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Interim CEO Derek Weir sat down to provide a detailed and most up-to-date package of information to supporters on a range of topics including the process of appointing a permanent Chief Executive, recruitment strategy, financial update, communications and use of pyro by supporters. 

Although departing at the end of March, if not sooner depending on the timing of his successor, Derek Weir offers reassurance that the day-to-day running of the club still occurs seamlessly despite the transition off the pitch.

He discusses a range of issues raised by supporters in that past 12 months and beyond.

When you feel like giving up, just remember the reason why you held on for so long.

Life is worth living, for the special moments that can be cherished together.

You’re loved and people want you in their life.

Samaritans 116123

Breathing Space 0800 838587

Childline 0800 1111

Chris’s House 01236 766755

We are working with Scotland’s largest autism-specific charity, Scottish Autism, to advertise their recruitment drive in Lanarkshire. 

Scottish Autism operate a number of social care services across Lanarkshire and have secured an advertising billboard at Fir Park to promote job opportunities to a wider audience.

Staff and supported people from Scottish Autism visited the club to view the advertising for themselves.

The charity is keen to recruit people who share their values, and they need not have experience in social care as full training will be provided.

We hope the advertising space will help Scottish Autism reach a different audience and attract people to apply for roles who may not have considered working in social care before now.

Find out more information about Scottish Autism online.

The club has been informed that Chairman Jim McMahon will formally announce his intention to stand down from the role at the next AGM, currently scheduled for mid-February 2024.

He will leave the position by end of the season at latest, once a successor has been appointed and certain live projects have been completed. Jim has been a Director of the club since March 2001 and became Chairman in 2016, when the Well Society became the Club’s majority shareholder.

Jim initiated the discussions with John Boyle about how to move to fan ownership and led the work involved in framing the legal and financial structure of the Society. He was also the first 1886 member.

The club has now re-started the process to recruit a permanent CEO. Derek Weir, who took on the CEO job, on an interim basis, in April 2023, has advised that he wishes to exit the role by the end of March at the latest. Since 2010, Derek has held a number of positions, including Vice Chairman and Director of the club, the first Chairman of the Community Trust in 2011 and a Board member of the Well Society when it was founded in 2011.

He also represented the club on the SPL Board. He then agreed to become CEO when the Club’s initial attempt at recruiting a suitable, permanent replacement for Alan Burrows was unsuccessful. After he leaves the CEO role, Derek will step back from having any involvement with the running of the club.

These changes will form part of a wider Board re-structure currently being worked on. A resolution will be presented to the AGM seeking approval to increase the number of permitted Directors, with a view to increasing the size of the Board and broadening the range of experience.

“I have been a Motherwell supporter since my dad took me to my first game aged four,” Chairman Jim McMahon said.

“It has been a privilege to be the Chairman of the club I love and which has meant so much to me and my family. My key aim has always been to try to improve the long-term financial robustness of the club.

“It has become very clear over the last few years that for the club to operate on a sustainable basis, provide the manager with a competitive player budget, meet the vastly increased cost of our other activities including having a successful Woman’s Team and maintaining a fit for purpose Stadium, Training Ground and Academy facility, that it will require significant investment; funding on a similar scale to that received by many others in the SPFL.

“We have undertaken a large amount of work and held numerous discussions to explore how we could best achieve this. The final stages of a fund-raising initiative are almost complete and will be ready to be shared early in the New Year.

“It is therefore the right time for a new Executive team to work with the recently expanded Well Society Board, to take this on and put in place a long term operational and funding plan for the club.”

“Having grown up a few hundred yards from the ground and been a dedicated supporter since the mid-70s, I was grateful to John Boyle when he asked me to join the Board nearly 14 years ago,” Derek Weir added.

“Whilst working for an organisation you care passionately about can be extremely difficult, with many highs and lows, both on and off the park, I feel honoured to have had the opportunity.

“Having discussed at length with Jim, I agree the time is now right for others to take a fresh look at how the club is run and manage it through the next phase of its long history. I wish all those involved every success for the future.”

Jim and Derek will work with the remaining club Directors and Well Society Board to ensure a smooth transition to the individuals appointed to these roles. Both will be here to support and help in any way they can during that process.

The club would like to thank Jim and Derek for their dedicated service over many years and wishes them both well for the future.

Black Friday has arrived early.

Starting Monday 20 November, we’ve a host of great deals now and across the week.

First up, you can get 50% off our warm-up top sponsorship, which now costs £135.

You can also save 50% when you sponsor one of our Women’s players away shirt.

If you’re looking for some Christmas gift inspiration, we’ve also got you covered.

Our commemorative bricks, which are placed in the wall in our Davie Cooper Stand, are reduced by 40% to £33.

We’ve also got £12 off our Scottish Cup Anniversary whisky, and £5 off our Motherwell FC Special Edition Ben Lomond Gin, now £25.

Bring in the festive season

There’s also discounts to be had on some great events at Fir Park.

You can get £5 off our Christmas party night on Friday 5 December, where you can enjoy a two-course meal.

We’ve also got Bounce Bingo with Zander Nation on Friday 2 February down to £11pp.

Motherwell v Ross County Hospitality

Enjoy a 3-course meal in the Centenary Suite, half-time refreshments, main stand match ticket, match programme, teamsheet with pay bay facility.

Our special Black Friday prices are £34 per person for season ticket holders, £46 for non-season ticket holders and £15 for kids (under 12’s for a children’s meal)

Come in out of the cold and enjoy relaxed hospitality from the warmth and comfort of our Cooper Box.  Package includes viewing the match from the box, half-time refreshments in the suite, match programme, teamsheet and 2 complimentary drinks per person.

Our special Black Friday price is just £40 per person.

John Philliben, or better known as ‘Softie’, was born in Stirling on 14 March 1964. 

His life in football began with his local side Stirling Albion in 1980, where he went on to make 109 league appearances.

Philliben earned a move to Doncaster Rovers in a transfer worth £70,000. The move was a club record signing in 1984 and the defender enjoyed three years down South.

However, north of the border, Philliben was attracting interest. Tommy McLean was the first to make his move to bring the defender to Fir Park and succeeded in September 1986.

Just two weeks after joining, John was involved in the League Cup Final defeat to Celtic where the Steelmen succumbed to penalties.

Nonetheless, John continued to forge a career in the claret and amber and scored a 30-yard screamer against Morton for his first goal.

In one of Motherwell’s most renowned victories, a 3-0 thrashing of Rangers in 1991 at Fir Park, John got himself on the scoresheet.

He was instrumental in Motherwell’s eventual Scottish Cup success in 1991, being voted man of the match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and featured against Falkirk, and both semi final matches against Celtic.

The epitome of a true professional, John was left out of the cup final squad however backed his teammates to get over the line against Dundee United.

In season 1992/93, he was an integral part of one of the most solid back five that has been constructed at Motherwell. Playing alongside Luc Nijholt, Chris McCart, Brian Martin and Rab McKinnon, John would produce and robust and professional performances for the Fir Park faithful.

He scored a last minute equaliser against Dundee United in 1993 that will live long in the memory of any travelling supporter that day.

He missed only five of the 36 league games in 1994/95 season where the team finished second in the Premier League.

John became only the 8th player in the club’s history to make 300 appearances for Motherwell in January 1998. His time in ML1 would draw to a close in May 1998 where he retuned to Stirling Albion as player/manager.

In the end, John made 302 league appearances for the club and scored seven goals. He was awarded a testimonial match against West Ham in 1998.

A popular figure for his work rate, professionalism and effort, John Philliben is a true Motherwell legend who gave everything anytime he pulled on the claret and amber.

But maybe the most fitting accolade that can be attributed to John Philliben, is that in a sport full of fickleness, mercenaries and greed, Motherwell had a player who was always prepared to put the team’s cause before his own personal well-being.

A true club legend and a thoroughly deserved inductee into the 2023 Motherwell Hall of Fame.

We will never forget those who have forged the path to where the club sits at present day. Some with us and some sadly not, we want to come together to celebrate the proud history we have at Motherwell Football Club.

This year, the event will take place at Dalziel Park Hotel on Friday 17 November, with host Tam Cowan inducting five new names.

If you would like to attend our night of celebration, tickets cost £66 for adults and £30 for children under the age of 12 are on sale now.

You can buy tickets for the dinner online or contact the commercial department on 01698 338011.

Please note than some of the colourful language on the night may not be appropriate for young children or those easily offended.

We are proud to announce a new partnership with the Scottish Government’s mental health campaign Mind to Mind, an initiative encouraging individuals to look after their mental wellbeing.

Hosted on NHS Inform, the website offers a library of over 30 bitesize videos featuring individuals sharing their own mental wellbeing challenges, covering a wide spectrum of topics, including managing anxiety and panic, addressing financial worries, stress management, elevating mood, and navigating grief.

These stories aim to help other people who may be going through something similar. Contributors offer practical advice drawn from their own experiences and additionally the website provides clear signposts to direct individuals toward further help and support.

“Our mental wellbeing, like other aspects of health and fitness, is something we need to think about regularly,” Dr. Alastair Cook the Scottish Government’s Principal Medical Officer for Mental Health reminded us.

“There are lots of things we can do to improve our mental wellbeing, whether it’s making lifestyle changes, moving more, connecting with others or making time to get out in the fresh air.

“If you’re finding things difficult, it’s important to remember support is available.”

“The club is delighted to support ‘Mind to Mind’ and encourage supporters to find out how they can take care of their mental wellbeing,” commercial director Suzanne Reid added.

“Please visit their website and hear from people who have experienced their own challenges.”

As a club, we’re encouraging our supporters to visit their website to take care of their mental wellbeing.

We need to reiterate that the use of pyrotechnics in football grounds is a criminal offence and we are disappointed they were used by some of our supporters at last night’s game.

The use of pyrotechnics can cause injury to players, stewards and fellow supporters.

If this continues, the club could be subject to sanctions.

Supporters are the most important component of match days and we encourage that support to continue in a safe manner.

Charlie Aitken will be inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame.

Born on 19th July 1932 in Gorebridge, Charlie Aitken dipped into amateur football after he left secondary school at the age of 15.

An inside right with Gorebridge Victoria, he moved to Arniston Rangers where he played at the heart of the defence and caught the eyes of Motherwell’s scout Mr John Robertson.

Motherwell manager George Stevenson convinced him to join the club in 1949 and he went on to make his debut in 1951.

He was called up to National Service as a gunner in the Artillery in Cyprus before returning home in 1954.

Having quickly worked his way back into the first-team after just two weeks of being back in the country, Aitken resumed his career in the claret and amber.

In his first game back, a Scottish Cup semi final match against Celtic, Aitken scored a last minute header to earn his side a replay.

2023 Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Ancell arrived in the Motherwell dugout and made Aitken a regular feature in his side.

Aitken would go on to rack up appearances for the club in the subsequent seasons and lifted silverware in 1965. Beating Dundee United over two legs, the Steelmen lifted the Summer Cup.

His 17 years of loyalty and service was publicly acknowledged in 1967 when Aitken was awarded a testimonial match at Fir Park against Rangers. The likes of Ian St John and John Martis returned to take part in the match to celebrate Charlie Aitken.

In the 17 years at Fir Park, he made 314 appearances, scoring 38 goals in the process. He was named the Motherwell Supporters Association ‘Player of the Year’ on two occasions and his remarkable stamina and fitness meant he was the only Well player ever to play in all 34 league games in a season. A one club man and a true legend of the game.

Charlie passed away on 12 January 2008, aged 75 but he will forever be remembered as a member of the ‘Ancell Babes’ and for his long lasting service to our club. That’s why it’s only right, he takes his place in the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

We will never forget those who have forged the path to where the club sits at present day. Some with us and some sadly not, we want to come together to celebrate the proud history we have at Motherwell Football Club.

This year, the event will take place at Dalziel Park Hotel on Friday 17 November, with host Tam Cowan inducting five new names.

If you would like to attend our night of celebration, tickets cost £66 for adults and £30 for children under the age of 12 are on sale now.

You can buy tickets for the dinner online or contact the commercial department on 01698 338011.

Please note than some of the colourful language on the night may not be appropriate for young children or those easily offended.

The club were informed of the decision to move our fixture against Rangers to Christmas Eve yesterday afternoon, an hour before the SPFL initially intended to announce publicly. 

Whilst we fully acknowledge that the contract which is currently in place between the SPFL and our main broadcasters allows kick off times to be moved from Saturday to Sunday midday, with an agreed notice period, we believe that moving a major fixture to this date is a special circumstance that should’ve led to additional consultation/ discussion with the club.

We can only apologise to supporters who will be inconvenienced by this move and especially to those who will no longer be able to attend the game. We understand this move is particularly inconvenient for fans who had booked pre match hospitality, which was already sold out.

We are working with suppliers to provide an alternative offering pre and post match. We hope to still see as many of our fans as possible at the game.