10.25pm

Ok, what's been happening since the season finished?  Well...

Mark McGhee turned down a move to Hearts and has agreed an improved deal at Fir Park.  He was quoted as saying:
"I felt a move to Hearts would have been premature for me.  It smacked a bit of what I did earlier in my managerial career. When a bigger job came up, I went.  Hearts was a bigger job but make no mistake I would never say it was a better job.  I couldn't allow myself to go this time because I have to give a little more back.  As much as Hearts was a fantastic opportunity I have to stick it out at Motherwell a bit longer.

"I was at the door of the plane and would have been the last passenger on board. But I turned round and said, 'I can't do this.'  We are in Europe and I have always wanted that on my CV. I want to have that experience. I've a fantastic little team at Motherewell.  Even on the last night of the season when we won at Hibernian the performance excited me.  I just found it impossible to draw myself away from that."

David Clarkson scored on his full Scotland debut in last Friday's 3-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in Prague.  Both he and Ross McCormack came on as second half substitutes.  Wonder how often George Burley has actually seen either of them play since January?

We've turned down a bid from Rangers for Mark Reynolds, believed to be between £750,000 and £1million.  McGhee said:
"It was part of my discussions with John and one of the reasons why I didn't go to Hearts.  I was given guarantees that none of our top players would be sold this summer.  Even if Rangers were to offer £5million for Mark Reynolds it wouldn't matter to me because I would tell John that this time next season he could be worth £10million.  Our top players are not for sale and if they are sold then I will be going out the door with them.

"I think Scotland is just around the corner for Mark if he stays here.  Seeing David (Clarkson) and Ross (McCormack) at international level will spur him on to follow them."

McGhee hasn't given up hope of keeping Ross McCormack at Fir Park too, and added:
"All I know is that Ross is not committed to anywhere.  There is a lot of interest in him but the interest is at a lower level than he should be entertaining.  I am going to try to persuade him that another year with us and playing in the UEFA Cup could see him go to clubs that he is only dreaming about.  I still think Ross is a player for Newcastle or some of the bigger Premiership clubs."

Marc Fitzpatrick has signed a two-year contract extension.  I'll refrain from making a sarcastic comment.

Paul Quinn has been on the front pages of the tabloids again, this time after he and his fiancée were robbed at gunpoint while on holiday in Florida.

Season ticket prices for 2008/09 have been announced, with full details are available from the Official Site.  My East Stand ticket has gone up in price by a tenner.  Apparently we will be able to renew online this year.

Chris McCart has left the club to become the new head of Celtic's Youth Academy.

The club have announced the following mouth-watering pre-season friendlies:

• Sun July 13^th - Sun July 20th - Fitness Training in Obertraun, Austria (Two games TBC)
• Wed July 23^rd - v Wolves, Fir Park - 7.30pm 
• Sat July 26^th - v Bradford City, Fir Park - 3pm
• Wed July 30^th - v Preston North End, Fir Park - 7.30pm

Can safely say I'll be giving all of them a miss.

On top of that, the club are planning an Open Day for the end of July.

Remember Martin Grehan, the striker we signed from a junior side then sent out on loan to Forfar?  Yesterday's Express reported that he's been released.

Semi-interesting article on Motherwell from Wednesday's Evening Times.

Once again, here are details of the dates for the UEFA Cup next season.

With Motherwell in the First Round proper, according to this site the draw is on August 29, with the 1st leg on September 18 and 2nd leg on October 2.  Details of the teams who have already qualified are available here and here. Some pretty tasty teams among the seeds.  Imagine seeing Motherwell at the San Siro, with Boab Malcolm up against Kaka in midfield...