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Academy midfielder Bailey Rice has rejected an offer of a professional contract and has joined Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

The youngster was part of an exciting, and much-coveted, 2006 squad which has enjoyed notable success during their progression through the Club Academy Scotland age groups.

Although a number of the players had significant interest from big clubs on both sides of the border, we were able to promote nine of the ten proposed graduates to full-time this summer.

“Although it’s disappointing to lose Bailey at this stage of his development, we respect his decision,” academy director Steven Hammell said.

“On the flip side though, we are absolutely delighted that so many of the group we had earmarked for graduation into our professional set-up have placed their trust in us and the pathway we think we can provide to first-team football.

“We have already seen so many of them train and integrate with the first-team squad in the first week of pre-season and that’s something that should not only give them all encouragement, but additional hunger and desire to kick on.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Bailey for his effort and commitment during his time with the Academy and wish him every success in his future career.

Motherwell will start their 2022/23 SWPL1 campaign with a trip to newly promoted Dundee United. 

The opening day of the season will be Sunday 7 August.

Our first home game will be against Glasgow City on 14 August.

All 2022/23 fixtures are subject to change.

The women of steel’s final pre-split game will be a trip to Aberdeen on 12 March.

Split fixtures will start on 26 April.

The SWPL1 campaign will run until Sunday 21 May, with the relegation playoff match due to take place on Sunday 4 June.

Introducing our away kit for the 2022/23 season.

The white top with a claret and amber stripe coming through our badge, will be worn as an alternate to our home colours this campaign.

You can buy your away strip now.

Our white shorts also have claret and amber detail horizontally on the side which match up with a small touch of claret and amber on our white shorts.

In the finer detail, we have claret cuffs with ‘Steelmen’ embedded on the back of the neck, like our home top.

On the collar, we have small claret and amber lines going around the neckline.

Manufactured again by Macron, the shirt also features our main sponsor Paycare and fellow partners G4 Claims, as well as our ongoing partnership with North Lanarkshire Suicide Prevention. TCL will be appear as our main shorts sponsor.

Ahead of our 2022/23 campaign, Motherwell have lined up four pre-season fixtures. 

The first test will be an away match against newly promoted Dundee United on Sunday 3 July at the GA Arena.

We will then have a double header at home, starting off with St Johnstone at Ravenscraig on Sunday 10 July before taking on Glasgow Women on Wednesday 13 July, with the venue still to be confirmed.

The women of steel will then round of their pre-season campaign with an away game against SWPL2 side Kilmarnock on 31 July, with the venue still to be confirmed.

Further games are likely to be arranged for 17 and 24 July, with details available shortly.

We will face Partick Thistle in a friendly match at Firhill Stadium on Saturday 16 July.

Kick-off is 3pm.

Ticket information will be released in due course.

Ten academy graduates have signed professional deals with the club.

In the backline, defenders Robbie Garcia, Arran Bone, Brannan McDermott and Wishaw boy Max Ross are joined with 15-year-old Josh Bogan between the posts.

In midfield, Dylan Wells and Lennon Miller put pen to paper on their first professional deals.

Pacy wingers Luca Ross and Shay Nevans turn professional this summer alongside striker Mark Ferrie.

“This is a group we are excited about,” Motherwell’s academy director Steven Hammell said.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from clubs for several of these players and we have put a lot of hard work into keeping them here.

“It’s important that they understand the pathway to the first team here at Motherwell and the hard work they have to put in to reach it.

“In the short time the players have been back this season, some of the boys have already had a taste of working and training with the first team.

“We are all looking forward to seeing the progression of the boys over the course of this season and beyond.”

Goalkeeper Emily Mutch is our third summer signing. 

The goalkeeper joins after two seasons at Hibernian where she helped her side finish in the top four in both seasons.

“Emily is a massive signing for the club,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.

“I’ve been very aware of her qualities for several years and we wanted to strengthen the goalkeeping department during this transfer window.

“I’m delighted to get Emily on board and seeing what she can bring to the club for the coming season.”

The former Hearts, Celtic and Hibernian shot stopper will look to become first choice goalkeeper in her time at the club.

“I’m excited to be joining Motherwell and having met with Paul and Leanne, I believe this is the best place for me to develop to the next level,” Emily Mutch added.

“I’ve worked with Paul at the national performance academy so I’m really looking forward to working with him again and working with a coach who believes in me.”

Former Manchester City and Cardiff City player Andy Dibble is our new head of goalkeeping. 

The 57-year-old Welshman joins as part of Graham Alexander’s backroom staff after leaving Cardiff City in May, where he spent five seasons as goalkeeping coach.

Dibble has three caps for his country and enjoyed a successful 24-year playing career before transitioning into coaching.

“It is exciting to join up with Graham and the rest of the coaching staff,” Dibble said.

“I am looking forward to the season ahead and getting to know everyone.”

The former Rangers goalkeeper was the goalkeeping coach at Cardiff City when they got promoted to the Premier League in 2017.

“I’m delighted to welcome Andy to the club as head of goalkeeping,” manager Graham Alexander added.

“He has vast knowledge as a coach & his top level experience from his playing days will certainly help our keepers. Having experienced the Scottish game before, I know how excited he is to join us and help us keep progressing.”

Defender Paul McGinn is our second summer signing. 

The 31-year-old versatile defender made 34 appearances last season for Hibernian, whilst also earning his first Scotland cap against Austria in September.

McGinn joins on a one year deal with the club.

“We’re very happy that Paul has agreed to join us and add to our defensive options,” manager Graham Alexander said.

“He has proven quality in the Premiership and his playing record is excellent since coming back to Scotland.

“I feel we’ve brought in a talented and motivated player, whose character and experience will be very important to us.”

McGinn started his career at Queen’s Park where he came through the youth ranks before making his first team debut in 2009. After impressing at the spiders, he earned a move to Premiership side St Mirren in 2012.

Once gaining valuable game time and experience on loan, he moved to Dundee in 2014 before making the move south of the border to Chesterfield in 2016.

McGinn returned to Scotland in 2017 where has since played for Partick Thistle, St Mirren and Hibernian.

Motherwell have secured the signature of Brogan Anderson for the upcoming SWPL1 season. 

The former Boroughmuir Thistle player was part of the side that narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight last season.

“Brogan is someone I’ve admired for a while now, I know the quality she has and what she’ll add to this squad,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“She is an experienced football player with real maturity.

“Motherwell will provide the perfect environment for Brogan to develop.”

Anderson is an attacking midfielder who can play upfront and is looking forward to seeing her own development in her time at the club.

“I’m very excited to become a Motherwell player,” Anderson added.

“The season ahead could be a special one and I’m looking forward to meeting up with the girls.

“Speaking to Paul, Leanne and the coaching staff I feel this is the place I can continue to develop as player.”