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Douglas Dickie has resigned from his positions as Vice Chairman and Director of the club.

Comments from Douglas:

I am, with regret, announcing my resignation as Vice Chairman and Director of Motherwell Football Club Ltd with immediate effect.

In doing so I wish to thank all of the present and former staff of all departments of the Club, with whom it has and was a pleasure and privilege to work with. I would also extend that thanks to all my fellow Club Board Directors with whom I have served.

I feel I need to outline the circumstances of my departure.

I have held the position of Vice Chairman of the Club for some 8 years and also as Joint Chair of the Well Society for around the same time. I also successfully fulfilled Chairman’s duties during the then Chairs illness back in 2017 and indeed was doing so up until now in this transition period.

It is also important to note that myself, the then Chairman Jim McMahon and Club Director Tom Feely were instrumental in the complicated negotiation of the Club into fan ownership from the previous owner Les Hutchison.

Currently I am heavily involved in all aspects of the football club, working with our Chief Executive, all major departments, football, finance, commercial, ground infrastructure and I also involve myself with a number of ongoing projects within the Community Trust. During that time I have built up a mutual respect and relationship with all.

Off the field I have also built a strong relationship with all our major partners including senior figures within NLC and NHS Lanarkshire, interested commercial investors and fellow individual significant shareholders. I am also currently leading a team working on a major strategic stadium project.

I consider my 8 years serving as Vice Chairman as a success in that along with my then fellow Directors we have guided the Club through very uncertain times, Covid etc. managing to support all departments and staff whilst maintaining our SPFL Premiership Status, we helped support our football staff on our successful “home grown” policy, we have played in 2 National Cup Finals, had our European adventures and as I write looking forward to another Cup Semi Final. We also supported the growth of the Women’s Team and moved them firmly to under the Club’s banner.

Most importantly due to the prudent management by the recent Club Board, the Club is on a sound financial footing, the best for around 25years. This is now for others to take up and add to as outlined within the Well Society’s recently published Plan For Growth. I look forward to the much welcomed new investment coming to the Club under the owners’ pledges within the Plan.

Given all the above I therefore found it surprising to be told I was going to be sent a pack by a sub – committee of the Well Society Board inviting me to attend an interview by this committee to assess my suitability to go forward as an Executive Board Director. I have since been sent the pack.

The pack contained instructions for the interview process together with the roles and responsibilities of an Executive Board Director. This sub-committee does not contain anyone, a far as I know who, has sat on a football club Board of Directors.

I believe people who know me personally both within and outwith the game will fully understand, due to my own self respect and concern on the way forward, why I will not be entering into the interview process and I now consider my position untenable. I am also sure that the remaining 29% of the shareholders of the Club will be asking who in the process is looking after their interest.

I will reflect now on over 40 years of my family association with the Club and I have indeed been very proud and have considered it a privilege to serve the Club as Vice Chairman as did my late father in his many roles.

I end by wishing Motherwell Football Club all the success going forward, a Club I walked into some 57 years ago as a young 6 year old fan. I will of course continue supporting the Club from the stands.

Douglas Dickie 

The club wishes to thank Douglas for his service and wishes him the very best for the future.

It was a jam packed match against St Mirren in the William Hill Premiership, with Motherwell looking to make it five wins out of six. 

And despite a decent start in the match, it was the Paisley side who opened the scoring through Killian Phillips. That was only the start of the action.

Marcus Fraser was caught holding Dan Casey in the box. With the referee awarding a spot kick, Miller dispatched with ease to level the game.

The 18-year-old wasn’t done there. Miller worked his way past a defender before volleying low into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to his side. Despite claims of handball from the St Mirren players, the goal stood and the game was turned around.

But the good feeling didn’t last too long into the second-half. In the first attack, Casey was adjudged to have handled the ball on the line, stopping a guaranteed goal in the process. The Irishman saw red and was given his marching orders.

Aston Oxborough stepped up to the plate however, tipping Mark O’Hara’s penalty onto the post.

With a man advantage, St Mirren couldn’t capitalise quickly. They would rue that as Scott Tanser was shown his second yellow of the day for a tackle on Stephen O’Donnell. Suddenly, it was 10v10.

Miller and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had chances, but neither could convert. With a total of 16 minutes stoppage time in the match, eventually time was called and the Steelmen could celebrate another win in North Lanarkshire.

Dylan Wells has joined Edinburgh City on loan until January. 

The young midfielder makes the switch to the League Two side, having made six first-team appearances for Motherwell.

Good luck, Dylan.

Our December fixture against Kilmarnock has been selected for live coverage on Premier Sports.

The match will now take place on Friday 20 December. Kick off is 7.45pm.

The game was originally due to be played on Saturday 21 December.

Sophie Black completes ML1 switch after penning a season-long loan deal.

The midfielder joins the women of steel on a deal from title-chasers Rangers.

The Scottish youth international makes the switch in search of regular first-team action after rising through the ranks at the Ibrox side. Black made her Rangers debut at only 16-years-old and has continued to impress throughout the clubs youth academy.

“I’m delighted to be at the club,” Barclay said.

“Paul and Leanne have a proven track record of developing young players and providing them with the opportunity of regular first-team football. I want to be the next player to follow in those footsteps, so regular first-team minutes were exactly what I was looking to gain.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

The combative midfielder will add an alternative dynamic to Motherwell’s central options and will provide a valuable and productive competition for places.

‘This is a positive addition to the squad,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.

“Sophie is an exciting young player and someone who we feel can compete and enhance our options across the centre of the pitch.

“We are looking forward to aiding her development this season.”

Stuart Kettlewell reacts to Motherwell’s 2-1 win over St Mirren.

Despite losing an early goal, a Lennon Miller double secured three points which propelled the Steelmen into fourth place.

Motherwell emerged from an action-packed game with a narrow 2-1 win over St Mirren and extended their excellent home form and made it four consecutive home wins.

And although Lennon Miller earned the man of the match award for his all-round display and his two goals, Aston Oxborough had an outstanding 90 minutes. The ‘Well keeper capped his performance with a wonderful penalty save to deny Mark O’Hara and Saints a share of the points.

Add in two sending offs, Dan Casey for the home side and Scott Tanser for the visitors, which reduced the team to 10v10 for the last half hour, and this game had just about everything in terms of entertainment.

Stuart Kettlewell made one significant change, with Moses Ebiye being rewarded for his impact off the bench to earn a starting spot alongside Zach Robinson.

Former ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson returned to Fir Park with a handful of ex-Steelmen in his squad. The starting eleven included Mark O’Hara and Mikael Mandron, while James Scott and Charles Dunne joined Kevin van Veen on the bench.

With both teams making a positive start, it was an incident-packed opening spell to what was a great game.

In the eigth minute, Oxborough raced from his goal to brilliantly spread himself and divert Toyosi Olusanya’s low finish before the Saints’ striker was then flagged offside.

A minute later, the ‘Well’keeper was beaten as the visitors opened the scoring. Elvis Bwomono’s low ball across the box found Phillips, who, with a smart turn, fired the ball low inside the left-hand post.

The Fir Park men might have equalised six minutes later. O’Hara’s slack pass was intercepted by Ebiye, but after working his way into the box and from a tight angle, he lashed the ball into the side net when he should have at least tested the ‘keeper.

Three minutes after that, though, ‘Well did find the back of the net.

Halliday’s deep corner was intended for Casey at the back of the six-yard box. But when the central defender was bundled to the ground by Marcus Fraser, referee Lloyd Wilson had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

And for the second consecutive game, Miller looked confident and composed as he slotted the ball high into the ‘keeper’s left-hand corner to level the scores.

The visitor’s response was a hook shot from Olusanya, which flew narrowly past the post as play continued to race from end to end.

‘Well’s set pieces posed a threat on the Buddies goal, and Miller’s wicked inswinging corner forced Ellery Balcombe to palm the ball over his bar under pressure from Ebiye.

On the half hour mark, the Saints’ ‘keeper was busy again. This time Halliday’s corner did find Casey, and his downward header was palmed around his right-hand post by Balcombe.

A minute from halftime, Fir Park grabbed the lead. Stephen O’Donnell’s burst into the box was blocked, but when the ball rolled out to Halliday on the right, he pulled it back to Miller. Despite being surrounded by Saints players, the teenager found enough space to stab the ball beyond the diving Balcombe and inside his post.

The eight minutes of additional time before the interval was the signal for the Paisley side to lay siege on the ‘Well goal in search of an equaliser before halftime.

And it looked certain to arrive when Killian Phillips, four yards from goal, glanced his header down and set to bounce over the line until Oxborough produced a stunning save, diving low to his right to claw the ball away from his goal.

A couple of minutes into the second half, the ‘Well keeper equalled that with another stunning stop to preserve his side’s lead.

Oxborough did well to push the ball across his line and then watch Casey sliding towards the post and block Phillips thumping effort. And although the ‘Well defender was adamant that he blocked the shot with his chest, the referee’s decision to award a penalty for handball was backed up by VAR.

That also earned Casey a red card, but as ‘Well faced the challenge of being reduced to 10 men, Oxborough gave the team and fans a boost, diving far to his right to get both hands on O’Hara’s spot kick and push the ball to safety.

Kettlewell immediately sent on Kofi Balmer to fill the gap at the back, with Ebiye being sacrificed.

However, numerical parity was restored on the hour mark when Scott Tanser picked up his second yellow after a needless challenge on O’Donnell.

Stephen Robinson then decided to ring the changes, bringing on Kevin van Veen in the hope of finding an equaliser.

However, it was Miller who had the chance to net his hat-trick when, under pressure from Gogic, he side-footed Wilson’s tempting cross over the ‘keeper from 10 yards.

With 20 minutes remaining of an absorbing game, Kettlewell made a triple substitution, bringing on Marvin Kaleta, Tony Watt, and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.

The final change for the Steelmen arrived when Tom Sparrow joined the action for the final seven minutes or so and the sub contributed to what would have been a decisive third goal.

Two minutes from the end of the regulation 90, Sparrow won the ball at the edge of the box before feeding Paul McGinn wide on the right. His cross towards the six-yard area was met by the diving frame of Stamatelopoulos, who was denied his first goal for the club as his header produced another superb save as this time Balcombe dived across his goal to beat the ball away.

That left Saints eight additional minutes to find an equaliser, but the Fir Park men controlled the game until the end to deservedly earn another three points.

Full-back Brannan McDermott has joined Lowland League side Broomhill on loan until January. 

The 18-year-old played a part in the friendly match against Livingston at Fir Park in July, and also made his competitive debut for the club against Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup.

McDermott heads out to Broomhill, in what is his first loan move in his career.

Good luck, Brannan.

Having impressed with Falkirk in the second tier of Scottish football, Billy Davies brought Martyn Corrigan to Fir Park in 2000.

Not even Corrigan could have foreseen this as the start of an eight-year relationship with the club, and nobody could have predicted that he would become a Hall of Famer.

But that’s exactly what happened. And despite his stint playing for Motherwell lasting eight years, he now has a lifetime contract with the club in terms of his love and admiration for the place.

“There’s only one club for me, and that’s Motherwell,” Corrigan said.

“When I first came to Motherwell, the supporters welcomed me in straight away. We fell in love together. The day I left broke my heart, but that’s football. From the first day to the last, I loved the club.

“Billy Davies was there when I first signed and John Boyle came in. They were trying to build a team that would be successful. I walked into the dressing room and saw the standard of quality of the players in there.

“I had to work really hard to get up to that standard. After Billy left, Terry Butcher came in and he was magnificent for me. He was a winner, a defender and a ball player. He suited me perfectly.”

In his eight years and over 217 appearances, Corrigan played his fair share of cup football. From Hampden to Stranraer and everything in between, there is one moment in particular that stands out.

“The semi-final of the CIS Cup when we played at Hearts at Easter Road,” he explained.

“Halfway through that game, I broke my hand. The physio said I needed to come off; my middle finger was going in the wrong direction!

“I’ve got a strange body, so when I break a bone, I don’t really feel it. I said strap it up because I’m not coming off. I’m playing on. He did that and I played the rest of the game. We won the game and got to the final, which was actually the next game I played.”

Most Motherwell fans will recall that late Marc Fitzpatrick winner well at Easter Road under the lights. The jubilation in the away stand behind the goal was clear to see as thousands of Motherwell fans celebrated with relief and joy that they would get to see their team play in the final.

But the supporters of the club do more than just support and sing. As a player, Corrigan always felt the expectation from the stands, which helped him perform to a higher standard.

“One thing about Motherwell is, it’s always been a family club,” the Hall of Famer said.

“It’s always a group of players who are together and work hard. That’s down to the supporters. They demand that.

“It makes you work harder as a team to please them. In my time there, it didn’t matter who came in; we demanded that standard from everyone.”

With the prospect of playing at Hampden Park in a semi-final now a reality for the class of 2024/25, Corrigan believes the squad now has the capabilities to secure more.

“Hampden was one of my favourite stadiums to play in,” he added.

“The atmosphere when you’re running out onto the park is top class. Whether you’ve played there before or it’s your first time, it’s an honour.

“Obviously some of the boys, like Stephen O’Donnell, have played there numerous times. Andy Halliday has some experience there too.

“It’ll be great to have that experience within the ranks to help the boys who aren’t familiar with that feeling.”

As Corrigan reflects back on his time, he can’t help but recall the special relationship he had with the fans and how much that helped him through the not-so-good moments.

“I remember we played in a semi-final at Hampden against Celtic and I was at fault for the last goal,” Corrigan explained.

“Hampden was full and the fans had come out in their droves. I was the last man who passed the ball back to Graeme Smith and he had to check his run. He saved it because he was making the run wide, so Celtic got an indirect free kick.

“Shaun Maloney scored with the last kick of the ball and they got through to the final. I apologised to all the players because I didn’t realise ‘Buzz’ was making a run to the side. Terry Butcher told me not to worry about it, but I was devastated.

“When we got back to Fir Park, there were 1000 Motherwell fans singing my name. That’s what it’s all about; they were always there for me. I’d cost us a cup final chance and they were singing ‘Kasier, Kaiser’.

“I made sure I came out the following week and did well!”

Now retired from playing and teaching people how to drive a car, Corrigan still finds time to come back to Fir Park to follow the team.

“I’m part of the ex-player supporters club,” he smiled.

“I love going back. I know some of the players and know Stuart Kettlewell really well. I still know David Clarkson, who is there, and Alan McDonald, the kit man. They’re all great guys and there are a lot of good people out with them who are still there.

“It’s always been a great club, and it’s so close to my heart. I wish all the boys all the very best.”