'WELL SUNGLASSES
Buy on-line for just £6.00

10pm

Well whadaya know?  It looks as though Stephen Pearson might be staying at Fir Park after all.  Terry Butcher said today that he was hopeful Pearo would sign a year's extension to his existing contract!
"We have offered him a new contract and he is thinking it over.  The Leicester deal is dead now and no-one else has come in for him. It is up to him now.  We have always been keen to keep him here and do what is right for us and him. And we feel that what is right for him is to stay here for at least another year.

"Leicester coming in for him was flattering for him and for us as well as they wanted one of our players.  But he is only 20 and if he does well next season he may get into the senior Scotland squad."

The club were today fined £10,000 by the Scottish Football Association for our poor disciplinary record last season.  2002/03 saw us pick up 11 red cards and we were warned about our behaviour during the winter break.  However, £5,000 of the fine has been suspended until next January to encourage an improvement in behaviour.  An SFA spokesman said today:
"On-field indiscipline is costing clubs dearly, as their players missed a total of 1,361 matches last season because of suspension.  Players sitting in the stand are no use to anyone, and there is a clear message to managers that poor behaviour is damaging their prospects of success.  In fact, the statistics show a fairly close relationship between a good disciplinary record and league success, throughout the divisions."

In today's Evening Times, Derek Adams says he is hopeful of a Motherwell win at Ayr tomorrow, but is more concerned that the team produce the goods when the season starts for real on August 9:
"We must learn from last season and I believe the boys will be stronger for what they experienced then.  It was a tough campaign but it's time to look ahead. We've a lot of exciting young players at this club and there is now a decent mix of youth and experience which is important.  We've signed Gordon Marshall, Alex Burns and Stephen Craigan who all have plenty of experience in playing in the SPL and they'll improve the team.  People might expect us to struggle again this season but the boys are very excited at what's ahead and confident we can prove them wrong."

"We drew against Hamilton and Stenhousemuir, but these games are to help get fitness levels back and improve sharpness.  I don't think any team returns to pre-season in top form, and you play these games to improve and be ready for the real action.  Obviously, it would be nice to beat Ayr and put on a good show for our supporters, but I'm sure everyone will agree the time that matters is when the league starts."

Cast your vote in our TWO new Opinion Polls:

Where (realistically) will we finish in the SPL next season?

and

What transfer fee should we accept for Stephen Pearson?