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Motherwell director Stewart Robertson was elected to the SPL Board today following the AGM at Hampden.

He was joined by Ralph Topping, who was nominated for the position of Chairman for the second successive season. Eric Riley of Celtic was the third person to be elected and will form part of the six-man Board of Directors.

Rod Petrie (Hibernian) and Stewart Gilmour (St Mirren) were also re-elected by the clubs to complete the Board.

Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen) and Martin Bain (Rangers) stepped down after 18 months’ and two years’ service respectively.

Ralph Topping, Chairman, said: “On behalf of the Board and the Clubs I would like to thank Duncan and Martin for their time and valued input during their terms.

“It’s been a challenging year for Scottish football.  But with our strategic review of the league underway, the SPL is actively looking to respond to those challenges in the season ahead.”

John Sutton admits he cannot wait to get back to competitive action against Breidablik on Thursday night and right some of the European wrongs from previous years.

This match kicks off a remarkable third consecutive season in Europe for Motherwell and the big striker thinks the club are now ready to impose themselves on this seasons Europa League.

“The one regret since I’ve been here is that perhaps we haven’t done ourselves justice in Europe,” said Sutton. “If we are going to get beaten then you have to go down fighting and impose yourself on the opposition – and I don’t think we’ve done that in previous years. This year we want to do that.

“We went to Bucharest last season and the atmosphere was amazing. “We are desperate for a good run in the Europa League and there is a real allure of a top tie in the later rounds.”

Sutton dismissed any thoughts that Breidablik will be an unknown quantity and insisted ‘Well will go into the game knowing all about the talented Icelandic side.

“The manager and Greg have done a fantastic job getting information on the opposition for us,” Sutton continued. “So we know they are a very good team and we know that they are top of the league – but just like every other game we are focusing on ourselves and we know if we play to our best then we can go through.

“I’m not surprised Breidablik are confident. They are in great form and are three months into their season. It’s going to be a very tough game for us.”

For the second successive season Motherwell find themselves back playing competitive football in mid-July. Last season rustiness was apparent as Welsh part-timers Llanelli came to Fir Park and won 1-0, but Sutton isn’t worried about a repeat this time round.

“You would prefer to play a couple of league games first but we are feeling pretty good. Pre-season training with Craig and Archie has gone very well – we have played a couple of practice matches and we hope to hit the ground running tomorrow night.

“From the training and management point of view we are much more prepared compared last year at this stage, although obviously we have a similar problem in the sense that there have been a few personnel changes in key positions.

“But to be honest I’m looking forward to the match. I’m not a big fan of pre-season matches – I would rather get straight into matches that mean something. Hopefully we can get a win under our belts and go on a tidy little run.”

With another July start, season 2010/11 promises to be another long one for the Motherwell squad, but Sutton hopes a good result in this Europa Cup tie can prove to be a springboard to another successful SPL season for the club – and personally.

The arrival of Craig Brown and Archie Knox turned round an ailing season last year, propelling the club to the top-six finish which made European football a possibility, and culminating in a 14-goal haul for 26-year-old. Sutton wants more of the same in the duo’s first full season.

“We want to replicate what we achieved in the second half of last season under Craig and Archie,” added Sutton. “For a club of Motherwell’s size another top-six finish would be great and to be involved in a cup run would be brilliant.

“We aren’t looking any further forward than the Breidablik tie but I think we showed last season that on our day we can beat anyone, though we can lose to anyone as well!

“Personally, they say you reach your peak approaching 30, and I’ve still got some time before that, so I hope to keep improving and scoring goals. I really enjoy my football here with my teammates and Craig and Archie, so fingers crossed it can be another good season.”

Craig Brown expects his Motherwell side to rise to the challenge of representing the nation on Thursday night against Breidablik.

The former Scotland boss illustrated that national pride does not dissipate when you leave the top job as he proclaimed: “This represents a terrific opportunity for us to represent Scotland, and to be the flagship of the nation at this point in time.

“We are always extremely optimistic, ahead of any match.” continued Brown. “We don’t want to let Scotland down, we don’t want to let North Lanarkshire down – so expect a fighting, aggressive, enthusiastic Motherwell team on Thursday.”

Despite this tie coming very early for the Steelmen, he concedes that his side will probably be considered favourites.

“They seem to think we are favourites, but it’s not a tag I like.” Brown smiled. “I’ve revelled in the underdog tag with Scotland, because you go away and play big teams that you are not expected to beat.

“I prefer to be the underdog, but if we are considered favourites then so be it. We will have to deal with that and shoulder the extra responsibility that comes from that.”

Breidablik approach the game at Fir Park in the form of their lives. They are the current Icelandic cup holders and find themselves top of their domestic league for the first time in 25 years.

Brown has had his old pal Jocky Scott over on the remote island watching them play and he has no doubts about what lies in store for the Steelmen.

“We are probably expected to win, but they have some very, very good players. Jocky Scott has been over watching them, and he has confirmed exactly that.

“They have a good, home-bred squad. My experience of Icelandic players is that they are very quick, athletic and disciplined. So we expect to face those attributes, and I gather they are very dangerous on the counter attack. We have to guard against the away goal.”

Much of the talk ahead of this tie has centred on the fact Breidablik are three months into their season, while Motherwell have only been back in training for a couple of weeks. To his credit, the manager has consistently dismissed this excuse and firmly believes his team are ready to compete.

“We are ready. People keep saying that it is too early in the season, but we have trained exceptionally hard to get ready. Archie is superb with the players in pre-season.”

Motherwell can boast some decent European nous to go with that fitness. This is the third season on the trot the Steelmen will compete in continental football and the players are starting to rack up some excellent experience.

The likes of Stephen Craigan, Mark Reynolds and Keith Lasley have been stalwarts in recent European campaigns. Even young Jamie Murphy is only a goal away from breaking Stevie Kirk’s European goals record. Brown believes this could be the key to success.

“We have some good experience.” he said. “Stephen Craigan has 48 caps for Northern Ireland, Bob McHugh and Steven Saunders were away with Billy Stark’s Scotland U21 squad in Croatia and Mark Reynolds has only missed one game in two years. So we have a modicum of European experience.

“Archie and I have been on a few European adventures ourselves. It’s nothing new to many of us, but it is another exciting episode and hopefully it will be an exciting one for Motherwell.

“Our objective has to be to get through to the group stages. Then we can start to focus on the final!”

The club are delighted to announce that suicide awareness charity Choose life will sponsor the Europa League tie with Breidablik.

Choose Life have worked in partnership with Motherwell FC for the past three years and will use the Second Qualifying Round matches as a method to further promote their message.

Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said, “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Choose Life for these important games.

“Choose Life is a fantastic, worthwhile and local organisation that do a great job promoting awareness of such a serious issue.

“We are delighted to extend our relationship further for the games against Breidablik.”

Tickets for the Second Leg of the Europa League Second Qualifying Round tie with Breidablik are currently on sale from the Fir Park Ticket Office.

The club have been given a total allocation of 300 tickets, priced at £20 each, for the match on Thursday 22nd July.

Please note that tickets can only be bought in person (no phone or internet sales are available), and your passport information is required when purchasing.

Fans travelling on the official club charter need not buy tickets as they will be supplied on the plane itself.

For further information please contact the club on 01698 333 333.

Craig Brown watched his side scrape past Ayr United on Saturday before declaring his team fit and ready for the visit of Breidablik.

Motherwell made it three wins on the bounce ahead of their European campaign thanks to a Ross Forbes free-kick and a late goal from Bob McHugh.

It was a lacklustre display from the Steelmen, watched by Breidablik manager Olafur Kristjansson at Somerset Park.

But it was their third game in five days and Brown believes his team now has the fitness levels to take on the Icelandic league leaders.

“The performance wasn’t great but the fitness levels are good.” he said. “The match was something of a fitness exercise and from that point of view it was satisfactory.

“We don’t want to use the fact they have already started their season as an excuse – we have now had 19 training sessions and three matches, and Archie Knox is one of the best in the business when it comes to pre-season fitness, so we should be fit now.”

Brown admits the performance was as much down to him as the players: “My instructions today were to avoid challenges which risked two things; a yellow card, or an injury.

“I said to the players: ‘don’t get into risky tackles because all that matters is next week.’ Our guys like Lasley, Jennings and Craigan snap into tackles, that’s what they do. They couldn’t play like that today.

“Perhaps that is a reason for that display, because we certainly did not look like a Premier Division team against a team from the Second Division. We have to admit that.”

The Motherwell boss admits that he is still working hard to add players to his squad ahead of the Europa League and SPL campaign.

“We are always on the phone,” added Brown. I’m expecting a couple of call backs from managers down in England on Monday morning, and we are hoping to use our contacts to secure a couple of loan signings. I am looking for an absolute minimum of three additions to the squad.

“I am happy with the players I have but I would like a bigger squad. The funds simply aren’t there. We have the funds to sign a striker, but that is all unless we sell somebody on first.

“We’re no different from anyone else – the St Mirren’s, the Kilmarnock’s, and the Aberdeen’s. Every manager I speak to say the budget is horrendous. We have to keep the wage bill down at a manageable level.”

Motherwell completed a hat-trick of friendly wins with a narrow victory over Ayr United at Somerset Park.

The Steelmen weren’t at their best throughout on a wet and windy afternoon but a Ross Forbes free-kick and a late Robert McHugh strike secured a 2-1 win.

Craig Brown named a strong team for the trip to Ayrshire but they struggled for long periods against the Second Division side.t

Indeed, Ayr started well and had the best of the opening ten minutes. However, for all their possession, Brian Reid’s men never really created anything of note to trouble Darren Randolph.

Motherwell responded and Jamie Murphy kicked things off with a long range effort that flew wide and the same player almost nipped in between David Crawford and former ‘Well stopper Bobby Donnelly following a Forbes cross but his effort trundled the wrong side of the post.

It was a typical low-key pre-season affair and it took a further ten minutes for the next piece of noteworthy action. Full-back Stevie Hammell’s brilliant through ball played in John Sutton who raced clear of the home defence. Just as the Englishman was about to pull the trigger, he was halted in his tracks by an excellent recovery tackle by Martyn Campbell.

The deadlock was finally broken after 27 minutes and it was the Honest Men who took the lead courtesy of some quality play from new signing Andy Rodgers. The striker did well to control the ball on the edge of the area and, with one movement, smashed a fierce low shot pass Randolph.

It was the last action of an otherwise poor first half, particularly forMotherwell who weren’t at the races whatsoever.

Ayr started the second much as they had ended the first, on top and utilising the counter-attack to great effect. Easton broke clear on the left channel and, with numerous options, squared it towards the edge of the area. Dean Keenan was there and looked to have time but fluffed his shot wide.

The Steelmen went immediately on the attack and almost brought things level courtesy of a Forbes shot. Chris Humphrey was the architect, bursting down the right and his cut-back somehow found the young midfielder but he scooped it high over the bar and out the ground from ten yards.

Both teams traded long shots before ‘Well finally drew level courtesy of a that man Forbes with another terrific free-kick. Keith Lasley was fouled on the edge of the area, presenting the youngster with a chance. He fooled everyone with a clever low effort under the wall that drilled past Crawford and into the net.

It prompted a more attacking approach and substitute Page and Steven Saunders both had headers from corners that dropped narrowly over the bar.

With just three minutes remaining, Lasley presented Sutton with a great chance when his flick put the former St Mirren man through on goal. The striker could only muster a tired looking shot that flew way wide of the post though and that looked as if that would be that.

However, with less than a minute to play, substitute McHugh snatched victory for ‘Well. Fellow youngster Gary Smith flicked a header on towards goal and his strike partner got the better of Donnelly before rounding goalkeeper Crawford to slot the ball into an empty net.

It was harsh on Ayr but a good end to the match for the Steelmen, who now face Breidablik in the Europa League.

Motherwell: Randolph, Saunders (McHugh 80), Hammell (Page 46), Craigan, Reynolds, Lasley, Jennings (Hateley 53), Forbes, Humphrey, Sutton, Murphy (Smith 83). Subs not used: Bradley, Charalambous, Hutchinson.

Motherwell’s opening game of the 2010/11 Clydesdale Bank Premier League will be shown live on ESPN.

Hibernian will now visit Fir Park on Sunday 15th August (kick-off 12.00pm).

The home game against Celtic, originally scheduled for Saturday 28th August, has also been selected for television coverage.

It has been moved to Sunday 29th August (kick-off 12.00pm).

• Revised fixture list