9pm

The club today took the unusual step of releasing the following statement to the press:

Following the speculation in the press this week regarding the Clubs financial affairs, Stewart Robertson, Managing Director of Motherwell FC today (Friday, November 8): 
"The Board of Directors and the Administrator can reassure fans that the Club is now on a sound financial footing as a result of the measures taken in May. Those difficult decisions were necessary to ensure the survival of the Club and we now have the financial stability to meet the challenges of the Season. There has been speculation in the press that the Club is actively attempting to sell players because of financial pressure. This suggestion is completely untrue. Everyone involved in the running of the Club has every faith in Terry Butcher and his squad and all our efforts are focused on helping the team deliver the results and performances we know they can produce".

Sounds to me like the dreaded vote of confidence for Mr Butcher!

James McFadden has been dropped from the full Scotland squad to face Portugal later in the month, and instead joins Stevie Hammell and Stephen Pearson in the Under-21 squad for their match with Belgium in Molenbeek on November 19th.

Time for a new opinion poll!

Who do you blame for the club's current predicament?