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Motherwell Football Club posted a profit of £346,590 in the year ending 31 May 2020.

This profit came against a previous loss of £435,970 in 2019, a swing of £782,560.

Despite the hugely difficult restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the club’s turnover rose by nearly £0.4m to £4.95m, up from £4.59m in the previous year.

The financial year in review

A member’s resolution gave the SPFL Board the power to officially end the leagues and decide the outcome on an average points basis, which they did on 18 May 2020. This decision meant the club confirmed a third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership in the 2019/20 season, completing 30 of the campaign’s 38 matches.

That represented our best league finish for six years, having finished second in 2013/14. It also meant a return to UEFA Europa League football for the first time since 2014.

Sadly, there were no significant runs in either domestic cup competitions during the year.

The shortening to the season and the lockdown restrictions, which started in mid-March and are likely to continue until at least the end of the 2020/21 campaign, had a material impact on the club’s ability to generate revenue in the last quarter. Included in that was the loss of at least four home matches, one being a Category A fixture.

We continue to trade effectively in the transfer market. The overall figure on player registration gains is up by over £260,000, posting a final figure of £1.04m, compared to £781,000 the previous year. This came primarily from the sale of James Scott to Hull City FC in January 2020. Like last year, the club wishes to record its gratitude and acknowledge the recruitment and coaching staff’s excellent work on that particular transfer, together with all the Elite Academy staff, who were instrumental in James’ development into an excellent young talent.

Shortly after year end, the club also traded David Turnbull to Celtic FC for a fee significantly higher than the previous record received for Phil O’Donnell back in 1994. Not only did this action justify the board’s decision not to accept a revised transfer deal in the summer of 2019, but also validated the investment the club made in David’s rehabilitation to get him back to the level he was before his operation.

Costs for the year have remained relatively consistent. There was a slight increase in our staff costs, most of which resulted from performance-related bonuses for confirming third place and European football.

Most importantly, during the year the club settled the outstanding amounts owed to Mr J Boyle and Mr L Hutchison. This repayment was facilitated by a small loan on favourable terms, offered by five Motherwell-supporting individuals. The five were all fully repaid less than two months later following James Scott’s sale to Hull.

At the height of lockdown, to ensure sound management of the club’s cashflow, the club took advantage of HMRC schemes to defer VAT and PAYE/NIC liabilities and took out a small £50,000 “bounce back” loan from the UK Government. The “bounce back” loan is the only external debt on the balance sheet, with the only other borrowings currently being to the Well Society, an accumulation of their contributions across the last nine years, totalling £868,000.

In looking towards the future, the club has also explored alternative revenue streams to stabilize finances, including digital platforms like casino zonder cruks 2024, which offer innovative sponsorship opportunities outside traditional avenues. It is our view that the club remains in a strong position, but we are cognisant of the genuine and ongoing threats to the whole football infrastructure from the current crisis. The work that has been done to establish the club’s model and strategy in recent years has been successful, but we have to do more. We must secure the foundations of the club and emerge from the crisis in a sustainable way. Our aim continues to be that of an exemplar fan-owned, community-focused, family club.

The 115th annual general meeting of the club will be held on Thursday 11 February 2021.

Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, attendance at the meeting will be by Zoom. Shareholders who wish to attend the AGM are required to provide an email address to the company secretary at accounts@motherwellfc.co.uk no later than 5pm on 9 February 2021.

Any shareholder who would wish to receive either a printed or emailed copy of the audited accounts should email accounts@motherwellfc.co.uk before the close of business on 9 February 2021.

Aberdeen v Motherwell can be watched worldwide on Saturday.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the Scottish Premiership match can be bought from Aberdeen FC for £12.99 at ppv.afc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off at Pittodrie on Saturday is at 3pm.

Motherwell travel to Aberdeen on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

Here are the headlines going into the fixture.

Unbeaten run to maintain

New manager Graham Alexander has overseen two score draws in his first two matches in charge of Motherwell.

In both games, the Steelmen have been pegged back. Devante Cole opened the scoring in the clashes with St Mirren and Rangers, before second-half equalisers in both resulted in 1-1 draws.

Happy hunting ground

Motherwell ended 2020 with a 100% record at Pittodrie, having won both matches in the north east.

In January, a Liam Donnelly header secured a 1-0 win in the first league game back after the winter break.

Then, earlier in the 2020/21 campaign, goals from Mark O’Hara, Christopher Long and Bevis Mugabi sealed an emphatic 3-0 win.

Strong home form

Since that reversal to Motherwell in September, Derek McInnes’ side form at Pittodrie has been impressive.

Five wins, draws with Celtic and Dundee United and a sole loss to Rangers has been the run for the Dons, scoring 16 and conceding nine.

Our matches with Kilmarnock and St Mirren have been rescheduled for midweek dates in February.

On Wednesday 10 February, we will travel to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Two weeks later on Wednesday 24 February, we’ll make the trip to take on St Mirren in a 6pm kick-off.

Information on how to watch both games will be made available shortly.

Motherwell are back on their travels with a trip to face Aberdeen.

After consecutive 1-1 draws against St Mirren and Rangers, Graham Alexander goes in search of a first win as ‘Well boss.

Kick-off at Pittodrie on Saturday is at 3pm.

Watch live

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the match can be bought from Aberdeen FC for £12.99 at ppv.afc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Tale of the tape

The two sides played out a 0-0 draw last time out, with the stalemate at Fir Park coming just before Christmas.

Motherwell won on their last visit to Pittodrie in September, with Bevis Mugabi, Christopher Long and Mark O’Hara all netting in a 3-0 victory.

Form guide

Aberdeen are without a win in three. Their 4-1 away loss to Ross County at the weekend followed a 2-1 home reversal to Rangers and a 0-0 draw with Dundee United previously.

At home, the Dons have won six of their last 10 in the Premiership, drawing two and losing two.

Motherwell’s 1-1 draw with Rangers on Sunday made it two games undefeated for new manager Alexander.

The Steelmen, however, remain without a win in 11 league matches, drawing five and losing six.

“I’m proud of the team. We’re content with a point but we could have taken all three.”

Graham Alexander reacts as Motherwell take a well-earned point at home to Rangers.

The entire length of the Scottish Premiership separated the sides when Motherwell and Rangers kicked off on Sunday.

But after an engaging game, there was little to split the teams, with Devante Cole and Cedric Itten netting in a 1-1 draw.

New ‘Well boss Graham Alexander admitted that although his men would need to defend against the league leaders, he expected them to land some punches during the 90 minutes.

He only had to wait 20 minutes for his new charges to deliver their first blow, Cole sliding the ball past Allan McGregor to give the home side a deserved lead.

However, the new boss was denied steering Motherwell to their first league win over Rangers in 18 years when Cedric Itten nodded home the equaliser 18 minutes from time to give the sides a deserved point apiece.

Alexander, making his debut in the home dugout, made two changes from the side which earned a point at Paisley last week. With Mark O’Hara injured and Jake Hastie unable to face his parent club, Robbie Crawford and Sherwin Seedorf came into the starting line-up.

On loan ‘keeper Liam Kelly faces his first club, while Steven Lawless, on his return to Fir Park has to do with a place on the bench.

Steven Gerrard’s side, having dropped only four points in an almost invincible league run, started the game with the clear intention of taking full points to strengthen their position at the top of the table.

It was the home side, though, that made the more positive start and within four minutes Allan Campbell had wriggled his way to the edge of the box but his trundled shot was only enough to provide Allan McGregor with a comfortable save.

A series of corners and crosses from James Tavernier threatened to test the ‘Well rearguard but strict man-marking in the home box meant that Kelly was not called upon.

Motherwell’s plan of pressing Rangers further upfield forced the visitors to keep their central defenders 20 yards inside their own half. That allowed Seedorf and Tony Watt and the tireless Cole to keep the Gers’ defenders occupied.

And with 20 minutes played ‘Well cut open the Rangers’ defence as they opened the scoring.

Watt played a smart exchange with Liam Polworth at the corner of the box before working his way to the byline. His drive across the six-yard box found Cole, sliding in front of Campbell to force the ball over the line and put the home side one up.

The Ibrox side then had the majority of the possession towards the home box but on every occasion their ball into the box was blocked by the first ‘Well defender.

A final Tavernier corner in added-on time summed up the first half as it was easily cleared by a diligent ‘Well defence, leaving goalkeeper Kelly without a single save to make.

It took Rangers only seven minutes into the second half to finally test their former ‘keeper but it was routine for Kelly kneeling to gather Ryan Kent’s 20-yard drive.

Three minutes later the former Livingston ‘keeper was relieved to see Bevis Mugabi on the goal line to head away Conor Goldson’s netbound header.

As the half progressed the ‘Well players were being forced deeper into their own half and having to defend an increasing number of crosses into their goalmouth.

By the 70th minute, Alexander attempted to relieve some of that pressure making a double substitution bringing on attack-minded Ross Maciver and Lawless.

Almost immediately Kelly was forced to block Goldson’s shot. A goal was coming Rangers’ way and it finally arrived in the 72nd minute.

Another Barisic cross into the home box found Itten unmarked and looking in an offside position six yards from goal and his powerful header sped beyond Kelly for the equaliser.

With ten minutes remaining and the home goal under continuous assault, ‘Well changed to a back three Ricki Lamie replacing Polworth.

Both managers made further substitutions and it was Rangers’ veteran striker Jermain Defoe who had the final attempt at goal but his shot was firmly held by Kelly as both teams had to settle for a point.

“I want to try things others wouldn’t, and create things other people don’t see coming.”

The returning Motherwell forward sets out his stall ahead of the visit of Rangers on Sunday.

“We are trying to implement how we want our team to play, regardless of the opponent.

“I want to see my players, as a team, going out and giving it their best.”

Graham Alexander looks ahead to Sunday’s visit of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

Steven Lawless has returned to Motherwell on a permanent deal.

The academy graduated has signed until the end of the 2021/22 season, coming back to the club where he made his professional debut in 2011.

He will go into the squad for the visit of Rangers on Sunday.

“It’s great to be back,” said the forward, who wear the number 14 jersey.

“It means a lot to me to be coming back to the club. I’m ready to get going and play my part in trying to get the team up the table.”

The 29-year-old joined Burton in the summer after a successful two-year spell at Livingston, where he made 75 appearances in the Premiership.

Prior to that, Lawless was a mainstay in the Partick Thistle team who spent five years in the top flight with him in the side, playing 228 times.

His career at Motherwell prior to that saw him score on his debut in a 4-0 League Cup win at Clyde in August 2011, making two appearances in claret and amber and spending time during his development at Albion Rovers.

“Steven will add creativity to the team,” manager Graham Alexander said. “We’re delighted to get him on board.

“He can help us at the top end of the pitch, being that link between the defensive side of the game and the forwards.

“He’s got good guile, the experience of playing up here and obviously was here as a young boy.

“When I spoke to him, his want to be here was a big pull for me as well. We want players who want to be here. He’s certainly shown that aspiration.”