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Veteran midfielder Keith Lasley is looking forward to getting back amongst the action after watching the last two matches from the stand.

The 32-year old was sent off by Craig Thomson as ‘Well crashed out the Scottish Cup three weeks ago, forcing him to miss the Dons league game at Fir Park and last weekend’s trip to Rugby Park.

Available again, Lasley is likely to return after what has been a sensational season for the former Plymouth Argyle man.

“It’s always a frustrating time when you are out the team, albeit by my own doing,” he admitted.

“It’s good to be back in the mix. It’s always a huge occasion when either half of the Old Firm come to Fir Park.

“With it being late in the season and with us sitting close behind them in the league, it adds a little more spice to the occasion.

“Rangers showed last week they still have a good squad of players there and there’s little doubt it’s going to be difficult for us. But we’re at home, we’ve got to try and win the match and that’s all we’re focused on.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall has called for his side to up their performance against Rangers in light of the previous two results against the Ibrox club.

Motherwell have lost 3-0 on both occasions –back in August at Fir Park and in Glasgow on January 2nd.

Former Scotland midfielder admits he still hurts thinking back to that game at New Year and is challenging his side to go for it tomorrow.

“We’ve got to aim for an improvement on the previous performances against Rangers this season,” he McCall.

“We’ve managed some excellent, consistent performances and results over the piece but our showing at Ibrox last January was our worst, there’s no doubt about that.

“During my time at the club, the games at Fir Park have followed a very similar pattern. We’ve ran them close in the first half; very even with nothing much in it, and they’ve managed to nick a goal before the break. When you go behind against either half of the Old Firm, it’s becomes difficult because they hit you on the counter when you go looking for a goal.

“We know what we’ve got to do tomorrow and a win could take us back to level points.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

Season Ticket Holders who sit in the Phil O’Donnell Stand should note the following information.

Due to the large demand, the club have once again sold tickets for the wings of the stand to away fans – as has been the case for the past two seasons.

However, should any Season Ticket holder wish to exchange their ticket(s) for either a Davie Cooper Stand or East Stand ticket(s), the club would be more than happy to facilitate that subject to availability.

Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said, “In the past fans have said to me that they understand the importance of the revenue that these big games bring. 

“As a club we understand however, that some supporters may want to move to another part of the ground when it comes to sharing the O’Donnell Stand and we are happy to make this happen if the space is available. 

“There is absolutely no requirement to do so, but if you would like to swap then feel free to contact the Ticket Office at Fir Park between now and kick-off at 12pm on Saturday.”

Tom Hateley reckons Motherwell’s Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League showdown with Rangers is one of the biggest of his career.

The Steelmen can move level on points with the Scottish Champions if they claim all three points at Fir Park.

With Rangers’ exclusion from European competition next season all but confirmed, Stuart McCall’s men, along with St Johnstone, Dundee Utd and Hearts, all have a great opportunity to claim a dream spot in next season’s Champions League qualifiers.

“Saturday could be up there with one of the biggest games of my career, we need to get three points and we will set ourselves up to do that,” said the 22-year-old.

“We don’t go out and aim to contain the other team, that is rarely in our mindset – we have positive and go out there and try win the game.”

Hateley admits it’s been a long week, following last weekend’s 2-0 reverse at Kilmarnock.

However, having bounced back from setbacks already this season, the Fir Park set-piece specialist is keen to do the same on Saturday.

“Last Saturday massively disappointing, nobody showed up to be honest, we had spoken before the game about how important it was and we just weren’t good enough,” stressed Hateley.

“It’s been a long week for everyone, all of the guys have worked really hard in training though and enjoyed the sun – Saturday can’t come quickly enough.

“The couple of setbacks we have had this season, we have bounced back quickly – that shows how much character there is within the squad. We are sitting where we are in the league through hard work and it’s very much deserved,”

[pullquote]Saturday could be up there with one of the biggest games of my career, we need to get three points and we will set ourselves up to do that.[/pullquote]

You have to go back 36 matches to find the last time Motherwell overturned Rangers in the SPL.

The former Reading man admits he was astonished to learn of that statistic and believes Saturday is the perfect time to end their baron run.

“There would be no better time to end that, it’s a run that blows your mind to be honest,” he added.

There has been a few occasion where we have come close and not quite get over the line and we have to make sure that if we get into that kind of situation on Saturday that we take advantage of it and try keep that win.

“Rangers have obviously had problems away from the park and that’s not nice to see happen to anyone, I’m sure their players will just be concentrating on playing football.

“It was quite weird and my dad (Mark Hateley) was there at the game, it really doesn’t matter how many times I went to Ibrox to watch my dad when I was younger though.

“Obviously those times hold great memories for me, but I am an employee of Motherwell Football Club and if the chance arises during a game I am going to do everything I can to take it for the team that I play for – I am sure anyone in the same situation in the time would say the same.

“It’s my career now and I need to do all I can to create a successful career for myself.”

Young defender Nicky Devlin will join Second Division side Stenhousemuir on loan until the end of the current season.

The former Dumbarton full-back, who missed several months of the season with a knee injury, returned to the U19s fold at the beginning of 2012 and has turned in some excellent displays.

However, as tomorrow’s match with Rangers U19s at Murray Park is the last in the current season, Devlin will join fellow loanee Gary Smith at Ochilview to gain much-needed competitive football.

As well as the aforementioned Smith, Motherwell also have Jamie Pollock out on loan to Clyde until April 20th and Ross McKinnon at Alloa Athletic until the end of the season.

Motherwell FC are delighted to announce that the club’s matchday programme has landed the  ‘Most Improved’ award in the Scottish Football Programme of the Year awards.

With a new editorial team and a new producer in Curtis Sport, the 64-page magazine has been a hit with fans this season and this award recognises the excellent work by all involved.

The Scottish Programme of the Year Awards are in their 39th season and it is the 31st consecutive season they have been sponsored by the Programme Monthly and Football Collectable magazine.

Andy Ross, editor of the Motherwell Matchday Programme said: “We are all delighted to have won the title of ‘most improved programme.’

“A number of people have put a fantastic amount of work into the programme – it’s been a real team effort.

[pullquote]We are continually looking at ways we can improve the programme and hope by engaging with the Motherwell support we can build on this achievement.[/pullquote]

“This is the first season in which we have teamed up with Curtis Sport and I think this award demonstrates how much progress we have made  in a short space of time.

“Our Senior Designer Karl Wheeler has worked tirelessly with myself and the club’s Press and Media Manager Alan Burrows in helping to provide a product that the Motherwell supporters will want to pick-up at every home game.

“We have also introduced an extensive section on our opposition for each of our matches and hopefully visiting fans to Fir Park have also enjoyed reading the programme.

“We are continually looking at ways we can improve the programme and hope by engaging with the Motherwell support we can build on this achievement.”

The Scottish Premier League (SPL), Association of European Football Leagues (EPFL), European Commission’s humanitarian aid department (ECHO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have joined forces to organise the European Match Day Against Hunger.

This weekend (March 31 – April 01) over 300 professional football clubs in 20 leagues across 16 countries in Europe will dedicate their matches to the fight against hunger in the Sahel.

The aim of this year’s campaign is to highlight the plight of the people in the Sahel region of Africa, where over 11 million people face acute hunger due to drought, poor harvests and rising food prices.

This is a special weekend on the football calendar, now a permanent fixture. This is the third Match Day Against Hunger. Each year of the campaign has built on the previous year’s success. From Moscow to Lisbon to Vienna to Motherwell, clubs and leagues from all over Europe are uniting against hunger.

Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPL, said: “Our clubs play an important role in helping the communities that surround them. However, given that our clubs have extensive fan base worldwide, the Match Day Against Hunger provides an excellent means through which we can raise awareness of the millions in the Sahel that are at risk from becoming victims of famine”.

For further information on the campaign, click here: http://www.endinghunger.org/en/actagitate/match_day_against_hunger_2012.html

Over 150 kids enjoyed a great night at Fir Park as the club opened its doors for the second ‘Well Society Sign Up night.

Below are a selection of photos of the kids having a blast on the pitch. The remainder will be uploaded to our Facebook page.

[svgallery name=”wellsocietysignupnight2″]

The Cash Converters “Convert for Cash” challenge returns this Saturday when Rangers visit Fir Park and you can win £100.

It’s on STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELMEN!!

The Cash Converters “Convert for Cash” challenge is here again. The event that pits home fan against away fan, confronted by the site of our very own gaffa Stuart McCall, is back again versus Rangers this Saturday.

Faced by a life-sized statue of Stuart McCall, fans must run round him 3 times, before composing themselves to score past our mascot, Claret, EITHER from the edge of the box (the £100 ball) or the penalty spot (the £50 ball).

Enter at the Cash Converters SPL Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.

In addition, Cash Converters will also be donating £150 per challenge to their official charity for the 2011/2012 season, Dreams Come True.

For your chance to win £100 in the “Convert for Cash” challenge against Rangers, enter your details at the Cash Converters SPL Facebook page now: CLICK HERE.

The Facebook page will also give you the chance to win a whole host of other prizes, including tickets and exclusive, money-can’t-buy experiences. Simply “Like” the page, and get entering.

The draw will close at Noon on Friday 30th March

*Please note: You must be aged over 18 to take part, and proof of age will be required on the day. You must also already possess a match ticket.

Fir Park full-back Stevie Hammell hopes Motherwell can finally end a ten-year winless run against Rangers and draw level on points with the Ibrox side.

The Steelmen haven’t taken three points off Rangers since a solitary James McFadden goal was enough for a 1-0 victory back in Boxing Day 2002.

36 games have passed since then, Rangers have won 28 of them but Hammell, a sole survivor of that victory a decade ago, is determined to finally reverse that stat and insists there is no mental barrier preventing them from delivering the right result.

“I think the belief in the squad is there, we believe we are good enough,” he said.

“I don’t think we have taken anything off either side of the Old Firm this season and the record against Rangers in the last ten years, I’m told, is really poor.

“But if we want to be considered one of the best teams in the league, it’s about time that we changed it.

“It’s a test of character for the boys. We find ourselves in a position that we’re not used to in terms of league position and challenging a team for second.

“So I think the character in the dressing room is there. It’s up to us to show other people what we know and believe in the dressing room – that we can beat Rangers.

“It’s going to be very difficult and we know they are getting stronger but the belief is definitely there.”

[pullquote]I think the belief in the squad is there, we believe we are good enough.[/pullquote]

The 30-year old former Scotland International, who has played 420 times in Claret and Amber, is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

However, the former Southend man has indicated a strong desire to remain at the club and insists the prospect that third place in the SPL could possible carry a Champions League slot is an additional benefit.

He added: “There have been talks between the club and my agents, just in the early stages just now. A few of the boys are in the same position.

“If we can keep most of the squad together, I think we can have another strong season next year.

“I would be keen to stay anyway but what an incentive [Champions League football] would be to come back next year.

“To be honest, we haven’t really spoken about it as a goal – but it is there for everybody to see.

“I don’t know if it’s cut and dried with Rangers yet if they’re going to be in Europe. But, if third place gets you into the Champions League, it’s a great incentive. You’re not going to get any better than that although we’ve still got a lot of hard work to do with teams chasing behind us.

“Ever since I’ve been playing, it’s not a position we have been in so we need to strive to get over the line and make sure we finish at least third,” added Hammell who spoke as he promoted ESPN’s coverage of Saturday’s game