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Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm Stephen Robinson as its new permanent manager.

The club had a shortlist of five candidates and following background research and interviews, Stephen emerged as the outstanding candidate, with the Board extremely impressed by his plan and vision and how that matched the needs of the club.

42-year old Robinson is a former Northern Irish International, but a long playing career with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient, Bournemouth, Preston North End, Bristol City and Luton Town He also collected several youth international caps and seven senior caps for his country of birth.

When he retired from playing, he was employed by the Irish FA and coached at every youth level from schoolboys to U21s. In September 2014 he joined-up with the senior set-up as coach, working with Michael O’Neil. He helped them qualify for Euro 2016 in France and, eventually, progress from the group stages into the last sixteen.

He became Motherwell Assistant Manager in February of 2015, a post he held until last summer, where he left for a spell at Oldham Atheltic in the EFL League One. Things didn’t quite work out as planned at Latics despite a complete overhaul in the playing and coaching staff and he left his position at Boundary Park back in January to return to Fir Park.

Following Mark McGhee’s departure two weeks ago, Robinson has taken the team on a temporary basis but has been handed the reigns on a full-time capacity, with a contract until May 2018.

Robinson, who is the twenty-fourth different boss to lead Motherwell in its 131-year history and the clubs’ first Northern Irish gaffer said: “I am absolutely delighted and proud to lead this football club, a club with a rich history in the Scottish game.

[pullquote]“It’s a great place to be with great people with a support that deserve success.[/pullquote]

“My mission from the Board is absolutely clear. Firstly, to ensure the team have a strong finish to the SPFL Premiership season and finish as high as we possibly can between now and May.

“Then, to help shape the club going forward with a strong emphasis on hard-work, discipline and a real passion and desire for Motherwell FC that the fans can get behind and be proud of.”

Club Chairman Jim McMahon added: “We are extremely pleased Stephen has taken the role of manager and we look forward to working with him in the future.

“The Executive Board, together with representatives from both the Supervisory Board and the ‘Well Society, identified a shortlist of five candidates from over fifty applicants and as well as doing a extensive amount of background work, took its time to conclude an rigorous interview process.

“It was clear that Stephen was the outstanding candidate. He has a real vision of what the club needed in the short, medium and long-term and a plan of how he would implement it.

“His values, skills and attributes matched exactly with the criteria we developed to be the manager of this football club and we wish him every success. I would ask our fantastic supporters to get behind Stephen and the players as we aim to finish the campaign strongly.”

Three ‘Well stars have been called up to the Scotland under-21 squad for an upcoming International Challenge match against Estonia.

Chris Cadden, who has become a regular feature with the under-21s since his first call-up last year, is joined by 19-year-old defender Zak Jules and on loan midfielder Dom Thomas, who is receiving his first call-up.

The 21-year-old, who is on loan with Championship side Queen of the South, has caught the attention of head coach Scott Gemmill after impressing with the Doonhamers.

In nine appearances since his January switch, the young midfielder has bagged three goals and provided one assist so far.

The challenge match, which takes place at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on March 28, pits the Scots against Estonia.

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to congratulate Chris, Zak and Dom and wish the three youngsters all the best for the match in just under two weeks time.

Motherwell FC is calling on volunteers to offer a helping hand around Fir Park.

Ahead of next weekends Irn-Bru Cup Final between Dundee United and St Mirren, the football club is asking for volunteers to come forward to help us prepare Fir Park for this prestigious occasion.

Safety and Facilities manager Alan Marshall believes that the more people coming together next week the better – in order to help get the home of the Steelmen ready to host the Scottish Challenge Cup Final.

Alan said: “We are all extremely proud of our club and our stadium and it’s important to us that we have Fir Park looking at it’s very best.

“It’s yet another big occasion for the club and with the help of as many volunteers as possible, we can prepare the stadium for next weekend’s final.”

He added: “With a game on Saturday, it is a short turnaround in terms of preparing for another match soon after.

“Therefore, if anyone is keen to offer some helping hands, it would be great if they could get in touch.”

It will be the fifth occasion that Fir Park will have hosted the Scottish Challenge Cup Final – this year sponsored by IRN-BRU – having staged the competition’s first two finals in 1990/91 and 1991/92, as well as those in seasons 1993/94 and 1997/98.

If you are interested in helping your club, call 01698 333 333 or email alan.marshall@motherwellfc.co.uk. Anyone that can help the club will receive a ticket for an upcoming Motherwell FC home game.

All nine goals from this evening’s 3-6 defeat to Partick Thistle at the Excelsior Stadium.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan admitted there haven’t been many occasions this season where his side have been so exposed.

Speaking after a 6-3 defeat against Partick Thistle in the Development League, Craigan admitted his side must do better.

In an interview with MFC TV, the Northern Irishman said: “There hasn’t been very many situations this season where we’ve felt quite as exposed as we were tonight.

“Whether it boils down to people making wrong decisions or not being able to defend right or giving people free headers.

[pullquote]It’s easy to say that when you win because everybody’s buzzing and happy, but tonight was a night where maybe some of them slipped their standards a bit and dropped off.[/pullquote]

“I know they are always the last line of defence and the ball has to break down before it gets to them – I’m fully appreciative of that because I used to play there myself.”

He added: “But I think back to the Aberdeen game up in Montrose, we were comfortable that night, and I spoke about being relentless in your pursuit of success.

“It’s easy to say that when you win because everybody’s buzzing and happy, but tonight was a night where maybe some of them slipped their standards a bit and dropped off.”

You can watch Craigan’s full post match interview on MFC TV’s YouTube channel.

Motherwell under 20s suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Partick Thistle tonight – losing 6-3 in the Development League.

A flurry of goals in the opening fifteen minutes and a first half hattrick from Neil McLaughlin sent the hosts in to the half time break 5-2 down.

And in a quieter second half, the Steelmen couldn’t repair the damage as the visitors saw out the game to take all three points at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.

The game got off to a hectic start when Blyth looped a header over Conor Cullen, despite it looking like the keeper was set to gather it comfortably.

But before the Steelmen had time to settle, Partick hit back through McLaughlin who controlled a loose ball in the heart of the ‘Well box before stroking it in to the bottom corner and past the helpless Ollie Pain.

Two minutes later and Partick had the lead through McLaughlin’s second of the evening. Stealing the ball deep in their own half, Partick sprung a deadly counter attack, with the Thistle midfielder collecting the ball on the left, driving at the Fir Parkers defence and slipping a neat finish in to the far, bottom corner.

Less than three minutes later and before there was even 15 minutes on the clock, Motherwell should have drawn level when Adam Livingstone’s clever run was picked out by a lofted ball over the defence from Jack McMillan on the opposite flank, only for the left back to fluff his header wide of the mark.

Shea Gordon made no mistake with his header a minute later, nodding a Tom Fry cross in to the far corner to equalise in the 15^th minute of the match.

Blyth went close to his second of the night when his towering header flashed inches past Cullen’s far post, just before Partick hit the hosts on the break to take the lead.

Mark Lamont struck the woodwork with a right footed effort but it ricocheted perfectly for Andrew McCarthy to pass in to an empty net.

Two minutes later and Motherwell should have had a penalty. Blyth was at the heart of the action again as he tried to control the ball eight yards from goal, only to be pushed to the deck in what was a blatant foul. The referee waved play on though despite the numerous shouts.

The senior forward nearly drew the Fir Parkers level shortly after the half hour mark, but, from yet another header, he just missed the target.

Dominic Docherty managed to convert a header five minutes later though, rising to nod his header low past Pain from an in swinging McCarthy cross.

The visitors rubbed salt in the Steelmen’s wounds when McLaughlin sealed a first half hattrick. A neat cutback from the right flank fell perfectly for the Thistle man to step on to and power low in to the bottom corner from just inside the box.

The second half got off to a far quieter start than the first. In the first quarter of an hour there was just the one goal compared to the four in the same period in the first half.

Much to the disappointment of the onlooking ‘Well fans it was Partick who drew first blood in the second half, with Nisbet racing through one-on-one and passing low past Pain after he coasted beyond the ‘Well defence far too easily.

Stephen Craigan made a couple of changes in the space of five minutes, replacing Maguire with Armstrong before taking off Blyth for Dylan Mackin.

And the tall striker made his mark just seven minutes after coming on – heading home a cross from Hastie past Cullen in to the bottom corner to reduce the deficit to three.

The Northern Irish coach made his third and final substitution in the 82^nd minute, calling on forward James Scott and withdrawing Gordon.

Motherwell U20s: Pain, McMillan, Livingstone, Maguire (Armstrong ’60), Chalmers, Campbell, Fry, Turnbull, Blyth (Mackin ’65), Hastie, Gordon (Scott ’82)

Unused subs: Pettigrew, Agyeman

At just 19 years of age, Zak Jules looks destined to go on to big things in the game.

Standing at 6ft 3in and developing as a teenager under the guidance of Jaap Stam at Reading – Zak has already racked up 12 appearances for the Scottish national team at different age groups.

But for the young central defender, his spell so far in Lanarkshire has been integral to developing his experience as a player.

“I’ve settled in really well,” the teen admitted. “The players, coaching staff and everyone around the club have been really welcoming which has made it easier for me to get my head down and focus on what’s important – football matches.

[pullquote]The players, coaching staff and everyone around the club have been really welcoming which has made it easier for me to get my head down and focus on what’s important – football matches.[/pullquote]

“I feel this spell here at Motherwell is what I’ve needed to improve myself as a player.”

He added: “One thing that young players don’t have is experience and luckily enough for me I’ve come up here to get that.”

Ahead of Saturday’s crucial encounter with St Johnstone, Zak looked back on what he admitted was a hard loss to take against Aberdeen on Saturday.

He said: “You’ve got to take the positives from the game – we had a game plan and we stuck to it really well, we made it very hard for Aberdeen.

“But against a good side like Aberdeen if you give them an inch they’ll punish you and unfortunately we gave them a little bit too much room in the last two minutes of the game.”

He added: “That makes it hurt a lot more than the 7-2 defeat when you’ve gone a whole 90 minutes without conceding a goal.

“But looking forward, as long as we stick to our game plan I think results will come.”

Returning to Fir Park after consecutive trips on the road, the Reading loanee touched on the significance of bouncing back to winning ways this weekend.

[pullquote]It’s very important on Saturday. We need to start getting those points on the board and climb up the table to get as far away from the bottom two as much as possible.[/pullquote]

He said: “It’s very important on Saturday. We need to start getting those points on the board and climb up the table to get as far away from the bottom two as much as possible.

“I feel our squad is strong enough to do so and I believe in the teammates that I have, as well as believe in myself, to do just that.

“We’ve got to take each game as it comes and hopefully we’ll find ourselves picking up more points than we’ll be dropping.”

Don’t miss Zak’s full interview in the 16th issue of ‘Steelmen’ – Motherwell FC’s official matchday programme – available for £3 this weekend.

Voting has opened for Motherwell’s Player of the Month for February – sponsored by Motorpoint.

Every month, ‘Well fans have the opportunity to cast their vote for who they think has put in the best performances.

February was packed full of tough encounters for the Steelmen, who took on Hearts, Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee; who did enough to get your vote?

Thanks to club sponsors Motorpoint, the decision is up to the fans, so cast your vote now.

[poll id=”315″]

The next home fixture of the campaign pits the Steelmen against St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership, and don’t miss out on the chance to experience our matchday hospitality.

There is now limited availability for the vastly popular packages, tailored to suit all budgets and needs.

Choose from our Centenary Suite, Millennium Suite and South Stand Boxes – where you can have a celebration in a box or a day out with friends with our new reduced packages.

[pullquote]It’s a fantastic way to experience a match here at Fir Park, and we look forward to what will be a big day on and off the pitch.[/pullquote]

Head of Commercial and Marketing Suzanne Reid said: “With the St Johnstone game just over a week away, now is the time to secure one of our hospitality packages, which are already selling out fast.

“It’s a fantastic way to experience a match here at Fir Park, and we look forward to what will be a big day on and off the pitch.”

There is also Match Sponsorship options available, but be quick, with all the hospitality packages selling out fast.

For more information, please contact hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk or phone 01698 33 33 33.

A top Motherwell fan is set to attend this weekend’s Premiership clash against St Johnstone as a mascot.

And for nine year-old Zak MacFarlane, who turns ten on March 27, the upcoming match is extra-special after a tough spell over Christmas for him and his family.

Zak spent the festive period in Wishaw General Children’s Ward suffering from pneumonia.

But the spirited youngster was given a boost when he got the chance to meet a group of Motherwell stars.

Kitted in his beloved ‘Well top, Zak requested to be rushed through his x-ray’s so he didn’t miss out on meeting Chris Cadden, Louis Moult, Keith Lasley, Stevie Hammell, Richard Tait and Lionel Ainsworth.

And Zak’s proud mum Ailsa expressed just how excited her son is for the weekend.

[pullquote]He’s been asking me ‘I wonder what it’ll feel like walking out the tunnel and walking on to the pitch?’ and he’s been counting down the days.[/pullquote]

She said: “He absolutely loved it when the players visited the hospital, it was all he talked about and it was a really nice day.

“He was suffering from pneumonia but he has epilepsy as well so that means there’s spells which are not so good for his health.”

She added: “We’re all ecstatic for him, he’s so excited and this is giving him something to look forward to.

“He’s been asking me ‘I wonder what it’ll feel like walking out the tunnel and walking on to the pitch?’ and he’s been counting down the days.”

Marketing and Fan Engagement manager Ryan Murrant said: “This is exactly what the club is about. We’re a community driven club that can help create magic moments like this.”

He added: “We’re all so glad to hear that Zak is doing better and we’re delighted to have him come to the club for the game.

“He rushed the doctors to speed through his x-ray so he couldn’t miss out seeing the players, and on Saturday he gets an even better experience.”