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Seven players will make the step up from the Motherwell academy to sign professional terms at the club.

Sam Muir, Matthew McDonald, Cammy Williamson, Findlay Cook, Paul Hale, Lewis Robertson and Matty Connolly have all agreed to turn pro, having risen through the ranks.

All seven will now form part of Maurice Ross’ reserve group for the 2019/20 season, as well as being under the tutelage of new Under 18s coach Darren O’Dea.

Three defenders are part of the new crop and all are 16 years old. Sam Muir is a left back or left-sided centre back, Matthew McDonald is a right back and Cammy Williamson plays at left back.

The trio have been at the academy for a prolonged period of time, rising through the ranks from the ages of 11 and 12.

Paul Hale and Lewis Robertson are two young midfielders. Paul Hale, who has been at the academy for six years, is a central midfielder while Lewis Robertson, recruited from Rangers, plays as an attacking midfielder.

Seventeen-year-old Findlay Cook has been in the academy for three-and-a-half years, with the forward also making the step up.

Finally, 16-year-old goalkeeper Matty Connolly signs professional terms having already had a brief taste of being around the first team.

The youngster, who has been at Motherwell since he was seven years old, was involved in the warm ups at the home match with St Mirren in May, after the team went down to one registered ‘keeper through illness and injury.

“We are excited by what the seven boys will offer the club now they are on professional terms,” Motherwell’s academy director Steven Hammell said.

“The boys all have inspiration to look towards when it comes to how quickly their careers can progress.

“It’s up to them now to continue to learn and develop, and we’re hopeful they all have the attitude to give themselves every chance of a long career in the game.”

Last year’s crop have already made significant strides in their professional careers.

Dean Cornelius made his first team debut at the end of the 2018/19 season, while Stuart McKinstry and Reece McAlear were involved in some matchday squads.

Darren O’Dea is the new Under 18s coach at Motherwell.

The 32-year-old joins the Fir Park staff with immediate effect.

O’Dea will work as a bridge between the academy and the reserve team at the club, helping to ensure our talented youngsters continue to have a clear pathway to first team football.

“I am delighted to take my first steps into coaching with Motherwell,” the 32-year-old said on his appointment.

“The club has proven its commitment over many years to progressing talented young players to first team football and I am looking forward to playing my part in helping bring through the next generation.”

O’Dea ended his playing time at Dundee in May, having made over 300 club appearances across Celtic, Reading, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Toronto FC, Metalurh Donetsk, Blackpool and Mumbai City.

“We’re very happy to have brought in Darren to the club,” Academy Director Steven Hammell added.

“He is an eager and talented coach who impressed us greatly during the interview process.

“His vast experience in the game as a player, together with his ideas and passion for coaching, will be a valuable addition and help to our emerging players.”

A number of players will leave Motherwell at the conclusion of the 2018/19 season.

The following first team players were either not offered contracts or have informed the club they intend to leave after 31 May 2019.

• Carl McHugh
• Elliott Frear
• Alex Rodriguez Gorrín
• Aaron Taylor-Sinclair
• George Newell
• Christian Mbulu
• Jake Hastie
• Curtis Main

The following reserve players will also depart:

• Shaun Bowers
• Liam Brown
• Shea Gordon
• Kyle MacDonald
• Neil McLaughlin
• Akeal Rehman
• Broque Watson

Four further players will leave as their loan deals expire when the summer transfer window opens again in early June.

• Tom Aldred (Bury)
• Gboly Ariyibi (Nottingham Forest)
• Ross McCormack (Aston Villa)
• Conor Sammon (Heart of Midlothian)

Chris Cadden has been offered an extended contract but is yet to sign.

Craig Tanner has been offered a short-term deal to help ensure he regains full fitness, following a long-term knee injury that has sidelined him since March 2018.

When Craig is fit to rejoin training, he will be assessed by the coaching staff with a view to winning an extended contract.

The following players have already signed pre-contract agreements and will join the club for pre-season training in June.

• Declan Gallagher
• Liam Polworth
• Jake Carroll
• Casper Sloth

“I would like to record my thanks to every player who will leave us in the next few weeks,” ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said.

“Modern football is such that there is now likely to be a significant turnover of players at most clubs each year.

“We’ve already extended the contracts of numerous players and have confirmed three new faces already by this point.

“We remain committed to keeping at least some of the lads who are currently out of contract or been with us on loan, and those discussions will continue over the summer break.

“We will also look to strengthen the squad and the starting team with more new faces ahead of pre-season training starting on 19 June.”

Motherwell Football Club would like to sincerely thank every player who is leaving Fir Park for the last time and wish them every success in their future careers.

Shea Gordon will leave Motherwell to join Partick Thistle on a permanent basis.

The Northern Irish midfielder has spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Firhill, battling back from injury to play a key role for the Jags in retaining their Ladbrokes Championship status.

Gordon, 20, made four appearances for Motherwell since signing from Sheffield United in January 2017, but found his time at the club affected by injury.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign, the club has protected its interests with a sell-on clause.

“Shea goes with our hopes that he can go on and make a good career for himself in the game,” manager Stephen Robinson said.

“There is no doubt he is a good player who we had high hopes for when he first joined. But he has endured a frustrating time with injury.

“We felt it was right to allow him to go now somewhere he will benefit from regular first team football, and we wish him well.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC wishes Shea all the best for the future.

Motherwell lost their chance to claim the SPFL Reserve League title as they were defeated 3-1 by Celtic in their final game of the season.

The Glasgow side themselves went top with a game to play, with goals from Armstrong Oxoflex, PJ Crossan and Mikey Johnston sealing victory.

Conor Sammon grabbed a late consolation for Maurice Ross’ side, who featured a number of first team players.

Peter Hartley, Chris Cadden and Danny Johnson also got minutes for the second string, who went into the game knowing a win could put them in title contention.

Within nine minutes, the visitors were in front at Forthbank. Oxoflex worked a one-two on the edge of the area, before side footing past Rohan Ferguson to open the scoring.

Both sides had chances as the first half wore on, but Celtic would strike on the verge of half time to double their advantage.

A driving run through the middle of the park by Crossan presented him a shooting chance from the edge of the box, which he took with aplomb.

Then, soon after the hour mark, Johnston netted the third. Bursting through a number of bodies, he slotted under Ferguson to make it 3-0.

Motherwell had chances and got a consolation with five to go, with Sammon getting on the end of a terrific reverse pass from subsitute Akeel Rehman, putting the ball past the goalkeeper.

The young Steelmen’s season is now complete, and they must now wait to see how high up the table they will finish.

Motherwell’s reserve side can put themselves in title contention with a win over Celtic on Monday.

Maurice Ross’ side need victory, and later results to go their way, to clinch the SPFL Reserve League.

They can fulfil their side of what’s needed against fellow challengers Celtic at Forthbank Stadium.

Kick off is at 2pm. Entry is free.

Motherwell went top of the SPFL Reserve League on Tuesday with a 3-1 win away to Dundee.

Winger Akeal Rehman bagged a first half double, and turned provider for Stuart McKinstry to give the young Steelmen victory.

Maurice Ross’ side turned in a controlled performance throughout, showing grit and determination in a second half which became a greater physical contest.

“Winning sometimes is about saying to your opponent to come ahead,” Ross said after the game.

“Dundee came out for the second half looking for a reaction and things got a little physical.

“Football then isn’t always about playing pretty. If you’re going to get to the Motherwell first team, you need to be able to show you can fight as well.

“So when that happens, it all helps with their development.”

Motherwell fell behind early in the match at Forfar’s Station Park, with a shot ricocheting off the post and off the unfortunate David Devine and into the net.

As has often been the case, Ross’ side rallied and didn’t take long to level things up, with Rehman getting on the end of a perfectly-weighted through ball from Reece McAlear, before slotting under the onrushing goalkeeper.

After 15 minutes, ‘Well were ahead. Trickery down the right from Rehman led to a short low cross to the front post, which McKinstry swept home.

As the first half wore on, Rehman charged down a back pass to the Dundee keeper, who could only fire the ball against the forward’s legs, with the ball ending up in the net.

“We never let our heads drop when we go a goal down,” added Ross.

“We keep working through our patterns and then, when we see an opportunity, we pounce.”

Motherwell face Celtic next week in their final game of the campaign. Should they win, they must then wait for Celtic and Rangers to play an outstanding match each before the destination of the league title is decided.

The reserves play their penultimate match of the league season on Tuesday, as they travel to face Dundee.

Kick off at Station Park in Forfar is at 2pm.

Jamie Semple has extended his contract with Motherwell until the summer of 2021.

The youngster is the latest academy product to commit his future to the club, following in the recent footsteps of David Turnbull, James Scott, Barry Maguire and Adam Livingstone.

The 17-year-old also made his first appearance on the bench against Rangers on 7 April, becoming the first player born in 2001 to do so.

“I’m really happy to be staying at the club,” Semple said on signing his new deal.

“I can see a clear way through to the first team, having seen so many of my team mates progress over the last few years.

“I’m concentrating now on continuing to develop my game and kicking on. I’m in the best place possible to do that.”

Semple first joined the club in 2014 and has established himself as a key figure at reserve level. He made his debut for the second string at the age of 14, demonstrating his promise.

“Jamie is a player who has made great progress,” manager Stephen Robinson said.

“We feel he is another youngster who, in the coming years, can make a big impact at the club.”

Motherwell’s reserves recovered from two goals down to defeat Aberdeen 4-2 in the SPFL Reserve League on Monday.

Doubles from Conor Sammon and James Scott secured a victory which takes the team near the top of the table, after the Dons had went ahead through two early penalty kicks.

David Devine was ruled to have fouled Seb Ross in the box within the opening minute, with David Dangana scoring from the resulting spot kick.

Ten minutes later, Dangana was again on target from the spot after being ruled to have been fouled in the area by Adam Livingstone.

Undeterred, Maurice Ross’ side stuck to their principles and were rewarded with two quickfire goals between the 25th and 30th minutes.

Sammon got both, each coming from Elliott Frear shots which found their way to the Irish striker.

Shortly before the break, the ‘Well had the lead. Frear was brought down in the area, with Scott stepping up to slam the ball home.

Dangana missed the chance to net a hat-trick of penalties, when he put his effort wide of the goal.

Then, with 20 minutes to go, Scott had his second and Motherwell’s fourth. A Frear cutback saw the forward step away from his marker, before smashing the ball past the goalkeeper.

With two games left to go in the league, the young Steelmen are two points behind top side Celtic, who have a game in hand. Dundee away lie in wait next, before the final day visit of Celtic.

Motherwell: Ferguson, Cadden (MacDonald), Devine, Hussain (Bowers), Livingstone, McAlear, Cornelius, Frear (Watson), Semple, Scott, Sammon (Rehman).

Subs not used: Hemfrey, Starrs, McGuigan.