News

Latest News

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Richard Foster // Optimism for the future

  • First team

    Final loan report 2024/25

  • First team

    Luca Ross agrees two-year deal

  • First team

    Loan Report: April

  • First team

    March International Review

  • First team

    Loan Report: March

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Zander McAllister named in Scotland’s Under 17s squad

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    David Clarkson: From the Academy

  • First team

    February loan report

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Zander McAllister called up to Scotland Under 17s

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Richard Foster // Optimism for the future

    Richard Foster has been at the helm of our Under 18s squad this season, guiding them to the top of the bottom half of the league.

    Now with the season at an end, he reflects on what he has taken for his own learning purposes this season and gives us insight into who could be the stars of tomorrow.

    With the mic on Foster for a match against Hearts, we also see how he coaches the team during a match.

  • First team

    Final loan report 2024/25

    Final loan report 2024/25

    The final look at how our players got on out on loan during the 2024/25 season.

    Matty Connelly

    East Kilbride completed their biggest target last weekend, securing promotion to League Two at the expense of Bonnyrigg Rose via the playoffs.

    Winning the Lowland League, the South Challenge Cup and the Lowland League Cup, alongside promotion, it has been a successful loan stint with Kilby this season for the goalkeeper.

    • Appearances: 35
    • Clean Sheets: 9
    Max Ross

    Max Ross will be pleased with his efforts at Albion Rovers this season. The 19-year-old defender helped Rovers finish in sixth place in the Lowland League.

    • Appearances: 23
    • Goals: 0
    • Assists: 0
    Brannan McDermott

    Broomhill and Brannan McDermott finished bottom of the Lowland League on goal difference and have been relegated.

    In the 34 league matches, McDermott started in all 34 matches and played 90 minutes in 33.

    • Appearances: 25
    • Goals: 1
    • Assists: 1
    Olly Whyte

    Olly Whyte had a successful season with Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League. 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.

    Finishing tenth in the standings, Whyte missed eight games through injury but will be delighted with his efforts at Central Park.

    • Appearances: 31
    • Goals: 3
    • Assists: 0
    Dylan Wells

    After signing a new deal at Motherwell in the summer of 2024, Wells joined Edinburgh City on a season-long loan deal.

    Playing 17 games and starting 12, Wells helped the Citizens achieve a playoff spot, something that seemed impossible at the start of the campaign. Edinburgh finished third in League Two, and although beating East Fife 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-final, Dick Campbell’s side won over the two legs, ensuring City remain in League Two next season.

    • Appearances: 17
    • Goals: 1
    • Assists: 0
    Filip Stuparevic

    Filip Stuparevic joined Championship side Morton and helped them finish sixth in the table. Although they finished a few points outside the playoffs, they were well clear of the bottom end of the table.

    Stuparevic was on six goals when he picked up an ACL injury that brought an end to his loan spell at the club early in February. However, he still picked up Morton’s top goalscorer award and will be looking forward to getting back on the pitch later in 2025.

    • Appearances: 18
    • Goals: 6
    • Assists: 1
    Mark Ferrie

    Mark Ferrie’s Bonnyrigg Rose endured a tricky season in League Two and were defeated by East Kilbride in the playoffs, meaning they now drop out of the SPFL.

    Ferrie still managed 30 games for Rose, starting 16 matches.

    • Appearances: 30
    • Goals: 2
    • Assists: 0
    Luca Ross

    Luca Ross started 20 games for Annan Athletic, however their season also ended on a sombre note. Finishing ninth in League One, they beat Elgin City in the semi-final of the relegation playoff but were beaten over two legs by East Fife and dropped down to League Two.

    L. Ross played every minute of the four playoff matches, as well as starting 16 league matches during the 24/25 season. He signed a new deal with Motherwell earlier this year and will now look to kick on in pre-season.

    • Appearances: 31
    • Goals: 3
    • Assists: 1
  • First team

    Luca Ross agrees two-year deal

    Luca Ross agrees two-year deal

    Luca Ross has agreed a two-year contract extension, which will see him remain at Fir Park until the summer of 2027. 

    The young winger made his debut against Rangers back in 2022 and notched up five first team appearances before joining Annan Athletic on loan for the 24/25 campaign where he has made 24 appearances and scored one goal.

    “Luca is a talented young player,” manager Michael Wimmer said.

    “He has had a very successful loan spell this season which has aided his development. We want to try and bring as many young players through the system here.

    “We hope Luca can continue to develop into a first-team player and I’m looking forward to the staff here helping him achieve that.”

    Luca added, “I’ve came through the academy here and have made some appearances for the first-team so I’ll be looking to add more to that.

    “It gives me confidence that the manager has seen enough to extend my contract and recently I’ve been training with the first-team which is a great experience.

    “I’m really glad to sign the deal and hopefully I can kick on when I return from my loan at Annan and make a positive impression next season.”

  • First team

    Loan Report: April

    Loan Report: April

    We have seven players out on loan at present. Here’s how they have got on over the last four weeks. 

    Matty Connelly

    Matty Connelly and East Kilbride have been very successful since our last loan report. The Lowland League side have picked up three pieces of silverware, completing a magnificent treble.

    Winning the Lowland League, the South Challenge Cup and the Lowland League Cup, Connelly now waits for the crucial playoff matches that will determine what league they play in next season. They will face Brora Rangers over two legs.

    Connelly played 90 minutes in both cup finals and also played 90 minutes in two of the other three league matches, whilst also playing the last 30 minutes in their most recent match.

    Max Ross

    Max Ross is now on 21 appearances for Albion Rovers this season. Rovers have moved themselves up to sixth place in the table, overtaking Broxburn thanks to a good run of form. They have won three and drawn one of their last four games.

    M. Ross has started in the last eight matches, playing the full 90 in six of those outings. He came off in the first half against Hearts B at the weekend. Rovers will finish the season in sixth place, with Tranent four points ahead of them with only one game to go.

    Brannan McDermott

    Broomhill have been in action four times since our last report. Brannan McDermott has started and played the full 90 minutes in all four of those games. Broomhill drew one, won one and lost two.

    They are joint-bottom of the Lowland League table with one game to go, but only three points separate the bottom three teams in the division.

    Olly Whyte

    Olly Whyte has recovered from injury and got straight back into the action. In his first game since returning, he scored in Cowdenbeath’s 5-0 win over Bo’ness United. He played 88 minutes in that match.

    He then started in the 3-3 draw with Hearts and again in his most recent outing against Celtic B, where he played the full 90 minutes in a 6-4 defeat.

    Cowdenbeath are tenth in the table and are well clear of any danger at the bottom of the table and could still climb one place with one game remaining.

    Dylan Wells

    Dylan Wells has made a further four appearances for Edinburgh City in the last month. He has started all four of those matches, where the Citizens have won three and lost one.

    They have confirmed a spot in the promotion play-offs, with Michael McIndoe’s side eight points ahead of fifth place. With three games to go, leaders Peterhead are eight points ahead of City, with second-place East Fife four points ahead. Wells and Edinburgh City will be eyeing up second place for a more favourable draw in the playoffs.

    Luca Ross

    L. Ross has made 24 appearances for Annan Athletic this season, starting in three of their last four matches.

    The 18-year-old scored his first goal of the season against Kelty Hearts a couple of weeks ago in a 2-1 win for his side. The battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot is well and truly on for Willie Gibson’s side.

    They are three points off Inverness and safety with three games remaining. Dumbarton have already been relegated from League One, so the lowest they can finish is ninth.

    Mark Ferrie

    Bonnyrigg Rose have found life difficult in the last four matches, losing all four and becoming cut adrift at the foot of League Two.

    Mark Ferrie has started two of the last four games, appearing a second-half substitute in the other two matches. Rose are now seven points off of Forfar in ninth. With three games to go, the highest Rose can finish is ninth, but that would see them safe with only the bottom club participating in the relegation play-off.

  • First team

    March International Review

    March International Review

    We had six players away on international duty this month. Here’s how they got on.

    Lennon Miller

    Lennon Miller was an unused substitute for both of Scotland’s games against Greece. A 1-0 victory in Greece was followed up with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Hampden.

    As a result, Scotland are now relegated to League B in the Nations League.

    Kai Andrews

    Kai Andrews wasn’t involved in Wales’ 3-1 win over Kazakhstan, nor was he involved in their 1-1 draw against North Macedonia.

    Kofi Balmer

    Kofi Balmer was an unused substitute for Northern Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland in Belfast.

    In their second match, Northern Ireland travelled to Sweden. Balmer was an unused substitute.

    Tawanda Maswanhise

    Tawanda Maswanhise was named amongst the substitutes in Zimbabwe’s first match against Benin. After going 2-0 down in the first-half, Zimbabwe fought back, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw. Maswanhise was introduced to the action in the 85th minute.

    The winger started from the bench in their second match against Nigeria. Once again, he was substituted on with five minutes to play. Nigeria were 1-0 up going into the closing stages, but thanks to a Maswanhise assist, they drew 1-1.

    Ewan Wilson

    Ewan Wilson started from the bench in Scotland’s Under 21 friendly against the Republic of Ireland. The new-look side produced a dominant display, winning 2-0 on the night. Wilson came on just before the hour mark, with 11 players making their Scotland Under 21s debut, including former Motherwell academy player Bailey Rice.

    In their second match, Wilson was named in the starting 11. He came off at the half time interval with Scotland trailing 3-0 to Iceland. Scotland went on to lose the match 6-1.

    Zander McAllister

    Scotland’s Under 17s faced off against North Macedonia in their first of three matches this month. In an end-to-end game, the match finished 2-2. Zander McAllister started and played 73 minutes on the right-hand side.

    In their second match, McAllister was named amongst the substitutes against Romania. He came on in the 50th minute of the match, with Scotland winning 2-0.

    McAllister was once again on the bench against Liechtenstein in Scotland’s third match but this time didn’t feature. With Scotland 5-0 up at half time, they went on to top their group thanks to an 8-0 win.

  • First team

    Loan Report: March

    Loan Report: March

    Motherwell have a number of players out on loan at present. Below, we take a look at how they got on in the last four weeks. 

    Matty Connelly

    The race for the Lowland League title is heating up as it enters the final stages of the season. Currently, Matty Connelly and East Kilbride remain top of the table, with two games in hand on Celtic B and Caledonian Braves.

    Those games in hand may be crucial when it comes to deciding who wins the title, with just seven points separating the top three sides.

    For Connelly, he has remained the number one keeper at Kilby and is currently on 32 appearances for the season in all competitions. Since our last report, they have played seven league games in total. They won five out of seven; however, the two defeats came against their title challengers, Braves and Celtic B.

    Connelly started six of those games and was a half-time substitute in the one other. Their win over Albion Rovers on Tuesday night has opened up a gap to Celtic B in second place.

    Away from the league action, East Kilbride also advanced to the final of the South Challenge Cup with a 4-2 win over Musselburgh Athletic. Connelly played the full match.

    Max Ross

    Albion Rovers have been playing catch-up on postponed games since our last report, with seven games taking place. It should have been eight games, but their fixture against Linlithgow Rose was postponed.

    M.Ross has started four of those games and was a substitute in one other. It’s been one win, one draw and three defeats for the 18-year-old in the games he took part in, which included an excellent 3-1 win over title chasers Caledonian Braves.

    With games in hand over teams above them, Rovers are in seventh place and will be hoping to close the gap to the top-six.

    Brannan McDermott

    Broomhill have been in action eight times since our last loan report, with Brannan McDermott starting in six matches and playing 90 minutes in five of them.

    The young defender has won two, drawn one and lost three of those six matches. Broomhill currently find themselves second bottom of the standings on 24 points but are well in touch with teams above. Just five points separate the bottom four teams.

    Olly Whyte

    Olly Whyte hasn’t played a match for Cowdenbeath since our last report due to injury. He has missed the last seven matches, where the Blue Brazil have won three and drawn two.

    Dylan Wells

    Edinburgh City and Dylan Wells have been flying of late, with City manager Michael McIndoe winning the manager of the month award for the third time this season in February.

    Wells is now up to 12 appearances for the Citizens, starting four of the last six matches and coming on as a sub in one other.

    Edinburgh have won four matches that Wells was involved in, losing one game to Stranraer, where Wells wasn’t involved, and one other to Peterhead, where he played 75 minutes.

    The fine run of results has boosted them into the playoff spots, where they currently sit third. If the strong run can continue, it’s not impossible for City to close the gap to East Fife and Peterhead in top spot. They are currently seven points off the top of the table but will be full of confidence going into the season run-in.

    Filip Stuparevic

    Filip Stuparevic was on 18 appearances for Morton following their 2-0 win over Hamilton. That was following an assist against Airdrie one week prior.

    However, an ACL injury against Hamilton meant the Serbian had to come off, and his loan at Morton would be over. It’s expected Stuparevic will be missing long-term, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

    Luca Ross

    L.Ross has worked his way into Annan Athletic’s starting 11 and is now a regular on the team sheet. He has made it up to 20 appearances this season for Annan, making six of those since our last report.

    He has started and played the full match in three of those appearances and was a substitute in the other three.

    Back-to-back wins over Kelty Hearts and Dumbarton at the start of February were followed up with four defeats on the spin, but a crucial 1-0 victory over Inverness on Saturday closed the gap to safety for Annan.

    Although bottom side Dumbarton have been cut adrift, the relegation playoff is looming for Annan, with Inverness overtaking them in the standings to go two points clear. But the result on Saturday will give them a boost of confidence going into the closing stages of the season.

    Mark Ferrie

    Mark Ferrie has made a further six appearances for Bonnyrigg Rose since the last loan report, starting in three of those games.

    A half-time substitute in one, and introduced into the action with half an hour left to play against Spartans and Stirling Albion, has ensured Ferrie is getting plenty of minutes on the pitch.

    He found the back of the net against Peterhead at the start of February, which is his second goal for the club. However, Rose have been struggling to find form and hasn’t won a game since 1 February.

    That has meant they have slid down the table and are currently second bottom of League Two. There is still scope for them to get out of the danger zone, as they are three points from eighth. Rose have still to play both Forfar and Clyde, where the outcomes of those games could determine their season.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Zander McAllister named in Scotland’s Under 17s squad

    Zander McAllister named in Scotland’s Under 17s squad

    Zander McAllister has been named in the Scotland Under 17 squad for fixtures later this month. 

    Head coach Brian McLaughlin has named a squad of 20 for the crucial upcoming UEFA League B Round 2 matches against North Macedonia, Romania and Liechtenstein.

    All the games are taking place at Broadwood Stadium. Scotland are aiming to secure top spot in the group, and with it, a return to League A.

    • Scotland v North Macedonia
    • Wednesday 19 March 2025 
    • 3:30pm Kick Off
    • Broadwood Stadium, Scotland

     

    • Scotland v Romania
    • Saturday 22 March 2025
    • 7:30pm kick off
    • Broadwood Stadium, Scotland

     

    • Scotland v Liechtenstein
    • Tuesday 25 March 2025
    • 3pm kick off
    • Broadwood Stadium, Scotland
  • Reserves & Under 18s

    David Clarkson: From the Academy

    David Clarkson: From the Academy

    It’s a well-known fact that Motherwell have a track record of successful academy graduates who have come through the pathway in place, went to first-team level, and moved on to have successful careers.

    That pathway that exists has been crucial for the club’s continued stay in Scotland’s top flight. Looking back on the likes of James McFadden, Allan Campbell, Jake Hastie, David Turnbull, and Jamie Murphy in recent times, but going even further back, club legends like Ian St John, Gary McAllister, and Phil O’Donnell are all players who have worked their way through the ranks at Motherwell.

    With a proven track record of nurturing young talent, the baton has now been passed to former Motherwell starlet himself David Clarkson to carry the responsibility of producing the next talents that are made in Motherwell. Bursting onto the scene in 2003, scoring his first goal just nine minutes into his first start, he quickly established himself as a first-team player and went on to have a mouth-watering career, which included representing his country at senior level, moving for substantial six-figure fees, and setting new goalscoring records.

    Having been appointed as Academy Director in 2023, he has now been in the role for a full two years, where he has watched talents such as Lennon Miller, Ewan Wilson, Luca Ross, and Dylan Wells all go on to make their debuts for the club. That is something that is important to Clarkson and a key marker for where the academy is at.

    “It has been a positive experience so far,” David Clarkson stated.

    “Despite being at this club for so long, I’ve been able to learn different aspects about what the job can throw at you. The opportunities the boys have had and how well they’ve done in the first team have been excellent to see.

    “It shows the opportunities are there, and the process the coaches and players go through encourages that. To see the outcomes of those processes is brilliant for the academy, the coaches, and me.”

    Having been in the role for just over two years, Clarkson can reflect with fondness at what the academy has achieved in that time. Going into the job, he had short-, medium-, and long-term ambitions that he wanted to accomplish.

    As he reviews the accomplishments of the past two years, it’s clear that Clarkson’s vision is taking shape, but he remains driven by the desire to achieve even more. His commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement ensures that the academy will continue to thrive under his leadership. The journey is far from over, and Clarkson’s passion for education remains as strong as ever.

    “My short-term goals were just to get a hands-on approach in place when it came to the culture here,” he added.

    “I wanted to make sure the staff are creating a good environment for the players to come and thrive; that is the most important thing.

    “From there, you just try and build up. The end goal is to get players into the first-team which, with Lennon [Miller] and Ewan [Wilson], has happened. That’s always the target.

    “With any academy, you want to try and produce first-team players. Year-to-year that can change. It could be one player is good enough, sometimes two, three, or four, or sometimes none.

    “It just depends on who comes through, what manager is in place, and what the club sees. At the moment, it’s great to have that level of availability of the academy. I just want to make sure we create an environment for the boys to come in, enjoy themselves, and thrive. If they do that, it gives them the opportunity to go far.

    “If you’re enjoying your time, you’ll develop more. If you’re coming and you’re not happy, whether that be with the coaching or environment, you won’t get the best out of yourself.

    “That can be said for the coaches too. I’ve always tried to ensure the coaches feel wanted and welcome. The managers in place have been a part of it too, getting to youth games as much as they can, which shows a real connection to the academy. As a player, you thrive off that.”

    It’s clear to see the club is on the right trajectory once again when it comes to nurturing the next crop of talent.

    Earlier in the season, statistics showed that Motherwell were top of the tree in comparison to their fellow Premiership sides when it came to the percentage of minutes given to Scottish Under 21s in the league.

    Sitting proudly at the top of the tree by some distance, Wilson and Miller are perfect examples of players being given the opportunity and platform needed to take the next steps in their careers. But while that may be success for those individuals, what does success look like for the younger age groups within the academy setup?

    “It’s just about how much you see them develop and learn,” Clarkson explained.

    “There’s boys in there who are young and need to be kids at times. There’s not a big emphasis on winning and making sure you’re living your life like a professional footballer 24/7; these are 11- and 12-year-old kids who are still learning and going through different development processes.

    “The emphasis, as they gradually get older, is about giving them information that can help them go to the next stage. You look at them and see if they’re developing in the areas that we want, and that’s individually but also collectively as a team.

    “Some boys will do it quicker than others, and it’s important we give them the opportunity to be the best they can be. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out. Players can fall away; players don’t develop as much as they or we want, but I still feel within that we give every player a chance.

    “Anyone that does leave leaves with better aspects within their life and better development than what they came in with. I meet boys who haven’t made the grade, whether that’s at Under 11s level or Under 18s, and they still speak away, as do the parents. That’s important to me, that they have that relationship and connection no matter the outcome of their journey within the academy.”

    Context and managing expectations is part of the job for Clarkson. Not every player will make the grade; that’s just a fact.

    On top of this, there’s also the issue of those who do make the grade. Or are way beyond the grade. Because not before long, the bigger clubs will come fishing and will look to take the player away.

    “You’re just going to have that,” Clarkson added.

    “That becomes a bit of a credit to the academy itself, especially for the coaches who put the time and effort in. They are developing players to the class where they’re attracting clubs from England or abroad.

    “But on the flip side, our aim is to get them to play for Motherwell, so it’s an issue, but again, if you’re getting that success with young players, you’ll get the big teams looking. If we continue to produce players, they’ll keep an eye out for the next one coming through.

    “It then comes down to the player, and they ask themselves what opportunities will you get away from Motherwell? The stats show we’re up there, if not the best, in the country for giving young players opportunities, and I think that’s massive.”

    Motherwell fans have watched plenty of academy players come through and play on the Fir Park turf on a Saturday over their years of supporting the club. One thing they all had in common was having a manager who trusted them.

    That’s another crucial part of the process for Clarkson, ensuring the manager is fully aware of how players are getting on.

    “Between me and Richard Foster, that’s our job,” he explained.

    “We make sure we’re in the manager’s ear about boys developing. As I’ve said, managers have been to the Under 18s and Under 16s games, so they’re aware of the progress being made and who is doing well.

    “But at the same time, that’s his call to give that opportunity and game time. It may depend on where the team is in the league, the position the manager is in, or recent form. All these things matter.

    “Regardless, I’m not doing my job if I’m not in the gaffer’s ear saying how this boy is doing well because the only way we’ll know if he’s actually up to the standard is by throwing him in.

    “I don’t think anyone can tell you if they’re ready or not; it’s just giving them the chance to develop in a first-team environment that will show what they’re made of. A lot of our boys have been involved with first-team training, which has been a massive step for us, and although the players might not be playing in matches, they’ve been in or around the squad, which is great.”

    It’s always a fan’s ambition to see their own flourish within a first-team setup. Everyone loves the fairytale story and chanting ‘one of our own.’

    And at Motherwell, there is almost an expectation of the next young prodigy in the pipeline being close to bursting through. That just comes from past exploits and reputation. And for the man heading up that process, there is pressure involved.

    “I think I put pressure on myself,” Clarkson noted.

    “I don’t think there is pressure from anywhere else. I think it comes down to personal pride and pressure from being involved with this club for so long and coming through the academy myself.

    “I want to make sure I’m giving my best and seeing the outcomes of that. I want to make sure I keep developing and the coaches keep developing because it will benefit the players at the end of the day.

    “I put pressure on myself to make sure I give everything I can and give them the opportunity. That’s what it’s all about, giving them the platform. While some will go and make it all the way, some won’t. But it’s my role first and foremost, along with the coaches, to give them the best possible chance.”

    Being an academy graduate himself has allowed Clarkson to pass down experiences and provide advice to players who are in the position he was in at the start of his career.

    “Although things in football have changed, the football environment and football pathway remain similar,” he added.

    “I try and pass that experience onto the players and coaches because we all need to learn and develop together. They can take my own experiences that I’ve had with different managers and coaches from boys football to the first-team and use them to their advantage. I understand what some players go through; I can understand the periods of development they’re going through.

    “As a result, I can help them by chatting with them or getting them on the pitch to discuss things. It benefits them personally, and I’m fortunate to have that background.

    “There’s a lot of stuff, especially when you get older, with development and challenges that will come to each individual. They go through different stages of their growth; there’s friends, girlfriends, challenges with school, day-to-day life, and weekend stuff.

    “Lots of things stand in their way, and there are a lot of decisions to make. People will make the choice they think is best for them, and for me, it’s just about giving them all the information they need to make that choice.

    “We can’t make decisions for them, but we can help them. How to conduct yourself off the pitch, what they do away from football, applying themselves in the gym, and nutrition. Even behaving properly over the weekend, stuff like that comes into play when they get older.

    “The younger boys still need to be kids. We let them play with their school team, let them go out with their pals, and enjoy life away from football. It’s important they don’t isolate themselves.”

    Lennon Miller and Ewan Wilson have been roaring successes on the pitch this season. Both have featured heavily for the first-team, with the former even becoming the club’s youngest ever captain.

    But the thirst for more young talent to represent the badge will never dry up. It’s David Clarkson’s job, and all his coaches, to ensure the pathway stays open and development continues.

    “You’re always excited for the next chapter,” he laughs.

    “Year-to-year, you see boys come and go. Things are always changing, but there’s always an excitement there for myself and the coaches in terms of the next story. Who’s going to be the next one to step up?

    “You just hope they get the opportunity because you can provide everything for them, but getting the chance is something outwith my control. The players are still young, however.

    “They’re only 17 or 18 years old. Lennon Miller could be considered generational; a lot of the time players will be 20 before they break into the first-team. It’s important they realise that it’s not as soon as you join the academy or reach the Under 18s that suddenly you’ll play on a Saturday.

    “I always wanted to be a footballer. But you need to realise that there are things that can help or hinder you along the way. I have to manage the expectations of everyone, the player and parents, because they see other success stories.

    “It might be when you’re older that you make the jump, but even if you don’t, there are still opportunities there. When or if you leave Motherwell, players still go on to have careers in the game from Lowland League all the way up to Championship.

    “There’s different pathways for different players. While you’re here, we hope you develop as a player and as a person, but we want this journey to provide you with opportunities outside just Motherwell Football Club. That could be when you’re getting a job, general life experience, or anything else life throws at you.

    “We hope the time here has helped you develop in all aspects of life, not just football. Because at the end of the day, that’s our job.”

  • First team

    February loan report

    February loan report

    Motherwell have a number of players out on loan at present. Below, we take a look at how they got on in the last four weeks. 

    Matty Connelly

    Matty Connelly has had a disrupted period on loan with East Kilbride. The young shot stopper has had to return to Motherwell briefly to cover injuries within the goalkeeping department.

    However, he has since made two appearances for Kilby, taking his season tally to 24. In the one league match, Connelly helped his side win 4-2 against Bo’ness United. East Kilbride remain in pole position to finish top, with two points separating them from Celtic B in second, who have played three games more.

    In his other appearance, Connelly’s side faced Queen’s Park in the semi-final of the SPFL Trust Trophy. Despite going behind in the early stages, East Kilbride scored twice to take the game to extra-time, but lost out 6-2 in the end.

    Max Ross

    There’s only been one game since our last report for Albion Rovers, which was against Bo’ness United. M.Ross started, as he has done in every game since he signed for Rovers, with his side unfortunately falling to a 1-0 defeat in the Lowland League Cup.

    They will play their first league match since the end of December this weekend against Stirling University.

    Brannan McDermott

    Brannan McDermott and Broomhill have only been in action once in 2025 due to multiple matches being postponed. That match took place midweek in the Lowland League Cup, where Broomhill produced an upset, knocking Berwick Rangers out of the competition thanks to a 3-1 win.

    McDermott, who played the full 90 minutes, helped his side get off to an excellent start, providing an assist for the first goal of the night.

    Olly Whyte

    Cowdenbeath have had two games since the last loan report, with Olly Whyte starting both matches. They beat Stirling University 2-1, pushing them further away from the wrong end of the table.

    They then went to penalties against Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Lowland League Cup. Whyte was substituted on in the second-half having been named initially on the bench. Cowdenbeath exited the competition, losing 5-3 on penalties.

    Dylan Wells

    After recovering from injury, Dylan Wells has been back in action for Edinburgh City, as the Citizens continue their push for a promotion playoff spot.

    Wells made his return to action as a second-half substitute against East Fife at the end of January. He came on in the 70th minute, with City losing out 4-1.

    He then came off the bench again on the hour mark against Stirling Albion. In what was a frantic game, Michael McIndoe’s side came away with all three points thanks to a 4-3 win.

    Edinburgh have opened up a four-point gap to fifth-placed Spartans and are only 11 points off top spot.

    Filip Stuparevic

    Morton went almost a month without playing a game and only played their first match of 2025 on 25 January against Queen’s Park at Hampden.

    The wait was worth it, with Morton winning 2-1, where Stuparevic played 65 minutes. He then followed that up with a goal against Partick Thistle at Firhill in a 2-2 draw, finishing from close range. That was his sixth goal in Morton colours as the race of the promotion play off spots heating up in the Championship.

    Luca Ross

    L.Ross and Annan Athletic have won one, drawn one, and lost one since the last loan report. He played the full 90 minutes in the draw with Montrose and defeat against Inverness. In the 89th minute against Montrose, L.Ross burst down the line before setting up Tommy Muir to draw Annan level.

    He then came off the bench with 5 minutes to go in a 3-1 win over Kelty Hearts. That result was huge for Annan, as it kept them two points clear of the relegation playoff. It also closed the gap to Montrose in seventh to just a point.

    The youngster is now up to 14 appearances in all competitions for Annan this season.

    Mark Ferrie

    Bonnyrigg Ross had lost three prior to our last report, but since then, they have found sustained form in League Two. They’ve played five matches, winning two and drawing one.

    Ferrie has been an ever-present in the side, starting each of their last three matches. In the other two, he has come off the bench to feature, taking his number of appearances to 17 for the Rose.

    Rose have moved up to seventh in the table on 25 points, with only six points separating fifth to ninth.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Zander McAllister called up to Scotland Under 17s

    Zander McAllister called up to Scotland Under 17s

    Zander McAllister is the latest Motherwell Academy player to be called up for international duty. 

    McAllister has been named in Brian McLaughlin’s 20-man squad to travel to Turkey later this month.

    The Under 17 group head East to take on Austria in a double-header. Both matches are friendlies are will be used for preparation for Under-17s Round Two (League B) matches that will take place later in the year.

    • Austria v Scotland
    • Monday 17 February 2025
    • 1pm Kick Off
    • Arslan Zeki Demirci Sport Complex, Turkey

     

    • Scotland v Austria
    • Thursday 20 February 2025
    • 9am Kick Off 
    • Emir Hotels Ilica Stadium, Turkey