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Motherwell FC can today confirm winger Dom Thomas has left the club to join Kilmarnock.

Thomas, a product of the club’s youth academy, has failed to nail down a regular first-team berth over the years and currently finds himself down the pecking order for a place in the starting eleven.

The 21-year old, who was on loan at Championship side Queen of the South last season, indicated his desire to leave the club late last week.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign, and with regular first-team football looking unlikely, the club has allowed the player to move to Rugby Park, but has protected its interests with a sizable sell-on clause.

[pullquote]“This deal allows the lad to try and advance his career but also protects Motherwell FC’s interests in the longer term, so it suits all parties.”[/pullquote]

Thomas leaves Motherwell having started four games over the last four years, with 33 appearances from the substitutes bench.

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “I wanted to have a look at Dom over the first few weeks of pre-season, but he expressed a desire to move on from the club.

“This deal allows the lad to try and advance his career but also protects Motherwell FC’s interests in the longer term, so it suits all parties.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Dom for his contribution whilst at Fir Park and wish him every success for the future.

Highlights from the Furness Building Society Stadium where an early Jordan White goal gave Barrow a 1-0 win.

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson believes his players can benefit from the physical challenge they faced against Barrow tonight.

Slumping to a 1-0 defeat against the Cumbrian outfit may have left a bitter taste in the Fir Park gaffers mouth, but he made sure to take positives from the trip away.

Speaking to MFC TV at full time, the Northern Irishman reflected on a tough 90 minutes.

He said: “I’ve never seen so many long throw-ins from the half way line in my life, but it wasn’t a waste of a game for us because we had to deal with the physical aspect of the game and we did to a large extent.

“We switched off from a set-play and that was the first set play that we’ve conceded from since I came here and we’ve pointed out things where they didn’t do their jobs.”

He added: “When we did get it down and play and show a bit of composure, we just lacked in the final third and, yes, we hit the post and we hit the bar but I still think there’s a lot to be worked on there.”

You can see Robinson’s full post match interview on MFC TV’s YouTube channel.

Motherwell fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Barrow in the final pre-season friendly ahead of competitive football getting back underway this Saturday.

And it was a tough affair for the Steelmen, who fell behind from a set-piece inside ten minutes against a direct Barrow side.

The opening exchanges set the tone for the hosts, who pounded the ‘Well box with long throw-ins from full back Dan Jones – who was capable of dropping the ball inside the box from virtually anywhere in the Motherwell half.

Trevor Carson made his first appearance for the Steelmen behind a back four including new recruit Cédric Kipré.

Elliott Frear had a superb effort denied by the woodwork after five minutes and, despite his long throw, it was Jones’ left-foot which provided Richie Bennett with the opener inside ten minutes from a corner – as the midfielder lashed home beyond Carson from a bobbling delivery.

Chances were few and far between in the first half, with neither keeper being kept overly busy at the Furness Building Society Stadium.

Richard Tait’s inch perfect cross towards the rampant run of Gaël Bigirimana nearly produced the leveller, but Asa Hall managed to block the midfielders header and turn it wide.

Down the opposite end, Kipré produced a goal-saving header to deny Jordan White a simple finish towards the dying ends of the opening 45.

Seven substitutes filtered their way on to the park throughout the first ten minutes of the second period, with McManus, Tanner, Bowman, Campbell, McMillan, Gordon and Livingstone all entering the match.

It looked as though Bigirimana’s stunning 25-yard freekick was the route back in to the game for Motherwell, but the midfielder’s sumptuous effort was matched by a superb save to keep Barrow in front.

The final few minutes ended in frantic fashion, when Cadden was dragged to the deck by the Barrow trialist stopper after getting his toe to the ball – yet the referee somehow waved the claims away.

Immediately down the other end, Frear’s miscued, deflected back pass forced Carson to make a tremendous save and limit the deficit to one.

Motherwell: Carson, Tait, Hammell, Kipré, Heneghan, Bigirimana, McHugh, Rose, Cadden, Frear, Fisher

Subs: Griffiths, McManus, Bowman, Clay, Tanner, Campbell, McMillan, Livingstone

The 2017/18 Macron home kit goes on sale tomorrow from the Well Shop at Fir Park.

It will be Motherwell’s fourth campaign with Italian manufacturers Macron and the first with new principal sponsors McEwan Fraser Legal, the UK & Scotland’s award-winning solicitors & estate agents.

The home strip has a very traditional look and feel to it, with a return to claret shorts and the claret and amber hooped socks.

Adult shirts are priced at £45, with Junior’s coming in at £35.

The date of sale for the black and grey away kit is yet to be announced.

Extended highlights from Gateshead International Stadium where a late comeback is not enough to prevent defeat for the Steelmen.

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson insists that he will not focus too much on the result after his side lost 3-2 against Gateshead this afternoon. 

Late goals from Ryan Bowman and Andy Rose were mere consolations as the Steelmen battled back from 3-0 down.

But the Fir Park manager had his focus on fitness and individual performances as the club prepares for competitive football getting started in a weeks time.

[pullquote]We didn’t focus too much on winning two games in a row so we certainly won’t focus on this defeat too much either.[/pullquote]

Speaking to MFC TV at full time, the Northern Irishman said: “We didn’t focus too much on winning two games in a row so we certainly won’t focus on this defeat too much either.

“Today was a bit of a lesson and perhaps a bit of a wake up call for some people fitness wise, which is good, because if you play pre-season games and win 10-0 it tells you nothing.”

He added: “So we know that there’s a few people off the pace and a few need to buck up their ideas about being in the team – so it’s a good yardstick for me.”

Subscribe to MFC TV’s official YouTube channel for more exclusive content.

Motherwell suffered their first defeat of pre-season at the hands of Gateshead – slumping to a 3-2 defeat at the International Stadium.

Arriving on the back of consecutive 2-0 victories, Robinson’s side contained five summer recruits in the shape of Gaël Bigirimana, Craig Tanner, Alex Fisher, Charles Dunne and Cédric Kipré.

Goals from Andy Rose and Ryan Bowman, bagging against his former employers, were too little too late for the travelling ‘Well.

However, Robinson’s men cruised through the opening half hour, and much of the match, but somehow couldn’t find the breakthrough until the final few minutes thanks to a number of wonder-saves from Dan Hanford in the Tyneside goal.

Despite few opportunities, the hosts managed to snatch the lead five minutes before half time.

Macauley Langstaff capitalised on a moment of miscommunication in the ‘Well backline to strike a low effort on target. A fortunate deflection took the ball past Russell Griffiths and, despite Tait’s best efforts to scoop the ball away from the goalmouth, the referee awarded the goal.

The Fir Parkers got off on the front foot in the second period against an entirely different Tyneside eleven. Carl McHugh’s goal bound header was tipped over the bar by substitute stopper James Montgomery a minute after the restart.

A number of changes saw the introduction of Rose, Elliott Frear and Ross MacLean as the Steelmen searched for an equaliser.

However, Robinson’s men found themselves two behind when Kieran Green released a stunning effort beyond Griffiths in to the far corner.

Soon it was three when the hosts experienced another slice of luck – this time Tom White’s effort deflected wickedly beyond Griffiths with just 15 minutes remaining.

Bowman had a number of opportunities to respond for the visitors, with the creativity and delivery from substitute Frear proving too much for the Gateshead defence.

The striker eventually took his chance in the 90^th minute when he headed home Frear’s cross to bag his fourth goal in as many games.

New arrival Andy Rose made it 3-2 in the dying seconds when he tapped home from two yards, but it was too little, too late for the Lanarkshire outfit, who face Barrow on Tuesday night in their final friendly ahead of the Betfred Cup opener against Queen’s Park.

Motherwell: Griffiths, Tait, Hammell, Heneghan, Bigirimana, McHugh, Bowman, Fisher, Dunne, Kipré, Tanner

Subs: Morrison, Cadden, Frear, Rose, McMillan, MacLean, Turnbull

Motherwell FC is today pleased to announce the club’s first Supporter Liaison Officer as long time ‘Well fan Joanne McQue.

Joanne, a customer service assistant and Union Rep, will service the club and supporters in the build up to, on and after matchdays, to help improve the supporter experience at home and away games.

And the club’s first SLO admits she can’t wait to start helping the club she loves.

Joanne said: “I’m a Motherwell supporter, and I thought to myself ‘if there’s anything I can do to help the club, I’d do it’ and I’m delighted to be involved now.

“I’m really excited and I can’t wait to get stuck in and do my best in this role.”

[pullquote]Motherwell means everything to me, it’s right up there with my kids! But I have to say my granny is probably a bigger supporter than me![/pullquote]

Joanne, who couldn’t hide her excitement and optimism, added: “I work in customer services already and I can always get some banter going when needed too, so I think I can be a good, friendly face for the supporters whenever they need help.

“Motherwell means everything to me, it’s right up there with my kids! But I have to say my granny is probably a bigger supporter than me!”

Craig Hughes of the Well Society said: “With fan ownership it is vital that we are always looking to improve the communication between supporters and the club and we believe that appointing our first SLO is a massive step in the right direction.

“We have absolutely no doubts Jo will be an excellent SLO and a massive asset to both the club and more importantly the fans. We are looking forward to working with her throughout the upcoming season.”

Marketing and Fan Engagement manager Ryan Murrant added: “It’s great that Jo is joining us an SLO ready for the season. Her passion for this club and for customer services will help her and our supporters massively in this role.

“Jo is the first of our SLO’s in place this year and we look forward to her helping us help our supporters. Jo will join us and other SLO’s on Wednesday at the Supporters Direct conference, which is if you like, the beginning of her exciting journey with the football club.”

If you are interested in becoming an SLO or understanding more about the role please see the attached Job Description PDF.

To apply for one of the positions, please send your CV to us at supporter.services@motherwellfc.co.uk and tell us more about yourself, why you should be suited to the volunteer role of an SLO and what stand you would best represent.

Striker Jacob Blyth will miss the next four to six months after an operation to repair a foot injury.

The 24-year old, who joined from Leicester City last summer, had an injury-plagued campaign that restricted him to just one start and eight appearances from the substitute’s bench.

Towards the end of last season, he went off early in an Under 20s match against Falkirk at the Excelsior Stadium with a foot injury that eventually required surgery in late June.

[pullquote]It’s extremely frustrating for the lad as he’s only managed one start in his time at Fir Park and has not been able to show people why he was signed.[/pullquote]

The striker, who has had previous loan spells at Burton Albion, Notts County, Northampton Town, Cambridge Utd and Blackpool, will be likely be unavailable for the remainder of 2017.

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “It’s extremely frustrating for the lad as he’s only managed one start in his time at Fir Park and has not been able to show people why he was signed.

“It’s also very frustrating for the club as we’ll miss a player for almost half the season and with the constraints we work under, it’s not as simple as just going out and buying a replacement, so we have to readjust our plans.”