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Andrew Wilson has rejoined the board of Motherwell Football Club as a director.

Andrew is a well-known figure in business and public life as an economist, former politician and communications strategist.

An elected member of the first Scottish Parliament in 1999, he served as a shadow minister across various departments before joining RBS in 2003 in a number of roles, including as deputy chief economist and head of group communications.

Wilson, who was previously on the board between 2010 and 2015 and was a key player in the creation of the ‘Well Society, is now a founding partner of strategic communications firm Charlotte Street Partners.

Chairman Jim McMahon said: “We conducted a review into the skill set and the make up of the board and Andrew is an excellent candidate to rejoin.

“He is experienced in both the public and private sector and is extremely well respected and connected. I am delighted we’ve managed to add someone of his standing.

“We will continue to review the position with the Supervisory and ‘Well Society boards around further integration of directors, following some of our recent objectives being achieved.”

Andrew will join chairman Jim McMahon, vice chair Douglas Dickie, chief executive Alan Burrows and Tom Feely on the board at Fir Park.

“It is a privilege for me to play a part in helping my club succeed and grow,” he said of his appointment.

“Motherwell FC’s purpose is extremely important to its community and it is a source of great joy and improvement for many people.

“We have ambitious plans to continue its success and I rejoin at a time when I don’t think the club has been better stewarded.

“We have a tough crisis to navigate and must play an active part in getting our community and the country through it.”

The playing of organised football in Scotland remains suspended indefinitely.

An update from the joint response group of the SPFL and Scottish FA on Monday has reiterated that all league fixtures will be postponed until any order from government and/or further direction from the Scottish FA can be provided.

Matches and training sessions at all levels of our clubs are now suspended.

The decision has been made in the interest of public health in the wake of the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, in line with the advice of the UK Medical Officer.

The joint response group say the decision protects the general public and all involved in putting on football matches, as well as reducing the burden on the emergency services.

Further updates on when football can resume will be given as soon as possible.

Our club offices in the Chapman Building will remain open from 10am to 3pm every day. We would ask fans not to visit in person if it can be avoided, and to use online services, contact the club by email or call 01968 333333.

You can view a full list of club activities affected here.

How can you help?

We’ve received countless offers of support from supporters and the wider community, with many of you asking if there’s anything you can do to help.

Our club is owned by its supporters. The Well Society is a member organisation where you can pledge a monthly ongoing amount of your choice, from which the club benefits. You can also make one-off donations should you wish.

To do so, head to our Well Society sign-up and pledge page. To find out more about how the Well Society works, you can read all about it here.

Our plan is to have season tickets for the 2020/21 campaign on sales in early April. Fans who are able to buy early will be a huge help to the club.

We thank everyone who has been in touch. We will provide greater clarity on what will happen next as soon as we possibly can.

As a result of the Scottish FA’s suspension of all football activities due to the ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus, the following club activities are affected as follows.

Please note that the situation is constantly evolving and you should check back for updates.

Last updated on Monday, 23 March.

Cancelled

• All first team matches until further notice.
• All women’s team matches until further notice.
• All reserve team matches until further notice.
• All academy matches until further notice.
• All academy training until further notice.
• All community team matches until further notice.
• All community trust training.
• Community Trust McDonald’s programme on Sunday.
• All futsal, Steel Tots, Mini Steelkids and Skills Centres are cancelled until after Easter.

Revised opening hours

Our club offices in the Chapman Building will remain open from 10am to 3pm every day.

We would ask fans not to visit in person if it can be avoided, and to use online services, contact the club by email or call 01968 333333.

Closed

• Community Trust offices.
• Club shop. Our online service remains open, although there may be a slight delay to deliveries.

How can you help?

We’ve received countless offers of support from supporters and the wider community, with many of you asking if there’s anything you can do to help.

Our club is owned by its supporters. The Well Society is a member organisation where you can pledge a monthly ongoing amount of your choice, from which the club benefits. You can also make one-off donations should you wish.

To do so, head to our Well Society sign-up and pledge page. To find out more about how the Well Society works, you can read all about it here.

Our plan is to have season tickets for the 2020/21 campaign on sales in early April. Fans who are able to buy early will be a huge help to the club.

We thank everyone who has been in touch. We will provide greater clarity on what will happen next as soon as we possibly can.

The Scottish FA has suspended the 2019/20 season until further notice, in light of the ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus outbreak and the risk to public health.

As a result of the suspension, the SPFL has postponed this weekend’s fixtures. Friday night’s home match with Aberdeen will not go ahead, and our SWPL match with Hibernian on Sunday has also been cancelled. All academy games are also off.

You can view a full list of club activities affected here.

The Scottish FA and SPFL will continue to liaise with governments in relation to forthcoming fixtures in the coming days. More information will be communicated at the appropriate time.

We encourage everyone to practice good hand washing hygiene in accordance with government advice.

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work.
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards.
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.

If you are showing symptoms, follow the advice to self-isolate for seven days. The NHS lists symptoms as a high temperature or a new, continuous cough. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital, and do not call NHS 111 to inform them you are self-isolating,

Use the NHS 111 online service if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, your condition gets worse or your symptoms do not get better after seven days. Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

Our 2019/20 Player of the Year event is sold out, but there’s still time to get on our waiting list if extra tickets become available.

Held at the Alona Hotel on Saturday 18 April and hosted by Tam Cowan, our event will see the top performers from across the campaign recognised.

Add your name to our waiting list by filling out the form here.

This year’s awards and their sponsors are:

Public voting for some of the categories will be available shortly.

Motherwell Football Club welcomes the not guilty verdict of the court in our manager Stephen Robinson’s case.

The decision is entirely in line with our expectations, having been fully aware of the circumstances from the very beginning.

Stephen has had our unconditional support throughout and will continue to do so.

Motherwell host Ross County on Wednesday 4 March and there’s still time to come and enjoy the match with a great hospitality deal.

We’ve a two-course Mexican-themed menu on the night, priced at £30 per person for season ticket holders and £40 for non-season ticket holders. What’s more, it’s just £10 for kids.

Included in your package along with your pre-match meal is a ticket for the game, a half-time pie, teamsheet and programme, and access to a pay bar.

After the match, there will also be an appearance from a Motherwell player to round off the evening.

To book, you can buy online now, email hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk or call us on 01698 333333.

We’ve still got availability in our hospitality suites for our forthcoming match with St Mirren.

The Paisley club come calling on Saturday, 15 February in another crucial Ladbrokes Premiership fixture.

You can buy online now to secure your place instantly. Alternatively, give our hospitality team a call on 01698 338012.

Centenary Suite

A two-course meal with half-time refreshments served within our Centenary Suite with main stand seating and a pay bar for £70 per person, or £45 per person for season ticket holders. A fully-inclusive bar is also available for £120 per person.

South Stand Boxes

Inclusive bar with two-course meal and half-time snacks with indoor seating for £70 per person for our beer and wine package, or £90 for our spirits, beer and wine package.

Davie Cooper Boxes

View the match from the comfort of one of our boxes at the top of the Davie Cooper Stand. With access to the Cooper Bar before and after the match, and half-time refreshments, tea, coffee, pies and cakes, our deal is available for £50 per person.

If you’re a season ticket holder, you can upgrade for £35 per person.

Millennium Suite

Enjoy hot snacks with half-time refreshments with main stand seating for £70 per person, with an inclusive bar one hour before and one hour following the match. We also have an offer for Under 18s priced at £35.

The dress code for all areas is smart, with no jeans, trainers or colours. To book, please phone our hospitality team on 01698 338012 or book online at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Motherwell Football Club has now cleared all of its outstanding external debt.

A final payment of around £80,000 has been made to five individuals who invested in the club in November. The balance has been settled following the transfer of James Scott to Hull City on 31 January.

Over £2m of debt has now been cleared in three years. Motherwell FC now operates with zero external debt and – for the first time in 40 years – will work with no fixed or floating charges over Fir Park Stadium to external parties.

“When we made the full and final payments to Mr John Boyle and Mr Les Hutchison late last year, we did so by swapping a small amount of their debt with an investment from a small number of lifelong Motherwell fans close to the club,” Motherwell FC chairman Jim McMahon said.

“We were confident that this would be repaid in a timeous fashion, so it is very satisfying that we have managed to do so in less than three months.

“The aim of both the club and Well Society boards, following the transition to fan ownership, was to ensure we got ourselves to this position, as it is vital for the long-term health and prosperity of Motherwell Football Club.

“Together, both boards are now working on what the key strategic priorities should be for the next five to ten years.”

For many people, talking about their mental health is much easier said than done, despite research showing that simply opening up to others can be hugely beneficial to our wellbeing.

So today, for Time to Talk Day, we’ve teamed up with our Official Health and Wellbeing Partner, Paycare, to understand how we can be both better at speaking up, and better at listening.

“There are many reasons why people don’t speak about their mental health,” Kerry Mitchell, Wellbeing Manager at Paycare and an experienced Mental Health Trainer, explains. “Although the stigma is continuing to be pushed out of society, it still very much lingers.

“The fear of the response, the pressure of burdening others, the feeling of shame or embarrassment, or it simply not being the ‘right’ time to talk can all contribute to withholding feelings and emotions.

“And while they may seem like valid reasons to someone suffering from a mental health issue, the likelihood is that those around you — whether it be friends, family, colleagues, or a third party — don’t care one bit about any of those and would much rather that person feels comfortable enough to open up in times of difficulty.

“As an experienced mental health first aid trainer for both adults and children, and having my own personal experiences with mental health, I know first-hand how simply talking can be so effective for all involved.”

So, on this Time to Talk day, here are five tips to becoming more comfortable at approaching mental health.

Be warm yet direct

Simply checking in with someone to see how they’re feeling can go a long way. Set some time aside, go somewhere a little more private, and encourage them to open up about how they’re feeling,

If they’re not comfortable talking with you though, ask if they’ve got a close friend they can talk to, suggest visiting the doctor, or if the problem is quite serious, pass on the number of the Samaritans. You could also ask the person if it’ll be okay for you to check in again in a few days’ time to see how they’re getting on.

Ask twice

If a friend or someone you know is quieter than normal, or not behaving as you’ve come to expect, stop and take just five minutes to see if they’re okay. Some people will pretend to be okay but really are crumbling inside.

A common response is ‘I’m fine’, but research suggests that over three quarters of us would tell friends, family and work colleagues that they are fine when they’re not. Time to Change are asking everyone to ask twice if they think someone may be experiencing a mental health problem.

Direct to other support

Signposting to other services both in and out of the workplace can promote better mental health. Some people might want to access support privately with a confidential third party, such as an Employee Wellbeing Service, which according to Anum (2018) supported almost 75% of employees with mental health problems.

Having reminders about available signposting services are vital too and a first line of defence for supporting staff when they need it. This can include anything from posters, leaflets, handouts and numbers on company intranets, break-out rooms and the canteen.

Make some time for a podcast

The podcast ‘Men and Mental Health’ by the Mental Health Foundation is a series hosted by four men who talk openly about mental health. It’s suitable for any gender and offers some brilliant advice specifically about normalising mental health discussions for men.

Three in four suicides are male and 1 in 4 men suffer from stress, so it’s key that we all look out for the men in our lives.

Be creative

Emotional wellbeing is key for young people to learn and thrive, with research suggesting that one in 10 children and young people have a mental health condition. Being creative together can encourage children and young people to start talking about what’s going on in their everyday lives, especially when they are feeling a bit blue.

Using creativity, even if it’s sitting with a colouring book, can help to create an environment which encourages people to be open, be themselves, be at ease sharing how they’re feeling, and talk if something is troubling them. Feeling connected can create safety, and we all have the innate need to feel safe.

If you are personally experiencing any issues, or you suspect someone you know is struggling, please choose someone you trust to confide in.

No one will judge you or think differently about you, and your chosen individual or organisation will have the time to listen and help.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know, please use one of the helplines and talk to someone confidentially:

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men’s Health Forum

24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind

Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk

SANE

Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare