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The last few months have been particularly tough on many of us.

Motherwell FC’s Community Trust, together with Time to Tackle and supported by Paycare, are hosting a Zoom call on Wednesday 15 July at 7pm for anyone to come on and share their experiences, or listen to others.

On the call, the group’s founder Aaron Connolly will tell his story of his battle with poor mental health. His organisation exists to help tackle poor mental health, poor physical health, stigma and loneliness using the power of football and peer support.

You can also learn about how we will work together to provide further support for our fans and our local community.

To take part, download the Zoom app. The meeting ID is 830 4902 4137 and the password is 109457.

You don’t have to share your audio or video to take part. You can just come on and listen if you prefer.

We are saddened to hear of the death of Pat Quinn at the age of 84.

One of the club’s famous Ancell Babes, the inside forward made 251 appearances for the club between 1955 and 1962, scoring 119 goals.

Quinn was a star man in the side, and would receive international recognition through four Scotland caps during his time at Fir Park.

He would be sold to Blackpool in 1962 for £34,000, a significant sum for the times. He also went on to play for Hibernian and East Fife.

Our thoughts are with Pat’s family and friends at this time.

Across the country, we are facing unprecedented times.

For many of us, as a community, country and a human race collectively, it may be our toughest challenge yet. Pulling together yet staying apart.

Now that you have exhausted all the online workouts, Zoom events and mid-morning yoga options… what do you do with all this time at home?

Our partners SRB Wealth Management offer six ways you can improve your financial health.

What if you spent time being financially forward thinking?

We have a rare opportunity to take time to get to grips with, re-evaluate and make improvements for our future finances. Doing those little jobs that we put aside, because other daily tasks get in the way, gives you a sense of achievement, control and the knowing that you’re making progress toward a better financial future.

The team at SRB put their heads together  – virtually, of course – and came up with some simple but effective things that you can do at home, to improve your financial health during this ‘stay at home’ period of time.

1. Dig out that paperwork

We all get annual statements about our ISAs, pensions, life assurance, savings and bonds and we are often guilty of sticking them in a drawer, either because they don’t make a lot of sense to us or we don’t have time to look at them. Now is that time. Dig out those statements and take a long hard look at them. Understand them and make sure you’re comfortable with what they’re telling you.

Don’t lose sight of key financial dates, such as tax year beginning or end. Longer term financial plans may not be a current priority. But opportunities to invest and take advantage of these dates shouldn’t be ignored.

2. Do your sums

If you have a retirement income goal in mind, think about how much you’d need to save each month, from now, to hit that target, taking into consideration the effects of inflation.

Are you saving the right amount? If not, think about what you can do to make that happen.

Find out how much you might have in your state pension, using the state pension forecasting service, and consider whether that’s enough for you to live the retirement life you’d like.

3. Track down those lost pension pots

If you’ve worked for more than one company during your career, then it’s likely that you’ve paid into different workplace pensions. Make use of the Pension Tracing Service to help track down what you’ve paid and to where. All you need is the names of companies who have employed you – even if the company no longer exists.

Please note: This service will only tell you the name of the provider, but you can then get in touch and request the detailed information. Once you know what you have and where, you can consider whether to leave as is or consolidate, depending on the type of pension and your personal circumstances.

4. Review your energy outgoings

This often creates a big ‘sigh’ in most households under normal circumstances, because it takes time to review and research. But if you haven’t reviewed your suppliers and rates either for your home, or your business, now is the time to do it. Energy prices are favourable at the moment, but wont be forever.

Compare rates across a number of suppliers using comparison sites, or check their offers directly to find the best deal for you. You could free up some money that could be better placed elsewhere.

If you’re unsure of the service or reputation of some suppliers, for impartial information and advice on household and business energy from Britain’s energy regulator, check out the Ofgem website.

5. Ensure your protection is adequate

It’s a given that we protect our material possessions – car, home, phone, even holidays. But many people overlook protecting their income, or their family’s ability to survive without it.

Protection is fundamental. It may not be the most exciting of subjects, but it addresses one of our most basic desires – to keep safe all that we hold dear.

Take the time to consider whether your existing protection is right for your current circumstances. Is it cover you no longer need? Are you under insuring yourself? If you don’t have cover, think about how that looks should the worst happen.

6. Look at your current mortgage arrangement

A mortgage is often your biggest financial commitment. Can you ease that burden in the short term, or make it work better for you in the longer term?

Consider whether the mortgage payment holiday on offer is suitable for you. Look at your current rate, when did you last review this?

Look ahead at your plans for the property. Do you want to make changes, or are you considering moving house in the future?

Take steps toward a better financial future

Using this time to take action and make small but important changes to your finances offers many benefits.

You might improve your financial position for the future. You’ll certainly get a few things off that ‘to do’ list and it’ll give you a great sense of achievement. It also puts you in control, when much around you is out of your hands.

There’s always time to speak to your Financial Adviser

If you have a Financial Adviser, you don’t have to wait to see them face to face to discuss any concerns or questions over your portfolio.

A good FA will be there to support you during this unsettling time, to go over any concerns and relay market information. Review your portfolio and see where you could make improvements by moving or changing things around.

Your adviser is likely to be working from home too, so will be available for a chat on the phone. Take this time to discuss your existing investments, bonds, ISAs and Personal Pensions or to simply get an update of where things are. They’re in a great position to keep you up to date with what’s happening with your investments.

Take this time to look after your future. If you’d like to speak to a member of the team about wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact SRB Wealth Management on 01698 536064 or email srbwealth@sjpp.co.uk.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

SRB Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

We want to set a new record by reaching a target of 4,500 season ticket sales for the 2020/21 campaign.

Having broken our previous best in 2018/19, we surpassed it again in 2019/20 as 4,488 of you committed to the club.

Now, against the odds in these difficult times, we want your help to try and beat it again.

Over 3,500 of you have now signed up for the 2020/21 season.

To get yours, there’s various ways you can buy.

If you can, please use our online purchasing service at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. If you’re renewing, just sign in using the customer number on your season card.

You can also call us between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, on 01698 333333.

Our promise to you

We promise that everyone who buys a season ticket for 2020/21 will get the full value of their purchase.

Everyone who purchases, or has already purchased, a season ticket for 2020/21 will get the chance to attend 19 home league matches, whenever that is possible.

If that is not possible in 2020/21, we will offer you the chance to claim the credit value of the missing games back. This can either be used against the value of your season ticket for 2021/22, or if you don’t renew next year, you can claim the equivalent number of match tickets for games in 2021/22.

If matches are initially played behind closed doors, we pledge that you will not be adversely impacted.

What’s more, you will get free access to our live online streaming service to watch all of our home games played behind closed doors.

Kids go free

For every adult or concession season ticket bought, you can get up to two free season tickets for children aged 15 or under. And each child will get their own season card, giving them something of their own.

Two kids go for free if you buy a season ticket in our Davie Cooper stand, while you can get one free child season ticket for every adult or concession bought in our John Hunter and Phil O’Donnell stands.

If you want to take along even more kids, individual season tickets are priced at just £20 for the campaign, or on a match-by-match basis for £3.

Spread the cost or pay now

There are many ways to pay for your season ticket.

You can pay for your season ticket in two instalments in July and August by using our standing order facility. Forms are available here, or you can call 01698 333333 and we will get you set up. If you’re filling out a form, you can scan it and email it to tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk or post it to the club.

Finance is available to spread your cost over 12 months at an interest rate of 19.5%. To apply, please call us on 01698 333333.

We have given Stephen Robinson permission to speak to the Irish FA regarding the vacant role of Northern Ireland manager.

On Tuesday, the governing body sought consent to interview Stephen for the job, which we reluctantly granted.

We have expressed in the strongest possible terms that we want him to stay with us.

The work he has done so far to take the club to two national cup finals, bring through young talent and finish third in last season’s Premiership has been exceptional.

As we prepare to embark on a UEFA Europa League campaign, it is our hope that Stephen will stay to continue the work that has proven so successful.

We wish to clarify remarks made by our former player Richard Tait on the BBC Sportsound programme on 21 June 2020.

Firstly, we are not normally moved to make public statements on matters relating to player contracts. We always, with very limited exceptions, conduct all of our business in private.

However, Richard’s comments to the BBC require us to make completely clear the events, which led to his decision to leave the club at the end of his contract on 31 May 2020.

Earlier this year, the club entered negotiations and made contract offers to Richard, which he rejected. He is perfectly entitled to do this, as we would expect over the course of any negotiation.

Shortly after the league was stopped due to the Covid-19 outbreak, with the majority of our staff working from home, Richard returned a signed contract to the club, accepting an offer made to him which he had previously rejected. This contract was signed only by him, and not by any member of staff at Motherwell FC.

At this point, we informed Richard that we would not be in a position to sign off on the contract, given we were in the midst of complete uncertainty over our financial position going forward in the wake of a global pandemic.

Nevertheless, we reassured him we wanted him to stay at the club, and we would be back in touch once we had certainty over where we stood.

Towards the end of May, Richard was offered revised terms, with the full explanation this was being done in light of a predicted much-reduced football budget.

Richard told the BBC that it was his view “[Motherwell] were taking advantage of a bad situation” in doing this.

As a fan-owned club operating in hugely uncertain financial times, it is imperative that the board exercise the maximum caution to safeguard the club.

At the time Richard was offered revised terms, we were unsure when the 2020/21 season would commence. We are still in the situation where we do not know when a crucial revenue stream – having supporters in the stadium – will be available to us again.

Despite this, we offered Richard a new contract in the hope he would stay with us. The basic salary of this contract was less than the previous offer, but on no lesser basic terms than he had been on at the club during his time here.

It also included the incentive for us to pay for him to undertake coaching qualifications, with a view to him being a member of our coaching staff once his playing career came to a close.

Additionally, we made a promise to Richard that we would look to review his contract at a later date, once there was greater clarity over supporters being able to return to stadiums.

We are disheartened that someone who has been part of the fabric of our club for four years would make an accusation that we would try and take advantage of a grave situation like Covid-19.

It should therefore be noted that Richard chose to reject the new terms offered to him by the club. We did not withdraw the opportunity for him to remain part of Motherwell Football Club. He is fully entitled to follow this path and we respect his right to do so.

Richard remains part of the history of this club. As captain of the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final winning side over Aberdeen, a member of the squad which reached two cup finals, as a man who made 142 appearances for our club and as a hugely respected and well liked figure at Fir Park.

We reiterate our sincere thanks for all he gave to the club and wish him all the best in his future career.

Paycare will once again feature on the back of our first team home and away kits in 2020/21.

A leading not-for-profit organisation which provides cashback on everyday healthcare costs, as well as wider mental, financial and physical support, Paycare will adorn the bottom of our jersey for another year.

“The team at Paycare are delighted to continue our sponsorship of Motherwell Football Club for the 2020/2021 season,” Kevin Rogers, CEO of Paycare, said.

“Whilst this may be a season like no other, we are excited to see the Steelmen start the year with a third-place finish to last season under their belts.

“Paycare is honoured to continue to support the health and wellbeing of the Motherwell fans and the wider community. Best of luck with the new season. ‘Mon the Well.”

Alan Burrows, chief executive of Motherwell FC, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be extending our partnership with Paycare.

“The steadfast support of Kevin and his team during this challenging time is very much appreciated by everyone at the club. We look forward to growing our partnership this season.

With National Men’s Health Week taking place from June 15-21, the focus this year is naturally on the global Coronavirus pandemic and the impact this is having on men in particular.

Our health and wellbeing partners Paycare have passed on the following advice to help improve your health and wellbeing during this week and beyond.

It’s a well-established fact that men have traditionally been more reluctant than women to access professional healthcare support and are more impacted by conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

The rise of suicide rates has also been of particular concern year on year, and of course the spread of Covid-19 throughout the globe in 2020 has sadly seen more male lives lost.

Seek Support

Life is stressful, busy and pressurised at the best of times. Throw in a global pandemic, a UK-wide lockdown, mass redundancies and company closures, childcare juggles, and the fear of catching Covid-19, and for many this will be the most stressful time they’ve ever been through.

And yet there’s a worry that men could be shouldering these extra burdens silently. Traditional gender roles which saw men portrayed as strong and not emotional sadly still resonate in some people’s minds and are thought to be one of the causes behind fewer males asking for mental health support.

Less than a third of the people accessing certain talking therapies are male, and yet men are three times more likely to take their own lives, with those in their late 40s are particularly at risk. In 2018, there was a significant increase for the first time in a few years and it would be heart-breaking to see Covid-19 claim even more lives through suicide in addition to those who have died from the virus itself.

That’s why it’s imperative anyone feeling stressed, depressed, or anxious reaches out and talks to someone – whether that’s phoning Samaritans, letting your family know, or setting up a video call to talk with your best friend. By discussing feelings and emotions more, we can work together to normalise more of these conversations — a potential game changer for the road to recovery.

Get to the doctor

While all non-essential outings are currently restricted, booking a doctor’s appointment if needed is absolutely essential and shouldn’t be avoided. This applies whether the issue is a mental health problem or a physical one. Research shows men visit their doctor on average four times a year – compared to six for women – and the pharmacy four times too – compared to 18 for women. Nine out of ten men also said they wouldn’t call their GP unless they thought it was a serious problem.

A good alternative, if getting to the doctor is an issue, is organising a video or phone call with a GP app service, which may be provided as part of your company’s health cash plan or plan policy. But if you haven’t got access to one, then looking after yourself by getting symptoms checked out by a professional face-to-face is of paramount importance.

Use your exercise time

We’ve been lucky that so far in the UK, we’ve been able to get outside and exercise as long as we’ve stuck to social distancing guidelines. A 30-minute walk can do the power of good to mental wellbeing, by boosting our mood, increasing self-perception and reducing stress by producing feel-good hormones.

You might not be running or cycling a marathon each night – and it’s absolutely fine if that doesn’t appeal to you – but if you’re able to get out and about for fresh air, even if it’s just once or twice a week, this will do wonders for your wellbeing and all-round health.

There are endless benefits to walking, including: it’s lower impact so kinder on your joints especially for those who have problems with their knees, hips or ankles; it boosts your mood and can even improve fatigue and depression; it prevents weight gain (and can help those looking to lose weight if done regularly enough); and it can improve your circulation and posture too.

Plus, it’s free, you can pop some music or a podcast on while you do it, and it can be a welcome break if you’ve been sat at a computer all day working.

Watch your waistline

Lockdown has not been the time that people want to think about dropping a few pounds or toning up for holidays that might not even happen – but lying on the sofa every evening eating and drinking to your heart’s content is bound to have a negative impact on your health and wellbeing, especially if the situation continues for an extended period.

We’re not at all suggesting that the occasional treat should be off the menu, but it’s worth noting that men are slightly more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes (56%) and one of the best ways to avoid the condition is to manage your weight and eat a balanced diet.

Many heart conditions are also more prevalent in males. For example, abdominal aortic aneurysms (where the main blood vessel from your heart down your chest and abdomen swells) are six times more likely to happen to men than women, and again a balanced diet and healthy weight are recommended to reduce your chances7 of suffering with that condition.

Talk to your employer

If you’re working through the pandemic, either at work or your regular workplace, please open up to your boss about anything that they can do to support you. Is there a Mental Health First Aider in your workplace who you could talk to?

Employee Assistance Programmes are another popular service which can provide access to confidential help about a range of issues including financial, mental, and relationship worries, if speaking to your boss directly isn’t an option you’re comfortable with (plus it’s done over the phone so you might find it easier than talking face-to-face).

Fighting the urge to tell your boss you’re ‘fine’ when they ask and telling them truthfully about any work-related problems you’re coming up against during the lockdown can have a really positive impact, and ensure your organisation is aware of the challenges you’re facing – and most importantly, what they can do to reduce them.

Our home kit for the 2020/21 season is here.

You can pre-order yours now online.

The classic claret and amber kit goes back to its retro simplicity and is based on the strip worn by the League Cup winning side in 1950.

As we approach the 70th anniversary of that victory, the claret band extends on to the sleeves once again.

Flashes of white on the collar and sleeves go with our white shorts, while we’ve also given a nod to an older style amber band near the top of the claret socks.

It’s a modern take on a moment in our history.

A sponsor for the 2020/21 season is still to be confirmed but will be added to the shirts prior to launch.

We are offering partial refunds to 2019/20 season ticket holders who missed out on games through the curtailment of the campaign.

Four Ladbrokes Premiership home matches – two before and two after the split – were not played.

Supporters, if they wish, will now be able to claim back the outstanding value of their season ticket. This also applies to Flexi Ticket purchases.

A message from our chairman, Jim McMahon

“We have a duty to all of our supporters and season ticket holders. There will be no judgment on anyone asking for a refund. If individuals or families need this money, then they should apply and get it back.

“But we must be open about the financial impact offering refunds may have on the club.

“Should every season ticket holder claim a refund, the cost to the club will be north of £130,000.

“For that reason, we ask you please to consider leaving your money with us.

“As a fan-owned club, we are all aware of the realities that face us even in normal times. We do not have a rich benefactor. We are reliant on being well run and, ultimately, on ourselves as custodians of Motherwell FC to maintain its good health.

“We have introduced as many ways as we could think of in recent weeks to offer value for our 2020/21 season ticket. It is important to us that we do everything possible for you, the supporter, to thank you for your commitment.

“Having frozen our prices from the previous year, anyone who buys will be guaranteed the value of 19 home league matches, whether these are possible in the coming season or the one following. This will be applied as a credit to a 2021/22 season ticket, or given as match tickets for games in that campaign.

“Everyone who buys a season ticket will also get free live streaming of our home league games until Fir Park is fully open again. And we’re also giving every 2020/21 season ticket holder a free ticket to our first home UEFA Europa League match, should fans be permitted to enter.

“We have asked you only to buy a season ticket if you feel you can at this time. And we repeat that message with our refund offer.

“If you feel the incentives we have offered are good compensation, and can leave your money with the club, it will really help us plan for and cope with the difficult times ahead.”

Leaving your remaining value as a donation

Should you choose to leave your remaining value with the club, we have been made aware that we may be able to recover the VAT of any refunds not claimed, providing us with further necessary funds.

If you do not claim a refund before Wednesday 17 June, we will deem that you have given us your permission to attempt to claim the VAT back on your unclaimed amount, which may allow us to claim back around £22,000 to assist the club.

Claiming a refund

If you would like a refund, please email the following details to tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk and clearly mark in the subject line that you are requesting a refund.

The details required to verify your identity, in order for us to refund you, are as follows:

Name, customer number, address, seat details (stand, section, row and seat number).

Alternatively, please write to us with the same details and post your letter to Season Ticket Refund, Fir Park Stadium, Firpark Street, Motherwell, ML1 2QN.

We will then contact you as soon as possible after 17 June to verify your request and make payment.

The amount refunded will be 4/19ths of the total price you paid for your season ticket – or the proportional amount of Flexi Ticket games – and will be refunded to the card or bank you paid from.

Cash refunds will be administered in person where required when the ticket office is able to reopen in line with government guidelines.