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Striker David Clarkson has joined Scottish Championship side St Mirren on loan until the end of the season.

Clarkson, 30, is in his second spell at Fir Park after rejoining the club last summer. He was previously a prolific striker between 2001 and 2009 before joining Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.

However, Clarkson has failed to secure a regular first-team spot with Louis Moult and Scott McDonald being Mark McGhee’s regular forward partnership, with Wes Fletcher and James McFadden in reserve.

The former Scotland International will now join Alex Rae’s side until the end of the current campaign as the Buddies battle for the fourth Play-off place.

Clarkson said: “As much as I love being at Motherwell, I’m at the stage of my career where I need to be playing regular football.

“I spoke to the manager and he understood that and I thank him for allowing me to go to St Mirren.”

Mark McGhee added: “David is a player who I have worked with on three occasions and I have huge respect for him both personally and professionally.

“We weren’t able to guarantee him a regular start, but wanted to be fair to him.

“We’ve still working on reshaping the squad and have now cleared some space for some new faces to now arrive.”

Motherwell FC can today confirm Czeck goalkeeper Dan Twardzik has left the club by mutual consent.

The 24-year old former Aberdeen and Dundee stopper was in his second spell at Fir Park, initially signing a one-month emergency loan over Christmas and New Year 2013, before making it a permanent move in the summer of 2014.

Everyone at the club would like to thank Dan for his contribution and wish him every success in his future career.

Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish Culture for two hundred years as a means of commemorating our best loved bard.

And when Burns immortalised haggis in verse, he created a central link that is maintained to this day.

Close friends of Burns started the ritual a few years after his death in 1796, as a tribute to his memory.

On Friday 5th February, Motherwell Football Club will be celebrating that tradition with the annual Burns Supper in the Centenary Suite.

Enjoy the finest traditional fare with a healthy dram in congenial company and listen to the convivial tones of our invited speakers all for just £25 per person.

For further information or to make a booking, phone 01698 333 333, email commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk or online by CLICKING HERE.

Slainthe!

Extended highlights from Ochilview as Ross MacLean strikes to earn the Under 20s a 1-0 win against Hearts in the Development League.

Motherwell U20s jumped above Hearts in the SPFL Development League with a deserved 0-1 victory this evening.

The Steelmen dominated the first half, creating numerous chances, but failed to get themselves in front in a fast-paced opening forty-five.

However, just after the hour, Ross MacLean netted what turned out to be the winning goal from close range.

The win moves ‘Well up to seventh place, joint on points with sixth place Rangers, the highest they’ve been all campaign.

Stephen Craigan was able to call on plenty of first-team experience against the Jambos. No less than seven starters have tasted action in the SPFL Premiership, including Wes Fletcher, Louis Laing, Joe Chalmers, Dom Thomas, Jack Leitch and others.

The Claret and Amber men started brightly, forcing a couple of early corners, but failed to get their noses in front.

The first real shot of the game came after ten minutes when Dom Thomas’ jinking run presented a chance for Robbie Leitch, only for his long-range effort to drop inches wide of target.

‘Well had a couple of tantalising crosses fly tease their way across the six-yard box without any takers, before Luke Watt came close to netting, only for his hard strike to take a nick off a defender to take it narrowly over. Fletcher headed the resulting corner wide.

It took Hearts until the 30th minute to really threaten when Robbie Buchanan capitalised on some hesitancy between Laing and Brett Long, but the young keeper redeemed himself to block wide.

‘Well replied with a Robbie Leitch shot well held by Jambos stopper Hamilton. A minute later, Ross MacLean’s deep cross to the back post found Thomas, but after jinking past his marker, his shot was blocked on route at the expense of a corner.

Thomas himself took the resulting kick, finding Louis Laing with a whipped near-post cross, but the defenders effort hit the bar before bouncing clear.

As the first half drew to a close, both Jack Leitch and MacLean got on the end of back post crosses, both neither could get any real connection and the chances were gone.

For all ‘Well dominated the first-half, the second half was a much more low key affair, with neither side creating much in the way of guilt-edge chances.

In fact, the first real action of the half resulted in the goal. Hamilton turned around Dom Thomas’ shot for a corner. When the ball eventually came over, Watt took aim and fired a low shot at goal. Hearts hadn’t got out in time, and it landed at Ross MacLean who had the simplest of tasks, turning and lifting it over the already grounded keeper into the net.

Hearts almost hit back quickly, when Buchanan found himself unmarked in the 18-yard box, but his downward header was straight at Long who saved.

Down the other end, the Leitch brothers combined well in the middle of the part to tee up Fletcher, but the former Burnley and York man scooped over.

‘Well had defended well all match and forced the home side to long range efforts and crosses from deep. One such free kick from Ian Smith almost deceived Long in the Fir Parker’s goal, but the keeper did well to turn it away after

That was the last of the action, but for a late Thomas shot in stoppage time, that Hamilton again did well to turn around for a corner.

Motherwell: Long, McMillan, Watt, Laing, Chalmers, Campbell, R. Leitch, J.Leitch, MacLean, Thomas, Fletcher (Mackin – 78mins)

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Moore, Turnbull, Maguire, Watters, Livingstone

Jake Taylor’s loan from Reading has been terminated and the player has returned south.

The 24-year old, who was capped by Wales back in 2014, joined on a season long deal from the Royals back in early August, but only started seven games in Claret and Amber.

Indeed, he hasn’t featured in a first team squad since ‘Well’s defeat to Ross County back in mid November.

Although his agreement was originally scheduled to expire in May 2016, the deal has been cut short to allow the player to join English League Two side Exeter City on a permanent basis.

Taylor is the second player to depart Fir Park today after Theo Robinson left to join Port Vale.

[pullquote]Jake is a good lad and conducted himself terrifically well here, but things haven’t really worked out.[/pullquote]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee commented: “Jake is a good lad and conducted himself terrifically well here, but things haven’t really worked out.

“Similar to Theo, that can happen after a manager departs and I was honest enough to tell him back in December that he wasn’t likely to feature in my plans going forward.

“He accepted that, it was all very amicable, and he leaves the club on good terms.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Jake for his contribution at Fir Park and wish him every success in his future career.

Motherwell FC can today confirm Theo Robinson has left the club to join English League One side Port Vale.

Robinson was signed by former boss Ian Baraclough in late August 2015, but only managed three starts over the next five months.

He has left to join the Valiants on a deal until the end of the season.

[pullquote]This is a good opportunity for us to try and reshape the squad a little during the January window.[/pullquote]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee said: “It’s not quite worked out for Theo here at Fir Park, but that can happen, particularly if the manager who signs you leaves so soon after you arrive.

“This is a good opportunity for us to try and reshape the squad a little during the January window.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Theo for his contribution at Fir Park and wish him every success in his future career.

Extended highlights from Fir Park as despite a late Stephen Pearson goal, Motherwell lose 2-1 to Ross County.

Mark McGhee was left hugely frustrated after watching his side slip to their first home defeat in two and a half months.

‘Well went behind to Jackson Irvine’s effort, frustrating given the Aussie was only a last-second inclusion in the starting eleven after Martin Woods took ill during the warm-up.

The Steelmen created, but missed, numerous chances during the first-half and in their eagerness to get level, at times fell victim to the County counter-attack.

One of them brought about a Brian Graham goal that double the Staggies lead, and it looked game set and match.

However, to their credit, the hosts continued to push and eventually reduced the arrears when Stephen Pearson smashed home from close range.

[pullquote]We’re hugely frustrated and hugely disappointed to lose a game which, at the very worst, we should’ve had a point.[/pullquote]

Scott Fox then bailed his side out with a number of excellent saves in the dying seconds, to give Jim McIntyre’s men their first ever victory in North Lanarkshire.

“I thought we deserved to take something from the game,” McGhee told MFC TV after the match.

“We’ve lost two goals, one from a set-play which was hugely disappointing and the other being suckered by a stereotypical counter-attack, but we continued to probe and press and dominated possession for large spells.

“I suppose the big frustration is that for all that territorial advantage, it wasn’t until late on before we turned that into clear cut chances.

“So overall we’re hugely frustrated and hugely disappointed to lose a game which, at the very worst, we should’ve had a point.”

Action images from today’s 2-1 defeat to Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix and Ian McFadyen.

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