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Michael Higdon has been awarded the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Golden Boot for finishing the top goalscorer in the league this season.

Higdon has played a huge part in Motherwell’s success by scoring 26 league goals to help his side finish in second position in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Michael has scored many goals this season, but one of his most important may have been his penalty against Celtic in a 3-1 win for his side that confirmed Motherwell’s place in the Europa League next season.

Higdon topped the Clydesdale Bank Premier League goalscoring charts with 26 goals, closely followed by Billy McKay from Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Leigh Griffiths from Hibernian who both scored 23 league goals this season.

In what has been an incredible season for the 29-year old former Crewe striker, Higdon has broken Wullie Pettigrew’s post-war record for most top league goals in a season, was named the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month on two separate occasions and became the first ‘Well player in history to be named the PFA Scotland Player of the Year.

He also scooped the Motherwell Supporters Association Player of the Year, completing a sensational campaign.

Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Michael on yet another accolade.

The club can confirm the following squad changes as of Saturday 1st June 2013.

Leaving the club after their contracts expire on 31st May will be:

• Darren Randolph (Birmingham City)
• Steven Saunders
• Nicky Law
• Omar Daley
• Steven Hetherington
• Josh Watt
• Nicky Devlin

The following players have been / will be offered extended terms with the club:

• Tom Hateley
• Chris Humphrey
• Michael Higdon
• Fraser Kerr
• James McFadden

The following players loan has expired and will return to their parent club:

• Kallum Higginbotham (Huddersfield Town)

The following Under 20 players have left the club after their contracts expired:

• Adam Asghar
• Dominic Green

Motherwell Football Club would like to sincerely thank all the players who are leaving the club for their efforts whilst at Fir Park and wish them every success in the future careers.

Midfielder Paul Lawson has become the first signing of the summer after penning a two-year deal this afternoon.

The 28-year old former Celtic and Ross County man will be officially registered on 1st June when his current deal with the Staggies expires.

Lawson began his career at Celtic Park and was skipper of the reserve side whilst a regular feature in the then Scotland Under 21 squad.

He played four times for Celtic’s first-team, including a starting slot against Aberdeen back in May 2006.

He enjoyed loan spells at both St Johnstone and St Mirren before joining Ross County in the summer of 2007.

[pullquote]It’s great to have my future sorted out. There is a lot of uncertainty around Scottish Football so it’s really pleasing to have things sorted early doors.[/pullquote]

Six years and 178 games later, he has opted to return to the central belt after a fabulous final season at Victoria Park, starring for Derek Adams’ side as they secured a top-six finish.

Speaking exclusively to MFC TV, he said: “It’s great to have my future sorted out. There is a lot of uncertainty around Scottish Football so it’s really pleasing to have things sorted early doors.

“I enjoyed my time at Ross County. I have been pleased with my performances and thankfully the manager [Stuart McCall] spotted that and came in to sign me.

“He is probably the main reason why I joined. I met him and he was keen to bring me here which was great and obviously the boys have enjoyed a fantastic season and I am keen to try and continue that next year.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV–

Remedial work has started on the Fir Park ahead of the forthcoming 2013/14 season.

Head Groundsman Mikey Ellis explained: “We have been very pleased with the condition of the pitch in the previous two seasons.

“The quality has meant the remedial work required this summer is nowhere near as length as in previous years.

“We are fraze mowing the turf at the moment then we will verti-drain it. We will then add a few tones of sand before seeding.

“The work will be complete before the end of the week which should see us in really good shape ahead of the new season.”

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Highlights from McDiarmid Park as Motherwell slump to a  2-0 defeat to St Johnstone in the final game of the season.

-WATCH THE FULL HIGHLIGHTS ONLY ON MFC TV-

Action shots from the McDiarmid Park as Motherwell lose the last game of the season 2-0 to St Johnstone.

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Stuart McCall insisted a disappointing final day defeat by St Johnstone will now overshadow what has been an sensational campaign for his side.

The Steelmen suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Saints after goals from Liam Craig and Nigel Hasselbaink enough to give Steve Lomas’ men a spot in the Europa League.

McCall was unhappy with the result but keen to focus on the positives of the campaign that has seen them finish as runners-up in the SPL.

He told MFC TV after the match: It’s always disappointing to lose no matter which game you, play.

[pullquote]My disappointment is balanced out by my pride at the whole season[/pullquote]

“I knew as soon as we had a kick-around on the park before the warm up that the pitch was going to be the worst we’ve played on all season although that is not making excuses.

“You’ve got to hold your hands up and admit it was a great strike by Craig and that gave them the impetus for the second-half.

“We didn’t create a great deal and they defended well. They are a strong, physical side and when we tried to play football, it just didn’t come off.

“My disappointment is balanced out by my pride at the whole season, the fantastic backing from supporters at both ends of the stadium and although it would have been nice to end with a victory, I’m actually delighted with the way we’ve finished the season overall.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV–

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 Phil McGhee at McDiarmid Park

Motherwell ended the season with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to euro-chasing St Johnstone at Perth.

A tremendous 1000 plus “Well fans crammed into the Main Stand at McDiarmid Park, with an overspill behind the goal, intent on celebrating the conclusion of a fabulous season.

But it was Saints who deservedly took the points to secure the last European slot with goals from Liam Craig and Nigel Hasselbaink.

In the end it was a disappointing afternoon for the Steelmen who never managed to match the hunger of the home side or acclimatise to a very difficult playing surface.

Lee Hollis took over in goal from Darren Randolph and with Tom Hateley and Chris Humphrey both injured, Fraser Kerr and Stuart Carswell made it into the starting line-up.

And while it was a chance for those three to shine, in truth, ‘Well hade few bright moments in an otherwise forgettable afternoon.

The pitch made football difficult for both teams and the play, like the surface, was very patchy. Incredibly as every pass bobbled up off the surface, and both the players and referee looked for a solution, the match ball was replaced four times in the opening 20 minutes.

By that stage the only football thing of note was when Steven McLean slid the ball past Hollis and into the net only for the Saints celebrations to be curtailed by an offside flag.

“Well’s only threat came when James McFadden, wide on the right fed in Nicky Law who blasted his shot high and wide.

After half an hour though Saints looked much more intent and a great move and cross from Callum Davidson found Chris Miller whose side foot volley smacked off the face of the post.

‘Well’s luck did not carry much further though and in the 35^th minute, the Perth side took the lead.

Simon Ramsden did well with a double block outside the box but when the ball fell in front of Liam Craig, he unleashed a superb left foot drive which gave Hollis no chance.

Saints fans were cheering again minutes later as news came through that Inverness Caley were a goal down placing the Perth men in pole position for Europe.

That nearly changed on the stroke of half time when ‘Well almost equalised. Law’s corner found Higdon and his powerful downward header was blocked by Alan Mannus but from six yards, Henrik Ojamaa hoisted the rebound over the bar when a leveler looked likely.

Saints reply to that scare was almost immediate and two minutes after the break they grabbed their second goal to make the points secure. Nigel Hasselbaink, who has a habit of scoring against ‘Well, collected the ball with his back to goal, turned Shaun Hutchison and guided his shot just inside the post.

That lead might have been increased when a dipping volley from Murray Davidson crashed off the cross bar.

Hollis then produced a fine one handed save to push away a low drive from substitute Mehdi Abeid.

With Saints content to protect their lead, Motherwell never looked like getting back into the game and the best they had to offer a subdued travelling support was a Hutchison header which was held by Mannus and a Kallum Higginbotham shot which was deflected just outside the post.

Undaunted by the result, the Motherwell fans joined the Saints fans on the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate both side’s European qualification and an otherwise sensational 2012/13 drew to a close.

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Alan Burrows at McDiarmid Park

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Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“I was disappointed we lost the game.

“There are no excuses. St Johnstone had the bit between the teeth. I don’t like losing anything but we have to take a reality check.

“It’s not been about today, it’s been about the season.”

St Johnstone manager Stevie Lomas:

“I thought it was a day of excellence. We carried out our gameplan to perfection and it could have been by a lot more.

“The boys were excellent. We just had to do what we could do.

“The lads were fully focused and you saw that from their effort and commitment and the quality of play.”

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