| 7 | Motherwell | 35 | 13 | 6 | 16 | -17 | 45 |
| 8 | Hearts | 35 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 43 |
| 9 | Kilmarnock | 35 | 11 | 8 | 16 | -16 | 41 |
| 10 | Dundee | 35 | 10 | 7 | 18 | -21 | 37 |
| 11 | Ross County | 35 | 9 | 8 | 18 | -24 | 35 |
| 12 | St Johnstone | 35 | 8 | 5 | 22 | -28 | 29 |
Stuart Kettlewell addresses numerous transfer speculations and confirms that Arsenal have recalled striker Mika Biereth from his loan spell at the club.
The manager talks us through how the recruitment side of things has been going and previews Alloa on Saturday.
Arsenal have recalled Mika Biereth from his loan spell at the club.
His parent club have made the decision to bring the Danish striker back from his loan early and we are left disappointed to lose the player at this stage of the month.
“This is hugely disappointing and a decision that is completely out of our hands,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“Mika has made a huge impact in his time here and has been well loved by the supporters. Despite this news, his loan has been a major success for player.
“He’d had a loan spell abroad where he didn’t enjoy his time. That has been the opposite here and you can see by the amount of goals and assists, he’s developed well.
“The coaching staff have done an excellent job here in working with Mika and clearly, with interest in the player rising, we have gave him a platform and exposure.”
Although Stuart Kettlewell confirmed this news in his press conference on Thursday morning, we have been waiting for the relevant documentation to be completed before officially announcing.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone at the club and the supporters for the last six months,” Mika Biereth said.
“I’ve loved every minute of my time in Scotland and felt like I built a real connection with everyone. I wish the club and players the very best for the rest of the season.”
All the best for the future, Mika.
As we enter the second half of an enthralling cinch SPFL season, cinch, the title partner of the SPFL is giving you the chance to win a signed jersey and ball from your favourite club. There are multiple prizes for every club in every SPFL league – 150 in total!
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After the winter break’s conclusion, Motherwell return to action, with a Scottish Cup tie against Alloa Atheltic on Saturday 20 January.
Kick off is 3pm.
The match is priced as follows, with tickets available to buy online by clicking here or in the Fir Park ticket office.
| Adults | £18 |
| Concessions | £10 |
| Juveniles | £5 |
To get yours, just log in to your account at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. Once logged in, your reserved ticket(s) will be in your account menu and will be uploaded to your card. You will not be required to collect a physical ticket if you purchase your season ticket seat(s).
Your seat will be reserved until Wednesday 17th January at 5pm.
For help, call 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.
There will be no hospitality for this match.
The Cooper Bar will open as normal from 12 noon serving food and drink with the Centenary Suite opening from 1pm for drinks only. Home and away fans welcome in both areas.
If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.
Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.
We will be wearing our home kit for this match.
Dan Casey and Shane Blaney will be missing for the match. Callum Slattery will also be unavailable, alongside Oli Shaw.
Lennon Miller is a doubt for this match as he recovers from a knee injury.
Motherwell finished strongly prior to the winter shutdown, narrowly missing out on three points at Easter Road against Hibernian.
It was a draw and win for the Steelmen, with Theo Bair netting three goals in two, notching an assist in the process.
Alloa are currently fifth in the league one standings, only outside the play off spots on goal difference but have a game in hand over Montrose.
Their last defeat came on the road to Edinburgh City back in November. It’s been two wins and three draws in the last five league matches for the Wasps. They overcame Dunbar United 2-1 in the last round to reach the fourth round.
Bobby Wales joined Alloa on loan from Kilmarnock has hit a run of form. The young forward currently has three goals in his last three outings.
Hannah Cunningham has been released from her contract by mutual consent and has since left the club.
The defender made the switch to Lanarkshire from Glasgow Women at the start of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, but struggled to find a consistent place in the starting XI.
The 21-year-old will look to pursue regular game time elsewhere, after making 12 appearances in claret and amber.
We thank Hannah for her efforts at Motherwell and wish her well for the future.
Adam Montgomery has joined Motherwell on loan from Celtic until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old, who has played 67 games already, was on loan at Fleetwood Town for the first half of the season.
Despite starting out as a forward, Montgomery found himself in defence and has thrived since. He signed his first professional contract with Celtic in 2019, and went on to make his first team debut with Celtic in May 2021. Going on to make 20 appearances for his parent club, Montgomery has had loan spells with cinch Premiership sides Aberdeen and St Johnstone.
He played 33 games last season with St Johnstone, scoring one goal and assisting on four occasions in the process.
“With the low numbers we currently have available, it’s important we bring the right players to the club who we think can make an impact,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“Adam is still a very young footballer who is in the early part of his career, however, to have amassed 67 first-team games at his age, shows he already has experience and good knowledge of the game.
“I’m delighted we have been able to bring him to the club and look forward to working with him.”
Montgomery will wear the number 22 kit for the remainder of the season.
“I’m chuffed to be here,” Montgomery said.
“I’m excited to get going and show the fans what I can do. It’s been really good meeting all the boys so far and feel it’s a great environment to be playing football.”
Zander McAllister has been named in the latest Scotland Under 16 squad.
The young defender has been called up for international duty as the dark blues face Australia in a friendly match later this month.
Callum Slattery has suffered a serious knee injury in training that will prevent him for featuring for the rest of the season.
The centre midfielder picked up the injury during a training session last week.
“First off, I want to wish Callum the very best in his recovery,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“Losing him is a massive blow for the team and the nature he has picked up this injury only makes the situation worse for the player.
“We’ve not had our problems to seek with regards to injuries this season and this is another hurdle we have to deal with.
“Callum will now begin his recovery and the staff here will look after him every step of the way and I have no doubts, with the Callum’s attitude and strong mentality, he will come back stronger and ready to go.”
Speedy recovery, Callum.
The women of steel’s Scottish Cup woes persisted in East Kilbride, as a positive display over top-four chasing Hearts was left unrewarded, with the Edinburgh side cruising to a comfortable three-goal advantage at a snowswept K-Park.
Addison Handley broke the deadlock almost 10-minutes before the half-time whistle, with Katie Lockwood and Danielle Findlay both striking within the second-half to continue their four-game unbeaten run.
Head Coach, Paul Brownlie made one change from last weekend’s Scottish Cup defeat to Partick Thistle, with Tara McGonigle returning to the starting XI, as Murron Cunningham remained available from the bench. Eve Donald and Morgan Hay both merited a place on the sidelines after extensive injury spells, with Donald returning to action in a late second-half cameo.
With the K-Park turf blanketed in snow and the frosty conditions persisting under the floodlights, Motherwell started the contest firmly on the front foot, maintaining possession and testing the Hearts stopper in the opening exchanges.
Katie Rice’s floated delivery from the left looked destined to reach Chelsie Watson lurking in the penalty area, but a reactive Charlotte Parker-Smiths’ punched clearance narrowly evaded Bailley Collins at the edge of the box, who would’ve had a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Moments later, Morgan Cross’ driving run on the right caught the static Hearts backline scrambling to recover, leaving Sarah Gibb unmarked over 30-yards from goal, but the midfielders exceptional long-range effort cracked off the crossbar.
Unable to capitalise on their early attacking display, the breakthrough finally materialised, with the visitors finding the target against the run of play. Dispossessed in their own third of the pitch, Lockwood’s pinpoint cross-field pass reached Handley racing through the central Motherwell backline, placing an accurate header beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.
Dejected by the first-half opener, Motherwell were unable to regain their composure as the second half resumed, with the visitors doubling their advantage moments after the restart. Lockwood’s half-volley at the edge of the penalty area increased momentum across the frozen surface, picking out the bottom-left corner before the Motherwell backline could react.
The decisive third came in the latter stages of the game, with Findlay converting Lockwood’s low delivery across the face of goal.
Motherwell will return to action in two weeks’ time, with the women of steel travelling to the capital to face Hibs at Meadowbank.
Following the launch of our advertisement campaign, Chairman Jim McMahon sits down with the press to discuss a number of points and factors surrounding the full strategy behind the campaign.
McMahon has said that there have been a number of Well Society sign ups off the back of the release and have even received ten points of interest with regards to investing in the club.
Despite the current narrative and speculation around the club, McMahon says the club has no financial concerns and is merely looking towards securing the long-term future of the club and seeing how far the club can truly reach.
