Motherwell FC News – Feb 1999
Motherwell FC News
February 1999
28.02.99
Newspaper reports suggest that Dunferlmine have increased their offer for Owen Coyle to £150,000. It’s understood that the Pars have already had a £100,000 bid rejected.
27.02.99
Ricky’s report of the Celtic game is now available. Not for the faint-hearted!
26.02.99
The Sun reports that Motherwell are refusing to contemplate extending Andy Goram’s contract until the club is safe from relegation.
Reports suggest that Livingston are interested in Kevin Christie and Jered Stirling, both of whom do not appear to feature in Billy Davies’ plans.
The Daily Record hints that John Spencer could be called up to the international squad next month for the games against Bosnia-Herzigovina and the Czech Republic.
25.02.99
John Spencer has landed a club fine following his ordering off against Celtic, but has escaped further punishment as the referee’s report makes no mention of the V-sign he gave to the away fans following his dismissal, or his clash with the fourth official as he made his way up the tunnel.
The Sun reports that Motherwell have turned down a £100,000 bid from Dunfermline for Owen Coyle.
23.02.99
Andy Goram has dismissed reports that he has quit Motherwell. This morning’s Daily Record reported that before Sunday’s game against Celtic, Goram sent the club a fax from America which hinted he may never play for us again. However, the former Scotland goalkeeper told BBC Scotland that his future is secure at Fir Park, and that he hopes to have further contract talks with Billy Davies in the near future. Goram attended training as usual this morning.
John Spencer will meet with Billy Davies today to discover if he is to be fined for being sent off on Sunday night, or for gesturing to the Celtic support as he made his way up the tunnel. Spenny may also be asked by disciplinary bosses to explain his two-fingered sign. The SFA expect referee Kenny Clark’s report today. Spencer will be suspended for the Premier League games against Dunfermline on Saturday and Rangers on March 13, although he will be available for the Scottish Cup tie against St Johnstone on March 6.
Stephen Halliday has missed out on a move to Colchester due to a mystery illness. Colchester sent the English striker home immediately and now the deal could be dead.
Motherwell have been outbid by Ayr for Stranraer defender Mark Campbell. The transfer fee is reported to be in the region of £90,000.
22.02.99
John Spencer will serve a two-match ban following his red card against Celtic last night. He automatically misses Saturday’s home game with Dunfermline. Scotland boss Craig Brown was at Fir Park last night to take a look at Spenny, but the early dismissal will have done little to enhance his international prospects.
20.02.99
In today’s newspapers, Billy Davies reveals that Andy Goram ASKED to be dropped for tomorrow’s game against Celtic after claiming he wasn’t mentally prepared. The Goalie has jetted off to New York for a three day break. Speaking in today’s Sun, Davies says:
“Andy came into my office on Thursday morning and indicated he didn’t want to play in the game. He felt he wasn’t right to play, given the timing of the match and the way things have gone over the last couple of weeks. I tried to convince him to play. I did everything I could. I would have definitely preferred he played, but I had to listen to what he was saying. He hasn’t been dropped, he hasn’t been kicked out of the team and the police didn’t say a thing to us about the situation, absolutely nothing.”
Contrary to what appeared in Thursday’s Motherwell Times, today’s national press reports that Steve McMillan is suspended for tomorrow’s game and Tony Thomas is struggling to recover from a hamstring injury. Steve Woods, who caused a scare yesterday by missing traning due to food poisoning, will replace Andy Goram in goal.
18.02.99
Motherwell have announced that Andy Goram has been dropped from the side to face Celtic at Fir Park on Sunday. The club said it was reacting to a flood of publicity stories allegedly linking the goalkeeper with loyalist paramilitaries. Motherwell secretary Alisdair Barron said:
Andy felt the game would be better served if he did not play.”
Celtic have revealed that if Andy Goram had been one of their players, he’d have got the sack if the allegations linking him with terrorists were true. We are supposed to care.
The Motherwell Times reports that Steve McMillan is expected to make his 100th appearance for the club on Sunday after limping off with a leg injury against Stirling. And Tony Thomas is expected to return following his thigh injury.
Reports suggest that Stephen Halliday has gone on trial with Colchester.
Ricky’s report of the Stirling game is now available.
17.02.99
Pat Nevin has admitted to being stunned that both BBC and Sky have decided not to show live coverage of the Motherwell v St Johnstone Scottish Cup tie. Instead, the BBC will screen Rangers v Falkirk on the Sunday afternoon, while Sky will show Morton v Celtic on the Monday night.
16.02.99
The Sun reports that Motherwell currently have two young Stranraer players on trial. Winger Alan Jenkins, 17, and defender Mark Campbell, 20, spent last week at Fir Park and impressed Billy Davies. Kilmarnock are also believed to be keen on Campbell, while Jenkins snubbed moves to Ipswich and Blackpool to finish his schooling this year.
15.02.99
Ricky’s report of the Dundee game is now available.
14.02.99
Motherwell have been drawn at home to St Johnstone in the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Cup. The tie is scheduled for Saturday, 6 March.
To read the latest crap the Sunday Mail have dug up about Andy Goram, you’d better refer to their web site.
11.02.99
John Spencer has revealed that Motherwell players begged Andy Goram not to quit football in the wake of the controversy surrounding his supposed links with loyalist terrorists. It is clear that the goalkeeper has the full backing of the dressing room. Goram was allowed to miss training yesterday to pursue his legal action against the newspapers involved.
Jan Michels has returned home to join Dutch Second Division side Den Bosch.
10.02.99
Former ‘Well player Eliphas Shivute has signed for Chinese First Division champions Dalian Wanda FC.
Dunfermline have denied reports they are interested in Owen Coyle.
09.02.99
Newspaper reports suggest that Owen Coyle could sign for Dunfermline in a £100,000 deal following Saturday’s cup tie against Stirling Albion.
As a “thank-you” to Motherwell fans, John Spencer has bought £1000 worth of tickets for Saturday’s cup tie to distribute among local schools.
08.02.99
Andy Goram has told a news conference he will continue to play for Motherwell following weekend allegations linking him with an Ulster terrorist group. It had been reported in today’s Sun that he was seriously considering leaving the game. A dated photo of Goram holding up an Ulster Volunteer Force flag appeared in yesterday’s Sunday Mail, but the goalkeeper has refuted the claims made by the newspaper and is to take legal action with the full backing of Motherwell FC. He said:
“I categorically deny any links with sectarian groups or terrorists. I don’t condone violence and wholeheartedly support the peace process.”
John Boyle added:
“Andy has assured us he has been seriously maligned and misrepresented. He is taking legal action against the newspapers and individuals concerned. He remains a player at Motherwell.”
07.02.99
Motherwell have completed the signing of former Monaco player Herve Bacque. The 22-year-old French striker, who had spent the past few weeks training at Fir Park, made his debut at Dens Park yesterday.
John Spencer and Tony Thomas both missed yesterday’s game due to knee injuries.
Newspaper reports suggest that we are interested in Celtic’s Simon Donnelly. Other reports suggest that Billy Davies wants to sign his brother John from Ayr United.
The lead story in today’s Sunday Mail links Andy Goram to the loyalist terror group The Ulster Volunteer Force. The full story is available from the Sunday Mail’s website.
05.02.99
Tomorrow’s game against Dundee goes ahead as scheduled after the SPL rejected an appeal from the Dens Park side to have it postponed.
04.02.99
In a dramatic U-turn, Andy Goram has ended his international exile by accepting an invitation from Craig Brown to return to the Scotland set-up. Goram announced his retirement from international football when he walked out of Scotland’s pre World Cup squad in America last summer, but a phone call from Brown this morning saw the 34-year-old end his self-imposed exile. Goram said:
“Craig Brown has always been extremely sympathetic about the situation and for my reasons for not playing. When he asked whether I wanted to come back there was really only one answer. Now he has told me that he wants me I am happy to be there if picked to help Scotland to another appearance in the European Championships”.
Dundee have made a formal request to the SPL to postpone Saturday’s game with Motherwell because of a flu outbreak at Dens Park. A decision is expected tomorrow.
03.02.99
Today’s Daily Record reports that Ged Brannan could play for Scotland thanks to a grandfather he never met. The former Man City midfielder, who was adopted as a child, is digging into his background in the hope he will be eligible to begin an International career north of the border. Northern Ireland tried unsuccessfully to cap Brannan when he played for Tranmere, but Scotland boss Craig Brown says he will be “interested” if Ged can prove his eligibility to play for Scotland. Meanwhile, Andy Goram has repeated his vow never to play for Scotland again. He says he could never return after Jim Farry branded him a “non-person”.
Motherwell’s game against Dundee on Saturday could be postponed after the Dens Park club were hit by a flu epidemic. Ten players have gone down with a virus and the club could ask for the match to be rearranged.
02.02.99
Ricky’s report of the Hearts league game is now available.
01.02.99
The Daily Record reports that new Nottingham Forest manager Ron Atkinson is ready to bid £100,000 for Shaun Teale. 34-year-old Teale played for Atkinson at Aston Villa.
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