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Whatever your financial goals, don’t miss this year’s use-by date for your tax allowances.

· It’s important to understand your financial targets and how to achieve them. Making the best use of your tax allowances, exemptions and reliefs before their use-by date (the end of this tax year on 5 April) could help get you there sooner.

· Tax-efficient pensions and Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are important options when it comes to creating a more secure financial future.

· If you’re thinking about how to pass your wealth to loved ones, look at ways to reduce the Inheritance Tax on your estate, such as gifting money to children or grandchildren.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic making the future feel uncertain, you may feel torn between wanting to save for your long-term financial goals and shorter-term measures. Recently, the rising interest in Japanese online casinos has introduced new financial dynamics for many, as some individuals explore these platforms not only for entertainment but also as an unconventional means to grow their savings. Whether you’re planning for a long-awaited holiday or building a savings buffer after a challenging period, understanding these evolving financial options can help inform how you approach your post-pandemic financial strategy.

But where do you start?

Depending on your situation, it will differ. But the best thing to look for is a balance between short-, mid- and long-term goals. An expert in financial planning can help you navigate the options and create a plan that meets your goals.

Acting now, and making the most of your tax allowances could go a long way toward helping you reach your goals sooner.

· If you’re starting to build a financial foundation…

…you can consider taking on more risk with your investments. The longer your money is invested, the greater the potential rewards.

· If you’re securing the financial future for you and your family…

…don’t panic if you haven’t done much about this yet – you’re not alone. People often put off investing for the future as they manage today’s cash-flow needs, particularly during these difficult times. But it’s never too late to begin.

· If you’re thinking about a comfortable retirement…

…you should make the best, and most appropriate, use of all available tax-efficient savings options, particularly your pension and ISAs.

When it comes to pensions, there is a lot to consider, and financial advice is critical to ensure you maximise the opportunities.

· If you’re considering how to pass on your wealth…

…look at the tax-efficient options available to support other people in your family, now and in the future.

Whatever your goals, the time is ripe to ensure you’re making the most of this year’s tax-saving allowances and reliefs. Contact us before 5 April for expert guidance and let us help you plan your financial future. https://srbwm.co.uk/contact

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief is generally dependent on individual circumstances.

Channel Finance Group are a growing Commercial finance brokerage based in the central belt of Scotland. We feel extremely proud to be part of the Motherwell FC community and have been making the most of it!

Since beginning our sponsorship of Motherwell Women in August, we have attended multiple games with clients, met with some of the players and given away lots of tickets to lucky followers.

Our sister company, Channel Mortgages, will be using this opportunity to support the players at the club with any mortgage and protection needs they may require and extend this to any staff or fans of the club too. In addition to this, Channel Finance Group will be working closely with Leanne Crichton and Paul Brownlie to support the future of the women’s team and academy. This partnership is based on shared values and we are very much looking forward to continuing it in the future.

At Channel Finance Group we offer various financial solutions which are tailored towards businesses of all types and sizes! As a directly authorised firm we have access to a panel of lenders which has solutions for all. Our aim is to make finance simple and accessible which is why we tailor each service to your individual needs.

Channel Mortgages recently partnered with award winning network Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB). This has expanded our network and as a thank you to the Motherwell FC community for welcoming us as the Motherwell Women shirt sponsor, we would like to offer a Free Mortgage and Protection review for all Motherwell Fans.

If you are interested in this, please email us at hello@channelmortgages.co.uk or call us on 0141 212 0740 and we can get your review underway for free!

New College Lanarkshire has launched a partnership with Motherwell Football Club that will help nurture the sports coaches of the future.

The HNC Sports Coaching programme, which will be based at NCL’s Motherwell Campus and Ravenscraig Sports Centre, will give students the knowledge and skills they need to work as professionals within football or the wider discipline of sports development and coaching. The programme will also pave the way for further study at HND or Degree level.

Once the course begins in August, successful applicants will benefit from work placements at the Motherwell Football Club Community Trust.

In addition to live coaching sessions, learners will study sports development, sport science aspects such as anatomy and sports nutrition, and athlete wellbeing. The course may also offer additional opportunities for students to participate in and support the wider activity of the club.

The HNC also includes an embedded, stand alone, industry-recognised Professional Development Award in Sports Coaching at SCQF Level 7. This is jointly certificated by SportScotland and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

“We are really excited to launch this partnership with one of our local clubs, Motherwell FC, and we expect the course to be really popular,” Todd Lumsden, Curriculum and Quality Leader for Sport and Fitness and New College Lanarkshire said.

“It will give students the opportunity to put what they’re learning at NCL into practice with a top-flight football club.

“It’s a fantastic chance to boost your employment prospects either within football or sports coaching, or to take the first step towards an HND or Degree.”

“Motherwell Football Club is delighted to be working in partnership with New College Lanarkshire to offer this opportunity to aspiring coaches,” Dawn Middleton, Motherwell FC Community Trust General Manager, said,

“The Community Trust will offer placements to every student across our broad range of projects, allowing them to work with a range of abilities, age groups and outcomes, putting their academic theory into practice.

“Students will also have the opportunity to move into paid sessional work with the Trust, enhancing their future employment profile.”

More information on the course, which starts in August 2022, can be found here.

Motherwell FC is something a little different from the football norm, and we need a new Head of Digital, Brand and Communications to help us tell the world about it.

We need an individual who will shape, direct and deliver the club’s external communications strategies. You will lead the club’s award-winning digital team, marketing team, our new data/CRM team and our various publications, as well as continue to evolve our brand.

But we don’t just want anyone who may have the requisite qualifications and experience or someone who loves football. We want a person who truly believes in this sport the way we do and wants to inspire others to feel the same and be a part of our journey.

Motherwell FC is a Scottish Premiership football club that has won every major domestic honour in Scotland at some point in our history. We were the first top-flight fully fan-owned football club in Great Britain with a fantastic supporter base that’s loyal, generous, colourful, boisterous and passionate.

We want to be a club that wins football matches and puts on an entertaining show for those fans every game. However, as equally important to us is what our football club stands for, who we represent and the values and principles that define us and why we exist.

We are both a football club and a cause, and that cause is to improve the lives of the people we engage with, whether that’s our supporters, our neighbours, community, or anyone who needs it. We shine a torch on issues that may be taboo, be it on mental health, suicide, poverty, unemployment or social inclusion.

We believe passionately in using our highly engaged public platform to help people and make a positive difference each day. We don’t just say it because it looks and feels good. We do so because we genuinely believe it, and it means a lot to our supporters and us. Therefore, it’s vitally important that the people charged with shaping and telling our story publicly fully believe in why we do what we do too.

We have forged a culture at the club that pairs the need and desire for a highly professional sporting environment that encourages excellent performance and player development with a real visible social conscience. It’s what we think makes us stand out from the others, and it is football how we believe it should be.

If you share that mindset and agree with our beliefs, and think you can help us tell that story and inspire people, this could be the job for you.

But, the hours can be long and challenging. When the initial glamour and excitement dissipates, it can be mentally tough, particularly with big shoes to fill. The pressures and expectations can be challenging to cope with, and any mistakes are made in the public eye. You may even have to drop everything you’re doing and immediately jump into work mode, as the world of football rarely sleeps. You will also need to get your hands dirty. This role is a much a doing one as it is a leadership one. It’s a bit cliché, but no day or challenge will ever be the same.

If you see all those things as challenges to overcome rather than barriers, and you thrive in that type of fast-paced environment, you will not only love it, but more importantly, you can help us shape something unique and tell a wonderful story that will showcase the best elements of the beautiful game, and we want you to be on our team.

What exactly is “essential” for the job?

The most important thing is you can do the job well and have a passion for what we stand for, whether that’s because you’ve been through a higher education programme or because you’ve worked somewhere to build up that knowledge. Or both. We’re open-minded.

We want someone with a solid work ethic and obsessed with improving what we do. We are looking for someone to continue our work, but who can also make their stamp on the role, the department and the club, but you’ll also be pushed hard and challenged.

We are looking for someone who is goal orientated and will ensure whatever task is appropriately planned, executed, and completed. And we are also looking for someone who can bring the best out in staff, empowering them to work autonomously while also supporting, guiding and helping them develop.

The day-to-day also includes managing internal relationships, video editing and approval, writing copy, social media posting, analysing trends and data using Blinkfire Analytics, and paid social and email marketing, so we are looking for candidates with relevant experience or an aptitude for those tasks as well.

What does success look like and how will we measure it?

A big part of our strategy to retain our supporters, keep them interested and captivated as well as gain new fans is by creating engaging and captivating digital content that people not only enjoy but relate to and, importantly, ties in with the values and principles of the club.

We have grown our digital footprint beyond all recognition in the last four years. We are currently the fifth most followed professional football team in Scotland across the five major platforms. We are closing in on being the biggest online outside of Celtic and Rangers. We want to continue that upward trend and will work with you to set ambitious targets on how we continue to produce the sort of content that is not only enjoyable for our most loyal supporters but to those who might take a growing interest in the club.

Our productions in video, graphics and photography are taken care of by our exceptionally talented staff. We would look to you to have experience in managing the three, particularly video, with an ability to shape projects, participate where necessary, and also ensure the final products are of the required standard.

We have also recently partnered with CRM providers Sports Alliance to ensure we give our fans the most appropriate content and information tailored to individual fans’ needs and wants. For that, we will need to resource the new department properly. One of your first jobs will be to ensure we have talented provision within marketing and data analysis to help us achieve our growth targets in both season ticket numbers and matchday attendances.

We are also at the stage of needing to develop a new website which is fit for purpose for engaging our current support, providing services to our fans and also attracting new ones. You’ll also be at the heart of the project to develop that with external agencies.

We want to maintain and continue to grow a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the Scottish media. Motherwell FC views the media as partners and colleagues. We want to be recognised as a welcoming, helpful, and respectful club to deal with whilst maximising our exposure to deliver our message and core purpose and drive real value for our sponsors and partners. A big part of your role will be to maintain a healthy line of communication between the club and the Scottish press. You will be our figurehead, spokesperson and point of contact.

What is some of our best digital content?

To give you a flavour of what we’re about, here are some of the various pieces of digital content that we’ve created over the last few years, showcasing the stories that we tell and the access we have.

https://twitter.com/i/events/1387019766301351938

What is the salary?

Motherwell FC places a huge emphasis on this area of the business. As such, we think the package, including performance-related bonuses, on offer will be highly competitive, and we would be happy to speak in confidence to any potential applicant about the parameters.

How do I apply?

Send a CV and a cover letter to alan.burrows@motherwellfc.co.uk. We want to know what experience you can bring, what you know about us and what you think is necessary to drive us on to the next level.

Our popular Business Breakfast event returns on Friday 25 February with a talk from our head of recruitment Nick Daws.

Appointed in June last year, the Englishman has set about improving ‘Well’s transfer strategy. Join him from 8.30am to 10am at Fir Park to hear all about his work

Book online here to secure your place for £10. The price includes a breakfast roll, tea/coffee and orange juice.

Our club exists to improve people’s lives, and for the benefit of our community.

That is why Motherwell Football Club stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the 97 Liverpool FC supporters who lost their lives at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989 and why we are proud to pledge our support to the Hillsborough Law Now campaign.

The campaign, formed by the Hillsborough families and survivors of the tragedy, calls for a change to the legal system in England and Wales to prevent others going through what the close relatives of the 97 have – and continue to – experience in their quest for justice.

Supported by Mayor Steve Rotheram of the Liverpool City Region and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, the new law proposes to compel all public officials to be truthful at inquiries into public tragedies or disaster situations, while also offering bereaved families better access to financial resources for legal representation at inquests.

In greater detail, the campaign calls for:

• A charter for families bereaved through public tragedy which should be binding on all public bodies.

• A statutory duty of candour on all police officers – and other public servants – which applies during all forms of public inquiry and criminal investigation.

• Proper participation of bereaved families at inquests, through publicly-funded legal representation and an end to limitless legal spending by bodies. Parity of legal funding would at least create a level playing field in courtrooms.

• A public advocate to act for families of the deceased after major incidents.

Motherwell Football Club becomes the first club in Scotland to support the campaign, following in the footsteps of our counterparts at Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Tranmere Rovers FC.

Motherwell FC chairman Jim McMahon said: “As the UK’s first fully fan-owned top-flight club, we are proud to stand in solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones at, or as a result of, the tragic events of football’s darkest day.

“The dignity with which the families have carried themselves represents everything anyone needs to know about them and the people of the city of Liverpool.

“Although we accept this is a devolved matter, and some of the detail is already relevant in Scots Law at a Fatal Accident Inquiry, we call on the UK government to give serious consideration to adopting Hillsborough Law and to ensure that the football fans who weren’t able to return home, or those who have suffered terribly in the aftermath of that fateful day, at least have a legacy of ensuring their injustice is unlikely to be repeated.”

Scotland’s number one ABBA tribute duo Super Troopers are coming back to Fir Park.

Playing live at the Centenary Suite at Fir Park on Saturday 19 March, tickets are a bargain £6 per person to have a great night with friends.

Tickets are now available online at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk, or you can give us a call on 01698 333333 to book your place.

Check out our fantastic Valentine’s Day gift ideas and pricing for the Motherwell fan in your life.

Commemorative Brick

Purchase a brick fascia with your own personal message. Each brick comes with an official certificate, which can be framed and kept by the recipient as a permanent reminder, giving the fan you love the opportunity to be even closer to their club.

Get yours now for £50 (was £55).

Motherwell FC Special Edition Loch Lomond Gin

Inspired by the majesty and beauty of Ben Lomond and the Trossachs, Ben Lomond is a vibrant and crisp Scottish Gin with a delicate berry sweetness. We’ve a limited number of bottles available so make sure your Valentine doesn’t miss out.

Buy online now for £25 (was £30).

Limited edition 1991 Scottish Cup Commemorative Whisky

The 10-year-old single malt has been matured in American oak casks and has a perfect balance of fruit notes with hints of honey and vanilla with a light touch of peat smoke. The perfect gift for the ‘Well fan in your life.

Available to buy online now for £45 (was £50).

Motherwell FC Community Trust’s autism friendly football sessions are back once again after taking a break over the holidays. Everyone deserves to be included in sports and should feel welcome.

The Community Trust runs the autism friendly sessions in. partnership with Reach Lanarkshire, an autism charity which helps support the parents and carers of autistic children around both South and North Lanarkshire.

The class was originally set up in April 2021. There is no age limit for the group, but the majority of the participants are between primary and secondary school age. The children learn basic football skills such as passing, shooting, and dribbling.

There is no pressure on the kids to attend every session, either. Typical football sessions can be triggering for autistic people due to what can be large pieces of confusing information being relayed to them at once.

They can be extremely noisy, the feeling of wearing kit can cause irritation on their skin and make them feel uncomfortable, to name just a few issues.

William Francis, one of the head coaches of the team, said, “Colour coded cones are used to help the youngsters improve their skills. We ensure sessions are fun and engaging and follow 9 similar structure every week so that our participants can have a routine. We keep instructions simple and use a variety of visual demonstrations.

“We also try to avoid overloading them with too much information that would potentially confuse them.”

Since autism can impact a person’s social skills, a lot of young autistic people find it hard to make friends and they feel lonely as a result. The National Library of Medicine in 2000 found that children with autism reported higher degrees of loneliness than those in the same age group as them, as well as a lower association between social interaction and loneliness than non-autistic children.

The Community Trust’s autism friendly sessions provide young people the chance to meet and engage with others similar to them and form good relationships that they may not have been able to do if the sessions didn’t exist.

“It is really rewarding for me seeing the children having fun enjoying playing football, it is so important to us that they all have a positive experience,” said William.

“The kids are lovely, they all get on well with each other and have made friendships with both us and each other.

“I have worked with autistic children previously, before getting involved with the group I was a coach with “Active Schools’ and I would deliver sessions to schools that were for pupils with additional supports needs which is something I still enjoy doing to this day.

“Unfortunately, there are still a lot of misconceptions surrounding autism and the ways autistic people should be treated. Some still confuse an autistic meltdown or shut down as a child behaving badly, especially in public places which can provoke a negative reaction.

“Sensory overload and meltdowns can be prevented with sensory objects such as tinted glasses, noise cancelling headphones and weighted blankets. Being calm towards a child who is suffering from a meltdown is vital as shouting can make it worse and stress the child more than they already are.

“I think the group does have the potential to help stop the negative stigma and stereotypical connotations surrounding autism,” added William.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in sport and in our case football. Parents of the children taking part are allowed to stay with their kids and a support worker from REACH Lanarkshire will be present in case any child shows signs of distress.

“Having a parent there as well as a support worker means if a child starts to feel overwhelmed the necessary help and care can be given so the child feels as safe as possible.”

Motherwell Football Club posted a record profit of £3,575,615 in the year ending 31 May 2021.

This figure is a significant lift on the £435,970 profit recorded in 2020, with a total increase of £3,139,645.

Included in the figure is a £1,518,471 accounting profit attributed to a Scottish Government interest-free loan, which is further detailed in the financial review below.

The financial year in review by our chairman, Jim McMahon

The financial results for the 2020/21 season are difficult to compare and contrast to earlier years.

But despite the financial challenges created by Covid-19, I can report that the profit for the financial year is a club record £3,575,615.

The pandemic caused a major reduction in our operating income. For example, revenue in the prior year included £1.35m of gate receipts. With matches being played behind closed doors, no such income was generated in 2020/21.

The restrictions also reduced our commercial income by almost £350,000. There were various other smaller reductions in funding from the football bodies, who had front-loaded awards at the start of the pandemic.

The club had put measures in place to reduce the impact of the pandemic on its finances. These were very successful and resulted in £4.1m of Other Operating Income being recorded in the financial year. This includes monies from the HMRC Job Retention (furlough) scheme, a business interruption insurance claim and an SPFL Trust Covid-19 grant.

We also borrowed £2,959,000 from the Scottish Government to further strengthen our position should the pandemic, and the associated restriction to our normal trading conditions, continue for an extended period. The borrowings are to be repaid between September 2022 and August 2042 and are unsecured and interest-free.

Accounting standards require such debt transactions to reflect normal commercial arrangements, i.e., the interest rate an arms-length lender could be expected to charge on an unsecured 20-year loan. Therefore, the financial results recognise the “benefit” of having such a loan interest-free. The total of that computed over the loan’s full term is shown as a credit to Other Operating Income in year one of the borrowing. This has been calculated at £1.518m. This amount will subsequently be charged as a finance cost in the club’s future financial results spread over the total period of the borrowing.

The biggest factor in the profit for the financial year is generated in player registration gains, made up almost entirely of our initial fee from Celtic for David Turnbull. That transfer deal, a total that will most probably end as being at least double our previous record sale, also contains several add-ons, one of which has already been achieved during the 2021/22 season. It also includes the opportunity to retain future economic rights, should the player’s career continue to blossom.

Over the last five financial years, the player registration gains generated by the club have been £6.2m. Whilst player registration gains are not incorporated within the club’s operating revenue, they form an integral part of the financial results and strategy, and influence budget decisions such as setting the staff budget. The two-pronged approach of generating income through player recruitment and development, together with academy promotion, will continue to form the spine of our model for the future.

At the end of the financial year at 31 May 2021, and despite all the challenges created by the pandemic, the balance sheet shows we are in a strong financial position with significant net assets and over £4m of bank funds.

This backdrop enabled us to reward and acknowledge the loyalty and support of our fans throughout the pandemic. We were able to renew season tickets to existing season ticket holders free of charge. We froze gate prices for non-season ticket holders at pre-pandemic levels, including juvenile entry at £3. And in conjunction with our fans, we provided free gate entry to those otherwise unable to afford to attend games due to unemployment and/or low income. As a result, our season ticket numbers sit at nearly 5,600, our highest ever total, and an improvement of 50% on the Covid-19 impacted 2020/21 total.

The club’s financial position is healthy in the short to medium term. But we are acutely aware of the potential threats we face. We hope that this is the final spin of the Covid-19 roulette wheel, but it would be imprudent to plan solely on that basis.

We continue to examine new ways of generating additional revenue streams and look at ways to streamline costs and make the club more efficient. This needs to be done whilst remaining competitive in what is probably the most challenging top league in Scotland for the last two decades. It is not an easy balance to get right, but it is essential that we do.

The club only works properly and with a chance of success when all the component parts – fans, owners, playing and coaching staff, the management team and the Board – work in unison. They have, and I give my thanks to everyone for making that happen during 2020/21.

Jim McMahon
Chairman

The 116th annual general meeting of the club will be held on Monday 21 February 2022.

We anticipate the meeting will be held in person, but if for any reason Covid-19 restrictions are tightened between now and the 21st, we will revert to an online Zoom meeting.

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 15 February 2022.