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Motherwell FC today released their annual accounts for the year ending 31 May 2011 ahead of their AGM for shareholders on Thursday 23rd February.

Highlights

• The club reported a profit of £541,663 (up from £18,884 in 2009/10)
• Operating Income was £5.9m (an increase of 36% on 2009/10)
• Operating Costs were stable at £5.6m (£5.5m in 2009/10)
• Net transfer fees were £184,268 (down from £1.1m in 2009/10)
• The club has no bank debt

Commenting on the figures, Vice Chairman Derek Weir said: “Last year was an exceptional performance period on the pitch which meant we were able to record a very positive outcome financially. This enabled us to maintain our commitment to fund the football department at a time of extreme pressure on all clubs.

“However, our fans, shareholders and members should note that the board position is that we have no room for complacency. While the club is in a strong position relative to many of our competitors, we are subject to the same cost and income pressure as everyone else. The continued balancing of these pressures while maintaining a quality product on the pitch and off is extremely challenging.

“Moreover the retirement of our major shareholder means that the club cannot rely on his generosity in managing cash flow and potential shortfalls from here on in.

“It is imperative that the club builds its strategic reserve to at least £1.5m and that we keep that target under review. To achieve this we will need to be successful in the delivery of the ‘Well Society and its associated fundraising. We also all have to recognise that the club must be very active, every season, in the identification, development and trading of football talent. We want to do so on terms that suit the club and the players but we can only reach that point when we have achieved our reserve target.

“On current trading, despite the positive performance of the team and a very welcome increase in attendances, we are unlikely to record a profit in 2011/12 largely due to the lack of player trade activity in the last two windows. This position is not sustainable and will require close management by the board.

“The board would like to stress however that we are very positive about the potential at Motherwell FC to secure a sustainable and successful future for the club. We are delighted at the progress on the football side led by the excellent management team of Stuart McCall and Kenny Black. We are extremely proud of all they have done and are doing. We are excited by the progress made by the work of our Community Trust and by all the off the field improvements being made by our Chief Executive and her team. A review of our academy system is underway and we hope to announce exciting developments on that in due course.

“We want to play our part in the rejuvenation of our national game in Scotland and achieve our goal of being the best Community and Family Club in Scotland.”

Motherwell’s Quarter Final clash with Aberdeen at Fir Park will be shown live on broadcasters Sky Sports.

The match will take place on Sunday 11th March with a 3.45pm kick-off.

Ticket Information will follow when it is confirmed.

The Cash Converters “Convert for Cash” challenge returns this Saturday when Hearts 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 Hearts 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 Motherwell 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 Hearts, enter your details at the Cash Converters Motherwell 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 17th February

*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.

Referee for Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hearts at Fir Park will be the familiar face of Alan Muir.

Incredibly, it will be Muir’s fifth Motherwell match of the campaign after previously taking charge of Celtic’s 4-0 win in early September, the 1-0 win over Aberdeen, Bob McHugh scoring the winning goal, some fourteen days later, the 3-0 victory of St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and, most recently, the 3-1 home win over Dunfermline last month.

He also managed four matches last season too, having overseen the 1-1 draw with St Mirren in Paisley last November, January’s 2-0 home win over Hibs, February’s 6-0 capitulation at Ibrox and at Celtic Park as an unfamiliar side crashed to a 4-0 defeat with Stuart McCall resting players ahead of the Scottish Cup Final.

He’ll be a familiar face to Motherwell fans having handled three games the season before last as well.

A 4-0 defeat by Celtic in Glasgow was instantly forgettable. He also took charge of the 3-2 extra-time with over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Fourth Round and the lively 2-2 draw against Dundee United back in late November 2009.

In all those games he has produced 43 yellow cards, 22 of which were shown to a player in claret and amber, and three red cards, the first given to former defender Paul Quinn for a professional foul on David Fernandez in a 1-0 defeat to Killie, to Michael Higdon, then an opposition player, in a game with St Mirren last November and, most recently, Stephen Craigan in the last match the Pars.

The 36-year-old has taken charge of twelve SPL games in this campaign, including Kilmarnock’s 1-1 draw with Dundee Utd, Rangers’ 2-0 win at McDiarmid Park, Kilmarnock’s 1-0 win over both Hearts at Tynecastle and Rangers at Rugby Park Inverness CT’s 2-1 victory of Aberdeen on Christmas Eve.

Alan will be ably assisted on the day by Gordon Middleton and Gary Cheyne, with Stephen Finnie on fourth official duties. Referee observer is Ray Morrison and the SPL delegate is Andy Ritchie.

Estonian sharpshooter Henrik Ojamaa has scooped the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month award for January.

The former Derby County youngster has been sensational since his arrival at Fir Park, opening his Motherwell account against Queen’s Park then following it up with further goals against both Dunfermline and St Johnstone.

The 20-year old has also pitched in with a four assists as well to cap an outstanding month.

His form was rewarded with a contract extension which keeps him at Fir Park until 2014 and a call-up to the full Estonian squad for their international friendly with El Salvador in LA later this month.

He told motherwellfc.co.uk, “I am honoured to win this award but I must also mention my team mates who have been excellent.

“It has been an incredible start to my Motherwell career, I am loving life in Scotland, and hopefully I can continue to reward the fans with goals and assists.”

-PICK UP YOUR HENRIK OJAMAA MERCHANDICE FROM MOTHERWELL DIRECT-

Influential midfielder Nicky Law is adamant he should have had a first-half penalty after a coming together with Jim Goodwin.

In the game’s only real moment of controversy, the former Bradford City and Rotherham man tumbled inside the area after clashing with the Saints captain.

Referee Craig Charleston, handling his first ever SPL encounter, was right up with play and turned down the claims much to the frustration of the Englishman.

[pullquote]I was going through on goal and if I hadn’t have been tripped up I would have got through and got a shot off so I was disappointed with that but it’s not given.[/pullquote]

“I thought it was a definite penalty,” he said.

“I was going through on goal and if I hadn’t have been tripped up I would have got through and got a shot off so I was disappointed with that but it’s not given and thankfully it’s not cost us the game.

“A few of the lads said they saw it and heard it as well. There was a clash of boots and he just took my foot away at the last minute. It’s not been given and we just have to move on and accept that decision.”

“That’s three tough games we’ve had against St Mirren now and they’ve always been good open attacking games.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Full-back Stevie Hammell reckons ‘Well could have bagged all three points had it not been for the brilliance of Craig Samson.

Saints and ‘Well fought out a hard-fought draw for the second time this season and, similar to previous games, Saints had more of the ball and the Steelmen probably shaded the better of the chances.

That was no more evident when Saints stopper Craig Samson produced two world-class saves to deny McCall’s men taking all three points; the first from a Higdon header and the second from an Ojamaa curler.

[pullquote]I felt we were going to get a chance at the end; the keeper’s pulled off a great save at the end from Henrik.[/pullquote]

And the former Scotland International admits he thought the latter was actually heading for the net.

He said: “They’re a good team and we knew it would be a tough game. As a defender it’s good to get a clean sheet. I know they had a lot of the ball, but we restricted them to few chances.

“Darren’s only had a few saves to make; the one that deflected off me that’s looped over him but apart from that it’s shots from outside the box.

“They are a good possession side but I thought we were pretty comfortable at the back.

“It was similar to the last time we played them here, with Tom scoring in the last minute. I felt we were going to get a chance at the end; the keeper’s pulled off a great save at the end from Henrik. With the chances we created, i thought we could have taken all three points.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall has conceded that he was happy with the point his side gained against St Mirren this afternoon.

The scoreless, yet entertaining, draw, the tenth draw in twenty four SPL meeting between the pair, keeps the Steelmen in third position and extends their unbeaten run to five games.

‘Well had their fair share of chances but, at what is a typically tough ground to visit, the former Sheffield United stalwart was happy to settle for a share of the spoils.

He said: “First half they started better than us. We didn’t start great which is unlike us. I thought we were a little bit sloppy on occassion but thereafter, you saw both sides, we were 4-4-2 and they were 4-4-2, both got good attacking players; we attacked, they attacked, we attacked.

“I thought we showed we were a good side second-half and, being greedy, I thought we could have nicked it.

[pullquote]I thought we showed we were a good side second-half and, being greedy, I thought we could have nicked it.[/pullquote]

“Samson’s made two really good saves, Hutchy’s had a great chance from a corner, Tom’s free kick has just gone wide, Chris has hit the bar with a cross; but all in all, it’s no disgrace to come here and get a point. They’re a good footballing side and both teams put on a good show in front of a great support from the Motherwell fans.

“It would have been nice to reward them with a last minute goal but we’ll settle for the point”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-