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Motherwell Football Club can today confirm Stephen McManus will retire from playing to take up a coaching role within the club’s Academy.

Former Scotland captain McManus, 34, enjoyed a very successful career, coming through the youth ranks to eventually captain Celtic. He played over 200 times across seven seasons for the Parkhead club, winning the SPL title on three occasions, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups.

It was at that point where the Lanark-born defender earned the majority of his International honours, eventually collecting 26 caps, scoring twice.

A £1.5m move to Middlesbrough followed, and he was on Teeside for four years, playing 77 times. During that spell, he also had a couple of loan stints with English Championship rivals Bristol City and invested in emerging online Wetten ohne jedes Limit startups before joining the Steelmen in the summer of 2013.

He has turned out over 150 times in Claret and Amber and was a virtual ever-present until an injury at Celtic Park in early 2017 ended his season and required a double operation.

McManus played once during the Betfred Cup campaign this year, but has decided to call a halt to his playing career to take up a role within the Academy as the club prepares for the new era under the Project Brave initiative.

[pullquote]I want to thank the fans of every club I’ve played for, particularly at ‘Well where I’ve enjoyed myself tremendously over the past five seasons. I now look forward to the next chapter in my career.[/pullquote]

Speaking to motherwellfc.co.uk, McManus said: “Obviously when it comes to the point where you are going to officially retire from playing, you always do so with a bit of a heavy heart.

“However, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time for me, particularly with the club giving me this opportunity in a new era for Academies in Scotland.

“I am also very excited to be learning from the great coaching staff we have at Motherwell at the moment; that was the main attraction for me. I want to develop myself as a coach and this is a wonderful opportunity.

“I want to thank the fans of every club I’ve played for, particularly at ‘Well where I’ve enjoyed myself tremendously over the past five seasons. I now look forward to the next chapter in my career.”

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “We are absolutely delighted to be brining someone like Stephen onto our staff as he will be a huge asset to the club.

“He’s a former Celtic and Scotland captain and has played almost 500 career games; that’s a wealth of experience that our younger players now have at their disposal.

“It was a massive decision for him personally and it’s a real testament to Stephen as a guy that he wants to make this step at this stage of his life.

“I believe he’ll make a tremendous coach one day and he’s doing it in the correct way, getting his badges and doing the hard work on the training ground first.”

Academy Director Scott Leitch said: “We’re delighted Stephen has formalised his role within the Academy and he can step up some of the excellent work he’s already carried out with us.

“We’ve got a great tradition of ex-Motherwell players giving back to the Academy; as well as Stephen, we’ve also had the likes of Willie Pettigrew, Steven Hammell, David Clarkson, James McFadden, and Keith Lasley.

“This will only enhance what we can offer and I am excited to be working with Stephen in the months and years to come.”

The best of the action from McDiarmid Park where eight -man Motherwell  lose 4-1 to St Johnstone.

Images from this afternoon’s 4-1 defeat to St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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Stephen Robinson admitted that a number of decisions influenced the outcome of today’s game at McDiarmid Park.

However, despite ending the encounter with eight men on the park, the ‘Well boss added that he was proud of the way his team never gave up.

Speaking to MFC TV, the Northern Irishman reflected on a frustrating day in Perth.

He said: “I’m disappointed but I’m really proud of the boys. After coming down from Dingwall midweek and to keep going today despite some decisions today which were incredible at times.

[pullquote]I’m disappointed but I’m really proud of the boys. After coming down from Dingwall midweek and to keep going today despite some decisions today which were incredible at times.[/pullquote]

“We made mistakes ourselves today so we can improve but we can’t affect the decisions that went against us today.”

He added: “There was only one team on top at that stage, it was 2-1 at that time, we were playing good football and creating lots of chances.

“I thought we were in total control at that stage of the game and then the decision turns everything on its head.”

[tab:Match report]

Motherwell ended their first away game in the 2017/18 campaign with eight men on the park as controversial decisions overshadowed what looked like being another positive performance.

Trevor Carson, Carl McHugh and Charles Dunne were all sent off on an afternoon when the Steelmen were searching for their first win at McDiarmid Park since 2011.

Stephen Robinson named two changes to the side which made the long trip north on Wednesday night, replacing Louis Moult and Craig Tanner with Ryan Bowman and Alex Fisher, with the former two being included on the bench.

But despite a positive start to the game, somehow Robinson’s men found themselves a goal down when Steven MacLean turned the ball over Carson’s head via a slice of good fortune when Stefan Scougall’s shot deflected in to the forward’s path.

Then, with virtually their second attack, the Saints were two up when Michael O’Halloran cut inside far too easily to finish neatly beyond Carson low at the far post.

However, that didn’t dent the Fir Parkers confidence as they continued to enjoy far more possession and looked eager to play good football.

That was rewarded when a well worked free kick was turned home by Andy Rose to score his first goal in Claret and Amber. McHugh’s in-swinging set piece was nodded on to the far post where Rose was on hand to head beyond Mannus.

That lifted the side and the travelling support and, as the second half got underway, it seemed the goal had buoyed the Steelmen as they came back out playing just like they had ended the first half – on top.

And Rose went close, again with his head, but was denied by a superb save from Alan Mannus in the Saints goal.

Everything changed just after the hour mark when Carson rushed out to collect a loose ball but, under pressure from the onrushing MacLean and having looked to have misjudged the situation, the stopper was sent off for a deliberate hand ball despite being on the line of his box when he handled it.

Robinson then brought on Russell Griffiths, sacrificing the energetic Gaël Bigirimana, as he tried to see his side remain in touch in the game.

Despite being a man down, an equaliser nearly arrived when substitute Louis Moult curled a freekick inches over the crossbar.

Just under ten minutes later, O’Halloran grabbed his second of the game when his low effort deflected past Griffiths with just fifteen minutes remaining.

Things got worse when McHugh followed Carson down the tunnel when he picked up his second yellow card of the game for a sliding challenge on Steven Anderson.

But the Steelmen didn’t let that knock them, as Rose again went close to grabbing his second of the game when his low effort fizzed towards goal but was turned wide by Mannus.

Down the other end of the park, somehow, there was another red card.

Substitute Graham Cummins broke in to the box before kicking the ground, yet referee Craig Thomson inexplicably awarded a penalty to the hosts and, on top of that, issued a third red card of the afternoon, this time for Charles Dunne, who just happened to be closest to the forward.

O’Halloran looked set to grab his hattrick but Griffiths produced a fine save to deny the Saints man and keep the score to 3-1.

The game, which had become farcical, wasn’t finished and Murray Davidson finished things off with a neat finish from a cut back in the 94th minute.

[tab:As it happened]

 Alastair Reilly at McDiarmid Park

FT: St Johnstone 4 – 1 Motherwell

92′ | 4-1
Goal – Davidson slots home to make it 4 from a cut-back

From the penalty, Griffiths makes the save!

88′ | 3-1
Red card! Cummins appears to trip in the box and the ref sends off Dunne!

81′ | 3-1
St Johnstone sub, MacLean off for Hendry

80′ | 3-1
Rose’s fizzing low shot is pushed wide for a corner.

76′ | 3-1
Red card! McHugh gets his second booking and is sent off!

75′ | 3-1
St Johnstone sub, Alston on for Wotherspoon

74′ | 3-1
Goal – O’Halloran makes it 3-1 with a powerful low shot from just inside the box

69′ | 2-1
Couple of subs, Tanner on for Tait and Scougall off for Cummins

65′ | 2-1
Free-kick to ‘Well about 30 yards out. Moult hits it….inches over the bar!

63′ | 2-1
Motherwell sub, Griffiths on for Bigirimana

62′ | 2-1
Red card! Carson sent off for a deliberate handball outside the area.

57′ | 2-1
Incredibly Moult beats two men and with a good break on the ref pulls it back for a foul and books Scougall.

56′ | 2-1
Motherwell sub, Bowman off for Moult

53′ | 2-1
A header falls into the path of Cadden but he gets it wrong and blasts into row z.

49′ | 2-1
Free-kick to Motherwell on the right-hand side…Rose’s header is palmed wide for a corner by Mannus!!
Both teams are back out and Saints get the second 45 underway. COYW!!

HT: St Johnstone 2 – 1 Motherwell

45′ | 2-1
Bigirimana drags his shot just wide of the post from 20 yards

One minute added on

36′ | 2-1
McHugh booked for a foul on Scougall

34′ | 2-1
Dunne does well to get forward but his drilled cross is plucked out the air by Mannus.

28′ | 2-1
Motherwell’s dominance of the ball finally paid off! McHugh’s free-kick is headed in at the back post by Rose! Come on!!

GGOOAALL!!

17′ | 2-0
Goal – Incredibly Saints are 2 up. O’Halloran comes in off the right and places it past Carson.

16′ | 1-0
Half-chane for ‘Well. Bowman turns his man from a throw-in but can’t pick out Fisher and the chance goes.

8′ | 1-0
Goal – Saints open the scoring. MacLean gets the break of the ball and reacts quickly to flick the ball into the net over Carson

7′ | 0-0
No real chances as of yet but a couple of decent balls put into the area with no takers.

Cadden gets the action underway. COYW!!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson:

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Motherwell face the hard task of an away trip to face St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership tomorrow afternoon. 

However, following a hard-fought win on Wednesday night in the Betfred Cup last 16, the Fir Parkers head in to the clash with confidence at an early high.

Add in to the mix a positive performance against Rangers in the opening league match, and Stephen Robinson and his side can have a sense of optimism as they prepare to travel to take on a side with European aspirations.

It has been a positive start to the 2017/18 campaign for the ‘Well, with the 2-1 defeat against Rangers the only blemish on an otherwise perfect start to the season.

But with a run of tough fixtures just around the corner, manager Stephen Robinson is aware it’s not going to be easy for his team, who are in the middle of a six-day run with three games.

Despite the problems that may pose physically, the Fir Park boss is confident in his players ahead of tomorrow’s league encounter.

“The spirits are high,” he said. “The boys have had two days to recover and start to prepare for the St Johnstone game and our minds are now switched to trying to get three points.

“It was a long trip on Wednesday night and the game went on a lot longer than we wanted it to but the buzz you get from winning that game will out-do any kind of tiredness.”

He added: “The boys are really looking forward to Saturday, there’s a lot of confidence in the team and in the camp.

“We’ve won five games out of six since the start of the season so there’s some belief.

“When you get belief you can start to build a real team spirit and fans start to believe in what the players are doing as well so there’s a good feeling around the place at the moment.”

[pullquote]When you get belief you can start to build a real team spirit and fans start to believe in what the players are doing as well so there’s a good feeling around the place.[/pullquote]

For right-back Richard Tait, tomorrow will be another tough task – but one that he believes Motherwell are ready for.

“It will be another tough game, it always is against St Johnstone,” he said. “They’re a tough side to play against, they battle and they scrap and that’s what it will be again on Saturday.

“If we can win most of the second balls and battle harder than them then we’ll win the game.”

He added: “You approach every game wanting to win it, whether it’s a cup game or a league match.

“Not winning the first game of the season in the league adds a little bit of pressure for us to get points on the board – so we’ll be going out there on Saturday to win the match.”

If Motherwell have motivation to win a league game married with the confidence of a cup win, tomorrow’s opponents St Johnstone come in to the match on the completely opposite boat.

Having won their first league game, the Saint’s were knocked out of the Betfred Cup on Tuesday night by Partick Thistle.

But Tommy Wright’s men will be buoyed by a positive start in the league, where a 2-1 win away to Kilmarnock gave the Perthshire side an ideal start to their season.

The Saints have had a relatively quiet summer window when compared with a number of other clubs in the top flight, but it has been a positive one for Tommy Wright.

Last season’s top scorer Danny Swanson departed for Hibs but was swiftly replaced by Michael O’Halloran. Along with the likes of Stefan Scougall, Aaron Comrie and Scott Tanser – it’s been a productive window for St Johnstone.

The last time ‘Well made the trip north they came back down the road with a point. But following Wednesday night’s victory in Dingwall, there is an air of confidence, and an ever present hunger to win, ahead of tomorrow’s league encounter.

	St Johnstone V Motherwell
	Saturday 12th August 2017
	3.00pm
	McDiarmid Park, Perth
	Available on the gate

Admission prices are as follows: 

• *Free when accompanied by an adult
• Motherwell fans located in the North Stand
• Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Darren  on 07722 912666 or email darren@mfcdsa.com.

If you can’t make it to tomorrow, don’t miss the action by tuning in to mixlr.com/motherwellfc for live commentary or follow the match on Twitter @MotherwellFC

You can see the match highlights on MFC TV’s YouTube channel, as well as full reaction and a match report right here on the official website.

Richard Tait is prepared to battle-harder than the opposition as Motherwell face St Johnstone this weekend.

The tireless right-back spoke to the broadcast media this morning ahead of the ‘Well’s third game in six days and believes it will be another tough test.

However, the 27-year-old believes the key to victory lies in work-rate – and, with the momentum from Wednesday nights victory, the Fir Parkers are well prepared.

[pullquote]It will be another tough game, it always is against St Johnstone. They’re a tough side to play against, they battle and they scrap and that’s what it will be again on Saturday.[/pullquote]

He said: “It was a good result for us and it was a hard-fought match. To come out on top gives us an extra boost and if we can take that in to the weekend that would be great as well.”

“It will be another tough game, it always is against St Johnstone,” he added. “They’re a tough side to play against, they battle and they scrap and that’s what it will be again on Saturday.

“If we can win most of the second balls and battle harder than them then we’ll win the game.”

Stephen Robinson believes there are “high spirits” among the squad as the Steelmen prepare to face St Johnstone this weekend.

And the Northern Irishman believes that winning on Wednesday night against Ross County in the Betfred Cup will help push the players through a hard, busy run of games.

Speaking to the broadcast press this morning, Robinson looked ahead to the second fixture of the Premiership campaign.

[pullquote]The boys have had two days to recover and start to prepare for the St Johnstone game and our minds are now switched to trying to get three points.[/pullquote]

“The spirits are high,” he said. “The boys have had two days to recover and start to prepare for the St Johnstone game and our minds are now switched to trying to get three points.

“It was a long trip on Wednesday night and the game went on a lot longer than we wanted it to but the buzz you get from winning that game will out-do any kind of tiredness.”

He added: “The boys are really looking forward to Saturday, there’s a lot of confidence in the team and in the camp.”

Motherwell and Aberdeen have agreed a special ticket deal for the forthcoming double-header in late September.

The Steelmen take on the Dons in the Quarter Final of the Betfred Cup on Thursday 21st September (7.45pm KO) before the two sides square up again on league business just three days later, Sunday 24th September (12.45pm KO).

And following discussions between both clubs this afternoon, admission prices (available on the turnstile on the night of the match) for the Cup game have been set at:

Adults: £10
Concessions: £5

• Concessions are listed as Under 18s, Over 60s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.

In addition, the two clubs have agreed a reciprocal deal for Season Ticket holders for the SPFL Premiership games on Sunday 24th September at Fir Park, and the reverse fixture at Pittodrie on 18th November.

Dons Season Ticket holders can get into the game for £15 for adults and £10 for juveniles/concessions – full details on how visiting fans can obtain that reduced priced offer will be available on the AFC website.

In addition, ‘Well Season Ticket holders will receive an identical discount if they present ‘Special Voucher A’ from the back of their books when they visit Pittodrie in three months time, one voucher per fan.

‘Well Chief Operating Officer Alan Burrows: “We have been presented with an unusual anomaly with two games against Aberdeen in the space of four days, both live on BT Sport.

“After positive discussions yesterday, underlining the good relationship that exists between both clubs, we have agreed these various measures to try and make it as affordable for fans both at that double-header and the game at Pittodrie in November, which is the start of a fairly long run of away games for our supporters.

“It’s the first League Cup Quarter Final we’ve been involved in since 2013, so everyone is very much looking forward to the game and hopefully we can continue the positive vibe that is around the club at the moment with a big crowd on the night.”

Referee for Saturday’s league match against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park is Craig Thomson.

The 45-year old takes charge of his first Motherwell fixture of the season, after taking charge on four occasions last term.

That included both the first and last games of the season, starting with a win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and ending with a 3-2 loss away to Inverness.

In between those clashes, the official oversaw a 1-1 draw away to Partick Thistle in September and the crushing Scottish Cup defeat against Rangers at Ibrox.

One of the top Scottish referee’s in the game, Thomson has been in charge of fixtures at all levels of the game, including the UEFA Champions League and World Cup Qualifiers.

Of the three matches he refereed in Europe’s premier club competition last season, one match included 2015/16 finalists Atlético Madrid.

His record in charge of the Steelmen is a bit of a mixed bag with 16 wins from 49 matches. There have been 23 defeats and ten draws too.

Not included in that list was the 2007/08 Scottish Cup fourth round replay win against Hearts at Fir Park, when he replaced the injured Stuart Dougal midway through the second-half.

In those games, Motherwell have scored 69 and conceded 73.

168 players have gone into the book, 86 were wearing claret and amber, while seven players, including former captains Stephen Craigan and Keith Lasley, have been dismissed. The most recent was Stephen McManus in an away defeat to Inverness.

Craig will be ably assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Anthony Cooper; with Kevin Clancy on fourth official duties.