7.40pm

A few snippets of news from the last week or so...

Jim Paterson has signed the two-year contract offered to him.  I hear that it's on reduced terms and a pay-as-you-play basis.

Still no word from Stevie Hammell, although reports suggest he's been offered an improved offer and has been given until the weekend to decide where his future lies.

New 'Well boss Maurice Malpas says he won't welcome bids for want-away striker Scott McDonald:
"To become a better player, sometimes it's the ability of the coaching staff which helps you do that and I believe we have as good a coaching staff as anywhere in the country.  So I don't see the point of Scott moving within Scotland. I don't think he should move anyway and I've told him that.  Scott knows whatever he wants will be determined by what he does on the pitch. If he performs to a high standard, great.  But he knows he has to come back and play well for the club.  I've spoken to the chairman and the board and I've told them I won't be encouraging any bids at all.  As far as I'm concerned, Scott McDonald is a big part of our team.  He's still a young boy, he's only 22, and we think the best place for him to develop is at Motherwell.  He has two years to go on his contract and I want to keep him here for the two years."

Tabloid reports suggest that Hearts are interested in the striker.

Maurice Malpas has appointed Paul Hegarty as his assistant.  The 'Well No 2 is quoted as saying:
"I am delighted to be back working with Maurice at a Club which has shown time and time again, over the last few seasons, that it has the ambition and the ability to compete with the best in Scottish football.  Maurice and I know each other well and I'm sure we can take the Club forward.

"I worked as an SPL inspector last season during my time out of football management and saw Motherwell on a few occasions. I was impressed.  They won two of the games I saw and drew one. In those matches, their defence was very accomplished thanks to some excellent players.  The big centre-half, Brian McLean, is a major talent and I am pleased Motherwell have signed him from Rangers.  Elsewhere, the young goalkeeper, Graeme Smith, has done fantastically well and merited his call-up into the Scotland squad for the Kirin Cup in Japan.  On top of that, Martyn Corrigan has signed a new contract and we also have Stephen Craigan, away with Northern Ireland in America right now, on the books.  In addition, we have a lot of promising youngsters coming through, including William Kinniburgh and Shaun Fagan."

In a separate article, Hegarty went on to say that a UEFA Cup place should be our target for next season!

The friendly against West Brom has been confirmed for Sunday 23rd July at Fir Park, kick off 3pm.

Stephen Craigan won his 21st cap for Northern Ireland in their 2-0 defeat to Romania in Chicago last Saturday.

Don't forget that the discount period for season tickets ends on Monday.

It's been a while since we had an opinion poll.  So here goes?

Who is your Player of the Year?