December 2000

Thursday, December 7

Today's Sun reports that John Spencer is on his way out of Motherwell as the club introduce a cap on wages.  Spenny has apparently been told he will follow Andy Goram out of the Fir Park door, and he is now available to go out on loan.  Spencer earns around £7,000 per week, but that is over TWICE what John Boyle intends to pay new signings in future.  Goram has been offered a new deal on half what he is currently earning, and is set to walk away.

The Sun also reports that John Davies has quit the club to seek first team football.  Apparently he grew tired of the abuse he received from the fans, and asked brother Billy to release him from his contract.  Morton, Raith Rovers, Airdrie and Ayr United are reported to be keen to sign him.  Looking back on his 18 months with Motherwell, John Davies feels nothing but bitterness towards the fans:
"I´m disgusted. I´ve been a professional footballer for 18 years, been First Division Player of the Year, played for Rangers, Airdrie, St Johnstone and Ayr United and never had anything like this before.  I don´t even know what it is. Is it because my brother´s the manager?  These so-called supporters don´t even deserve to be called fans. It was Billy´s scouts that recommended me to him, not the other way about.  The final nail in the coffin was the League Cup match against Queen´s Park, when I wasn´t even on the pitch and was being booed.  I don´t mind people giving me stick because I´m not playing well, or constructive criticism, but that was absolutely disgusting and mindless."

The Motherwell Times is reporting that Andy Goram will be back in the side for Sunday's trip to Ibrox.  Motherwell have doubts over Lee McCulloch, John Spencer, Don Goodman and Derek Adams, although Billy Davies is hopeful that at least two of them will make it.

BD has revealed that the deal to take Stevie McMillan to Bradford is officially dead:
"The deal is dead as the two clubs could not agree on a method of payment.  It has been a difficult period for Steve. People do not understand what is going through the boy's mind.  We thought about whether or not we should play him against Hibs but Motherwell want to use their best players and Steve McMillan is definitely one of those.  He is disappointed - the chance to play in the Premiership does not come along every day.  However, whether it be now or in six months' time, he will graduate to bigger and better clubs than Motherwell."

Speaking about his manager of the month award, Davies said:
"It was a good month but then we got a kick up the backside from Hibs on Sunday.  Now we are looking at the next five or six games before the winter break to pick up as many points as we can and get into a challenging position.  There has always been an excellent atmosphere in the dressing room but there was a great feeling of togetherness in the past month or so.  That stems from the activities days we organise at least once a month. The players, management and chairman have all tried their hand at 10-pin bowling, go-karting and curling this season.  This helps galvanise team spirit and gives us a break from training."

New Celtic signing Neil Lennon has revealed he spent three years with Motherwell as a teenager, but returned to Belfast because he didn't feel he had been properly treated by the club.  Lennon trained at Fir Park between the age of 13 and 16 when Tommy McLean was manager.

December 2000 News Index

Home