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Dean Cornelius and David Devine have signed new two-year contracts with the club.

The youth academy products, who have both already made first-team appearances, have extended their stays until the summer of 2023.

“We hope both boys take this opportunity to push hard towards getting in our first team,”manager Graham Alexander said.

“They’re both talented and motivated lads and it’s a big year for them.

“They’re at an age where they have to be competing with the senior pros and I believe they have the right mentality to do that.

“We look forward to helping them with this challenge.”

Cornelius, 20, made his debut for his boyhood club in May 2019 against Livingston, and followed it up with an appearance away to Dundee United in late 2020.

Recruited from Hibernian’s academy in the summer of 2018, he has made his appearances in central midfield for the first team, but has also featured at right-back at reserve level.

Central defender Devine made his debut in the same fixture against Livingston in May 2019 and has been involved in a large number of matchday squads since.

Motherwell will kick off the 2021/22 season with a trip to face Queen’s Park.

The opening Premier Sports Cup group stage match will take place on Wednesday 14 July. It will be broadcast live on Premier Sports with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Graham Alexander’s men will then host Queen of the South on Saturday 17 July at 3pm.

The Lanarkshire derby away to Airdrieonians follows on Tuesday 20 July. The match, which starts at 7.45pm, will also be broadcast live on Premier Sports.

The group stage campaign then ends with a home match with Annan Athletic on Saturday 24 July at 3pm.

Information on supporter attendance at matches, as well as live streaming of home games, will be made available at the earliest opportunity.

2021/22 Premier Sports Cup group stage fixtures

Max Johnston has been added to the Scotland Under 19s squad for their summer training camp.

The talented young defender, who made his first-team bow in the 2020/21 campaign, joins the group for their get-together in Largs.

Johnston, 17, has already represented his nation at Under 16 level, scoring in a win over Australia in 2019.

Motherwell will face Queen of the South, Airdrieonians, Annan Athletic and Queen’s Park in the group stage of the 2021/22 Premier Sports Cup.

The Steelmen return to competitive action in July for the four cup matches in Group F.

Fixture dates for the competition will be confirmed shortly, with the first match falling on the weekend of July 10/11.

Premier Sports 2021/22 group stage draw

Motherwell

Queen of the South

Airdrieonians

Annan Athletic

Queen’s Park

The season may be at an end, but there’s still ways to win with Steelmen Selects.

Our end-of-season prize draw has a 2020/21 signed shirt and ball on offer to a lucky winner.

To play, just head to steelmenselects.com and sign in to your account. It’s £2 to play.

Entries close on 31 May. You must be aged over 18, and based in the UK, to take part.

With the departures at Motherwell running into double figures at the end of the 2020/21 season, there’s work to do in the transfer market over the summer.

Having achieved the aim of staying in the Scottish Premiership, manager Graham Alexander can now turn his attentions to overhauling his squad, after a short break to recover.

Connor Shields is our first summer signing ahead of the 2021/22 season.

The in-demand striker joins on a three-year deal, making the step up from Championship side Queen of the South. He will officially move when the transfer window opens in early June.

Shields, 23, netted 11 goals in 26 appearances during a breakout season with the Doonhamers.

“We’re very happy to bring Connor in to start our rebuilding for next season,” manager Graham Alexander said of his new capture.

“He’s had a great year scoring goals in the Championship and we believe he has the potential to do the same in the top flight.

“He’s quick, works incredibly hard and is hungry to prove himself at a higher level.

“He now has that opportunity and we’re really looking forward to working with him.”

Shields started his career with Albion Rovers, breaking into the first team as an 18-year-old before earning a move to Sunderland.

A loan spell with Alloa in 2018/19 came before a switch to the National League with Aldershot Town, before returning to Scotland with Queens last summer.

The 2020/21 season drew to a close in May, with a last-day loss to Ross County sealing an eighth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership.

The final-day fixture also meant for a raft of farewells from Fir Park. Those included popular goalkeeper Liam Kelly and club captain Declan Gallagher, but also young talent Allan Campbell.

Having risen through the youth ranks at Motherwell, the 22-year-old departs with 160 games under his belt, and heads off looking to take his career to the next level.

With at least 23 members of the playing squad moving on in the summer, there’s work to do for manager Graham Alexander.

Reflecting on the season and looking ahead to the next campaign, he discussed his plans for 2021/22 and the return of supporters to Fir Park.

Of course, the season isn’t over yet for our two players heading to EURO 2020.

Declan Gallagher and Stephen O’Donnell will meet up with Scotland in late May, ending the nation’s 23-year wait to take part at a major tournament.

But the thrill of representing his country also comes with some personal cost for O’Donnell, who will leave behind his wife, newborn daughter and young son for a minimum of four weeks.

With the 2020/21 season at an end, we can provide supporters with the following update on players’ contracts.

Leaving the club after 12 years on the books in the academy and then the first team, Allan Campbell will depart at the end of his contract this summer.

The tenacious young midfielder leaves having made 160 appearances before the age of 23, and also becoming one of the most-capped players at Under 21 level for Scotland.

Also departing at the end of their contracts are club captain Declan Gallagher, alongside fellow first-team squad members Aaron Chapman, Sam Foley, Christopher Long, Ross MacIver, Liam Polworth, Harry Robinson, Sherwin Seedorf and Jamie Semple.

Six loan players will officially depart shortly. Jake Hastie, Liam Kelly, Tyler Magloire, Eddie Nolan, Jordan Roberts and Harry Smith will all return to their parent clubs.

Youngsters Findlay Cook, Paul Hale, Yusuf Hussain, Matthew McDonald, Sam Muir, Lewis Robertson and Cammy Williamson will also leave.

We have offered new deals to and/or invited back for pre-season Devante Cole, Dean Cornelius, Charles Dunne and Scott Fox. We will provide updates as soon as possible on their decisions.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to everyone who will leave the club this summer for their contributions and efforts,” Motherwell boss Graham Alexander said. “We wish each of them success in their future endeavours.

“We not only remain in positive discussions with some of our players but also with a number of clubs in relation to one or two players we had on loan, with a view to doing something. But these things take some time.

“The process of rebuilding the squad is well underway.”

The following players will leave at the expiry of their contract:

• Allan Campbell
• Aaron Chapman
• Findlay Cook
• Sam Foley
• Declan Gallagher
• Paul Hale
• Yusuf Hussain
• Christopher Long
• Ross MacIver
• Matthew McDonald
• Sam Muir
• Liam Polworth
• Lewis Robertson
• Harry Robinson
• Sherwin Seedorf
• Jamie Semple
• Cammy Williamson

The following players’ loan periods will end early next month:

• Jake Hastie (Rangers)
• Liam Kelly (Queens Park Rangers)
• Tyler Magloire (Blackburn Rovers)
• Eddie Nolan (Crewe Alexandra)
• Jordan Roberts (Heart of Midlothian)
• Harry Smith (Northampton Town)

The following players have been offered extended deals or invited to return for pre-season training:

• Devante Cole
• Dean Cornelius
• Charles Dunne
• Scott Fox

The draw for the group stage of the 2021/22 Premier Sports Cup will be held on Friday 28 May.

Motherwell will be in the hat ahead of four matches in July, prior to the commencement of the league season.

The draw will take place at 1pm and will be published in full here afterwards.