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Stephen Craigan is to leave his position as Motherwell’s reserve team manager.

The Northern Irishman has spent three and a half years in the role, but believes the time is right to move on.

“I think after a certain amount of time, young players need a new voice and a new leader to try and push them on,” he said.

“I came back in here three and a half years ago and now there’s very few of that initial squad left training with me, so I almost feel it’s job complete.

“It’s been better than I could have imagined. The standard of player and the way that they’ve progressed has been terrific.

“This isn’t something that I have made a decision on overnight. This has been on mind for several months and I now believe the time is right.”

Craigan, who made 363 appearances for the ‘Well during his playing career, will leave at the end of the month.

“Stephen has been an excellent servant for Motherwell Football Club and we are really sad to see him go,” chief executive Alan Burrows said of his departure.

“More recently, his efforts in developing young talent for our first team has seen a number of players make careers in the game, as well as achieving international honours.

“We wish him well for the future and thank him for everything he has done, both as a coach and previously as a player and captain.

“Following Stephen’s departure, and following feedback from him, coaching staff and others in the academy, the club intends to complete a review of the development pathway for 18 to 21 year olds at the club, prior to appointing a replacement.”

Manager Stephen Robinson added: “I have worked closely with Stephen over the last few years here at Motherwell and I am grateful for the work he has put in to push through young talent at the club.

“We are disappointed to see him go but respect his decision to leave the club.”

Motherwell Football Club wishes to thank Stephen for his service and tremendous efforts throughout his three spells with the club. We all wish him well for the future.

Motherwell’s reserve side went down 2-1 at home to Dundee United in their final fixture of 2018.

James Scott had levelled the scores at Airdrie, but Stephen Craigan’s side ultimately lost out.

There were Championship minutes for two of Motherwell’s loanees at the weekend.

Jake Hastie played the full 90 minutes as Alloa Athletic twice came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw at fellow strugglers Partick Thistle.

The result keeps the Wasps just a point behind the Jags, with Jim Goodwin’s team in the relegation play-off spot.

Ross MacLean got on for 18 minutes as Morton drew 0-0 at Falkirk, with every game in the second tier remarkably ending in a draw.

A potential clash between Peter Morrison and Neil McLaughlin fell through as Stirling Albion’s game with Albion Rovers fell foul of the weather.

Picture: David Glencross

Motherwell’s reserves lost their final game of 2018, as a young second string went down to Dundee United.

Stephen Craigan made five changes from the thrashing of St Johnstone, notably handing a debut to 17-year-old David Devine.

The first half was a quiet affair, in which both teams looked to be suffering from rustiness after a few weeks without a game.

The best chance arguably fell to George Newell, who got on the end of Rehman’s low cross from the left but couldn’t poke his effort on target.

Stephen Craigan made a change at half-time, bringing on Dean Cornelius for Stuart McKinstry, who seemed to add a little spark the Motherwell midfield.

‘Well’s positive start to the second half was almost undone by Appere, who closed down a short free-kick and ran 50 yards to goal but Morrison stood up well before bravely plucking the ball from the striker’s feet.

That spurred the game into life as, up the other end, James Scott saw his header come back off the post with no takers on the rebound.

Two minutes later, United were in front.

Appere went down in the box under a challenge from Morrison and the referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot.

From 12 yards, Chalmers tucked it away despite Morrison getting a good hand on it.

Newell then almost dragged Motherwell level, just moments after Appere saw a strike chopped off for offside. It was a good ball in from the left by Cornelius and a fine header from the Englishman but Donaldson was equal to it.

Striker Scott had few chances in the game but in the 75th minute he spectacularly fired the young Steelmen back level.

From the edge of the box he spun on the ball and curled his shot beyond the helpless Donaldson.

Newell had a chance to win it with 10 minutes to go but his close-range shot seemed to loop towards Donaldon in slow motion and the United ‘keeper managed to beat it away.

Motherwell went in search of a winner but were picked off by United with five minutes left.

Robson used his pace down the left and his cross put it on a plate for Banks to cooly fire the ball past Morrison, completing a devastating counter-attack.

The reserves’ match with Dundee United on Monday, 17 December has been moved to the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.

The game was originally scheduled to be held in Stirling. Kick off remains at 2pm.

Four young loanees were in action in the Ladbrokes Championship and League Two at the weekend.

Jake Hastie played 74 minutes for Alloa Athletic in a bottom-of-the-table clash with Falkirk.

The two sides were locked on points going into the game, with the Wasps narrowly ahead on goal difference.

Former ‘Well man Deimantas Petravicius opened the scoring for the Bairns, with Paul Paton doubling the advantage in the first half.

Hastie then set up Alan Trouten to get his side back into the game just before the break, and the on-loan winger had just been subbed off when Trouten struck the equalising goal.

Morton hosted Dundee United, looking to claw their way back into play-off contention.

Ross MacLean came on as a sub with 18 minutes to go, and Gregor Buchanan’s equaliser arrived shortly after in a 1-1 draw at Cappielow.

In League Two, Neil McLaughlin played 90 minutes for Stirling Albion as they drew 1-1 with Queen’s Park, while PJ Morrison was back in action for Albion Rovers in their 4-2 loss at Elgin City.

James Scott netted a hat-trick as Stephen Craigan’s reserve side picked up a 6-1 win over St Johnstone on Monday.

George Newell, Akeel Rehman and Broque Watson were also on target, as the young Steelmen returned to league action in style.

Stephen Craigan was pleased to see his side storm to a 6-1 victory over St Johnstone in the Reserve League.

However, the Northern Irishman admitted his side let their standards slip in the second half, and was disappointed as a result.

He said: “I was pleased with the first half, but we weren’t ourselves in the second, so that’s disappointing.”

Motherwell’s reserve team racked up the goals early against St Johnstone, scoring all six in the first half in a 6-1 win in the SPFL Reserve League.

James Scott netted a hat-trick for Stephen Craigan’s side, with further goals coming from George Newell, Akeel Rehman and Broque Watson.

However, a blistering first 45 was followed up by a disappointing second, as the hosts pulled one back and the young Steelmen failed to add to their first half tally.

There were important minutes for first team players Charles Dunne, Liam Donnelly and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, and impressive performances from a number of Stephen Craigan’s youngsters in front of the onlooking Stephen Robinson.

Liam Brown was instrumental in carving out the opener for Scott to slide past the Saints stopper after 12 minutes, and lifted a neat ball over the top for Newell to race on to and finish confidently in to the bottom corner five minutes later.

It took four more minutes for the third to arrive. Taylor-Sinclair’s throw was flicked on by Scott, with Akeal Rehman getting in on the act by side-footing in to the top corner.

Adam Livingstone created a couple of goals to cap an impressive 45 minutes for the youngster.

The first saw him slide a delightful ball across goal for a Watson tap-in, and then he cut back cleverly for Scott to slam a thunderous effort off the underside of the crossbar.

Scott rounded off his hat trick with a powerful header from a Liam Donnelly cross, but a poor second half was rounded off when the hosts made it 6-1 despite barely laying a glove in the opening half.

Neil McLaughlin was on the scoresheet for Stirling Albion on Saturday, as they continued their recent form with a 5-2 win over Elgin City.

The Binos found themselves 2-0 down at home after 19 minutes, but recovered brilliantly to take the match in 3-2 up at the break.

McLaughlin’s goal was the second scored for the hosts in the first half, as his side went on to score two more in the second half to close the gap on the middle pack in League Two.

Jake Hastie was a second half substitute for Alloa as they lost a last-minute goal at home to Ross County 1-0.

Falkirk’s 3-2 at Inverness means the Bairns have pulled level with the Wasps in eighth spot, with Dunfermline the next team ahead of them in the table, seven points better off.

Ross MacLean was an unused substitute for Morton as they lost 3-0 to Dunfermline. Shea Gordon remains on the sidelines for Partick Thistle, while Peter Morrison didn’t feature for Albion Rovers.