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Peter Hartley will be the new captain of Motherwell Football Club, following Carl McHugh’s decision to step down from the role.

The 30-year-old defender, an influential figure at the club, will take up the armband with immediate effect.

Hartley will be supported by other senior players, including McHugh.

“Peter was an obvious choice for me,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the decision.

“It’s in his character, he’s a natural born leader, he’s loud and has total respect from the boys. Carl had that in a different way as he was quieter in how he conducted himself.

“Peter has that respect and I think he’ll be fantastic for the football club.

“What we’ve got this year though is a group of older boys, if we have older boys, who I can speak to and ask their opinion. I can get a feel of what is needed and what’s not in the dressing room.

“In terms of who will be leading the football club on the pitch, it will be Peter Hartley, backed up by a group of boys, including Carl, who can all step up to be captain.”

McHugh has also backed the decision. “We’re a close knit squad and Pete has always been supportive of me as captain and I’ll do the same for him,” he said.

“I know that Pete will go on to be a terrific captain of this football club.”

Stephen Robinson has expressed his utmost respect for Carl McHugh, after the midfielder decided to pass on the captain’s armband.

The Irishman, who is preparing for his third season at Fir Park, spent the 2017/18 campaign as skipper and was the first in his position to lead out the club at two cup finals.

Carl’s move to step away from the role has been supported fully by his manager, who believes the 25-year-old will continue to represent the club in the same manner he always has.

“Carl and I have spoke at length about it. I spoke to him at the tail end of last season when he came to me about this.

“He’s a very conscientious football player and he wants to do the very best for the football club.”

Robinson added: “There was a lot of extra responsibility put on Carl last season, particularly with the cup finals, and he just feels he could give more to the team without the armband.

“For me, it’s a very selfless act and it’s clear he’s thought all of this through. He felt that someone else taking the armband would allow him to concentrate on his game and improve another 5%.

“I have total admiration for him, he’s a great boy and he’ll always give me 110% when he steps out on the pitch.”

Carl McHugh has decided to relinquish his role as captain of Motherwell Football Club.

The influential Irishman has made the decision after a summer of personal reflection, after which he believed it would be both in his own interest and that of the team to pass on the armband.

Peter Hartley will be the new captain of the club, a decision taken after consultation with McHugh and other senior players.

“It’s definitely not a decision I’ve taken lightly,” he explained. “It’s been a tough decision to come to but I think it’s the right one going forward.

“But I just feel at times I wasn’t happy with the level of consistency I showed over the season.

“The captaincy was affecting me in different ways. But most importantly on the pitch, I felt my level of performance [had dropped].

“I’m quite hard on myself, to be honest, and when I analysed my season after the last few games I felt this was something that could help me moving forward, and help the team.

“I could have just carried on and stayed in the role for another season. That would have been the easy thing to do. But I think the right thing to do is what I am doing now.

“It is the right thing for me personally, which in turn will help the team and the club move forward. I believe this will help me overall, it’ll help my performances and it will help the team.

“We’re a close knit squad and Pete has always been supportive of me as captain and I’ll do the same for him. I know that Pete will go on to be a terrific captain of this football club.”

Manager Stephen Robinson and McHugh spoke about the matter for several weeks, after the player made the first approach to say he wished to pass on the armband.

“I don’t think there’s many managers you could probably speak to about something like this and for him to be as understanding as he was,” he said of the manager.

“He’s been great about it and he’s just wanted to help me and do the right thing for me and the club moving forward.”

McHugh was the first captain since the 1950s to lead the team into two cup finals and says he’s happy with the role he played, but now wants to focus on playing.

“I’ve captained the club in two finals and that’s something I can look back on and be proud of,” he said.

“I feel now getting it sorted and getting it out in the open, I can focus on the cup games and look forward to getting back to football and enjoying my football.”

Supporters attending Motherwell’s final pre-season fixture at Dunfermline Athletic will be able to pay at the gate.

Adult prices are £10 and concessions can gain entry for £5.

The match at East End Park on Thursday, 12 July will kick off at 7.30pm.

Watch the best of the action as Cédric Kipré, Danny Johnson, Allan Campbell, Ryan Bowman and James Scott net in the 5-1 win at Darlington.

Ryan Bowman, Trevor Carson and Liam Grimshaw give their thoughts after the 5-1 pre-season win over Darlington.

Assistant manager Keith Lasley reflects on ‘Well’s 5-1 win over Darlington as pre-season preparations continue. 

Motherwell continued their pre-season preparations with a 5-1 win over Darlington.

Danny Johnson bagged his second goal in as many friendlies as the Steelmen stormed to a 2-0 lead within seven minutes.

Cédric Kipré’s opener from inside the six-yard box was followed up by Johnson’s stunning volley at Blackwell Meadows, as ‘Well asserted their control over the National League North opposition.

Allan Campbell made it three before half time with a neat finish on the bounce, placing the ball beyond Maddison in to the side of the net.

The hosts pulled one back thanks to a neat finish from Harvey Saunders, who got the better of Aaron Taylor-Sinclair before prodding neatly past Trevor Carson eight minutes after the restart.

Stephen Robinson made a number of changes midway through the second half, with 17-year-old James Scott among those to be introduced.

Ryan Bowman capped off 90 minutes with a neat lob made it 4-1 to the Fir Parkers. The striker latched on to Carl McHugh’s defensive header which looped over the Darlington defence before being helped on by the English striker from eight yards.

Youngster Scott wrapped up proceedings with just seconds to go, cutting in from the left at pace and fizzing a low effort in to the far corner.

Up next for the Steelmen is Dunfermline on Thursday, as Robinson’s men look to continue their strong pre-season form.

The wait is over. You can now buy your 2018/19 Motherwell FC home kit in store.

Our new outfit for the forthcoming season has proved popular with pre orders and you can get yours via our online shop or in store at Fir Park.

Our away kit is also available for pre order. A launch date will be announced shortly.

Striker Curtis Main speaks as Motherwell step up their pre-season preparations ahead of his first full season with the club.