

“Although we had a lot of players leave in January, and a transition period with a new manager where we had to rebuild, I felt as we reached the end of the season; we ended on a real high.

“We didn’t lose in six-games, we finished top of the bottom-four, and we can really understand and are buying into how Iain wants us to play. It was a difficult start, but we ended it strong. And I think you could see a lot of the girls were playing for each other; we were wanting to go out and win games… and just playing the game how we want to play the game.

“It’s a real positive going forward which we can hopefully continue to build momentum heading onto next season.”

Despite a difficult initial transition period, with an expected change to the playing squad, the women of steel successfully adapted to a new coaching staff, their style of play, and what they envisioned for the club.

Leishman has committed to Motherwell for the forthcoming season, and the former Hibernian captain detailed that the connection to playing consistently and gaining confidence is a personal drive for her to remain in ML1, as well as the strong connection she feels from coaching staff as a major reason she wished to return for the forthcoming season.

“Playing consistently allows you to gain and develop more confidence within yourself,” Leishman emphasised.

“When there’s trust built from managers to players, there is that element of respect. Iain allows you to play the way you want to play, and express ourselves.

“I feel right now, playing game time is what I need as a player, and towards the end of the season, I was playing every week, and I feel that is what I need right now within my career.”

As the squad begin preparations this week ahead of their pre-season campaign, Leishman reiterated the demand for returning to the top-six of the Premier League.

“We’re hoping to progress, and do better than we did last season,” Leishman noted.

“We want to achieve top-six. Anyone playing within the league, that’s what their expectations would be to be playing against the top-sides in the league. That should be any clubs ambition, and as players, you should be wanting to challenge yourself to be playing against these teams week in week out.

“We need to continue the run we were on, and I think with a good pre-season and league cup behind us, that’ll allow us to build a steady pace for the season coming. For us as a team, we have been there before, and we can do it again. We need to set those standards as high as we can.”