Motherwell FC News – February 2000
Motherwell FC News
February 2000
29.02.2000
The club’s AGM will take place on Monday March 20, when John Boyle is expected to announce an overall financial loss for the year, mainly due to investment in both the team and the playing surface.
27.02.2000
Michael Doesburg looks to be on his way out of Fir Park at the end of the season after rejecting the one-year contract offered to him. The 31-year-old Dutchman, who has repeatedly stated his desire to stay with Motherwell, wants a two-year deal with improved wages. Michael has also expressed his disappoinment at not featuring in the team recently since the arrival of Martyn Corrigan. However, given his performace against Ayr yesterday, it certainly wouldn’t be the end of the world if he did decide to move on.
26.02.2000
Ayr Utd won 4-3 at Fir Park this afternoon to knock us out the Scottish Cup. We were a disgrace, there is no other way of putting it. Once again, the defence was a complete shambles and we’ve now conceded ELEVEN goals in our last three home games against teams the calibre of Dundee, Kilmarnock and Ayr, who played most of the second-half today with only 10 men (and for a 10 min period in the first-half had an outfield player in goal). It simply isn’t good enough. It is patently obvious we need a new centre-half and right-back. Boyle and Davies should have had a quality replacement lined up before getting rid of Shaun Teale, as someone like Greig Denham is way out of his depth even against a side like Ayr. As I’ve said before, many of the players being brought in by Davies are of 1st and 2nd Division standard, and that’s the level of performance we got this afternoon. Oh well, at least the league results went our way today and we remain in third place, but if performances like this continue we’re going to end up in relegation trouble.
Team news for this afternoon’s game: John Spencer is doubtful after suffering a hamstring injury on Tuesday night, but Martyn Corrigan is eligible after missing the 3rd round against Arbroath and Pat Nevin is fit again after twisting his ankle.
Billy Davies is reported to have signed a new four-year contract as Motherwell manager.
The club have reacted angrily to losing Ged Brannan for three games after he accpeted an offer to play for the Cayman Islands. Ged will head for the Carribean tomorrow and will miss the games against Hearts and Aberdeen. He then returns home for a few days before heading back to the Cayman Islands while we’re playing Rangers at Ibrox. Should the Caymans win their two-leg qualifier with Cuba, Ged will miss other matches before the end of the season.
25.02.2000
I’ve just found out that Stephen Halliday is currently on loan with Carlisle after being recommended by Shaun Teale. Apparently he scored for them in a 4-2 defeat last Saturday.
Ayr Utd supporters are apparently still not happy at having to pay £15 for tomorrow’s cup-tie, while ‘Well fans are being charged only £10 to sit in the East Stand. In today’s Daily Record, club secretary Alisdair Barron says:
“The home fans in the East Stand don’t have the same benefits as the visiting supporters. The South Stand has better facilities and a superior view. The home fans in the main stand are paying the same amount as the visitors, £15.”
It appears that Ged Brannan has accepted the Cayman Island’s offer of international football. Ged will fly out on Sunday to start his World Cup bid with the Carribean country, and it is possible he will be away for weeks at at time throughout the remainder of the season.
PSV Eindhoven defender Daniel Voight trained at Fir Park last week, but will not be offered a contract.
Billy Davies is expected to agree a long-term contract with Motherwell early next week.
24.02.2000
Following some adverse publicity in the press, the club have cut admission prices for the visiting Ayr fans on Saturday from £17 to £15.
Newspaper reports suggest that John Boyle is close to tying up the loose ends on an extension to Billy Davies’ existing contract as manager.
22.02.2000
Well what a load of rubbish that was tonight. A Kilmarnock team lying at the bottom of the league and who had hardly scored all season turned us over 4-0 at Fir Park. A ridiculous team selection saw Billy Davies forced to make three substitutions at half-time, a virtual admission that he’d got it all wrong. Filling the side full of 1st and 2nd division players is simply not good enough.
Don Goodman is suspended for tonight’s game following his sending-off at Rugby Park 10 days ago. It is likely that either Kevin Twaddle or Derek Townsley will replace him in the starting line-up.
21.02.2000
Ricky’s report of the Arbroath game is now available.
20.02.2000
If Motherwell can overcome Ayr in next Saturday’s 4th round cup-tie, we will face Partick Thistle at home in the quarter-finals.
Ged Brannan has been offered an international call-up from the Cayman Islands! Apparently, anyone with a British passport is eligible to play for the British overseas territory, and they are trying to round up half a dozen experienced UK players to boost their chances of winning their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Cuba. Ged is currently thinking over the offer.
19.02.2000
Goals from Don Goodman and Lee McCulloch helped us to eventually see off Arbroath this afternoon. It wasn’t a great performance but we did enough, and I suppose that’s what the cup is all about. The victory means we will face Ayr in the 4th round next Saturday, and the Celtic game originally scheduled for that day will be postponed.
18.02.2000
The Fir Park floodlights were on late into the night, the reason being that the club have hired a company to put a large covering onto the pitch which will (hopefully) ensure tomorrow’s game against Arbroath goes ahead. Apparently, the original abandonment at Gayfield and all the subsequent postponments have cost the club in the region of £300,000.
16.02.2000
Surprisingly enough, the Fir Park pitch failed this morning’s inspection and the Arbroath cup-tie has once again been postponed. It has been re-arranged for Saturday, with the victors facing Ayr Utd in the 4th round on Saturday, February 26. Should Motherwell progress, our Premier League clash with Celtic scheduled for that day would be postponed.
15.02.2000
If Motherwell eventually manage to get past Arbroath, we will face Ayr Utd in the 4th round at Fir Park. They beat Dundee 7-6 on penalties in tonight’s 3rd round replay.
Tonight’s match was called-off at 6.45pm due to a waterlogged pitch. If the pitch passes a 9.30am inspection tomorrow then the game will go ahead at 7.30pm tomorrow night, failing that it could go ahead on Saturday if Arbroath can get their league match re-arranged.
Martyn Corrigan is once again ineligible for tonight’s cup-tie with Arbroath, and Benito Kemble is struggling with a groin strain.
Kick-off tonight is at 7.30pm and NOT 7.45pm as appears in most newspapers.
14.02.2000
Ricky’s report of the Killie game is now available.
12.02.2000
Today’s 2-0 win at Rugby Park moves us into 3rd place in the league table. In all honesty, it was another less-than convincing performance from the team and we certainly got the breaks, most notably with the second goal. After a dull first-half, the turning point in the game came after 53 minutes when Don Goodman was dismissed for two bookable offences. This seemed to spur the lads on and encouraged them to dig deeper, and we took the lead shortly afterwards when John Spencer netted from close-range. We made it 2-0 after 73 minutes when Stevie McMillan’s free-kick was deflected into the net by Stevie Nicholas. This was our first win in eight games, and keeps us well in the hunt for a European place.
11.02.2000
Today’s newspapers report that Motherwell are to re-open contract talks with Simo Valakari and Michael Doesburg. Both players have already rejected offers made earlier this season, but the club are keen to keep hold of them.
09.02.2000
Confusion surrounds yesterday’s postponment of the Arbroath cup tie. The SFA insist the third-round replay was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, but Motherwell claim the surface was perfectly playable and that the game was postponed because of the 70 mph winds. Secretary Alisdair Barron said:
“The pitch is playable but with high winds forecast we didn’t feel it was fair to ask Arbroath and their fans to travel.”
08.02.2000
Tonight’s game with Arbroath is OFF due to the weather conditions, and once again the Fir Park pitch is unplayable. The replay will now go ahead next Tuesday (Feb 15th) with a 7.45pm. This whole cup tie is proving to be a real pain in the backside.
07.02.2000
Ricky’s report of the Dundee game is now available. Least said the better.
05.02.2000
Quick summary of this afternoon’s game: UTTER GARBAGE.
The Sun reports that Billy Davies will finally be offered a new contract early next week. The ‘Well boss currently has a one-year rolling contract with the club.
Shaun Teale has signed for English Third Division side Carlisle until the end of the season.
Benito Kemble will undergo a late fitness test on a groin strain before this afternoon’s game against Dundee, but John Spencer and Martyn Corrigan are available again.
04.02.2000
Benito Kemble and Kevin Twaddle are struggling to make tomorrow’s game against Dundee. Both picked up injuries in the recent 1-1 draw with Aberdeen.
03.02.2000
Motherwell have turned down a bid from Ross County to take Derek Adams back to Victoria Park on loan. Although the striker was loaned to Ayr earlier in the season, Billy Davies says that Adams is still part of his plans.
Shaun Teale is back in Britain today after Swedish side Enkopping refused to offer him a contract.
Ricky’s reports of Saturday’s debacle and Tuesday’s disgrace against Arbroath are now available.
02.02.2000
The Cup replay against Arbroath will take place next Tuesday (Feb 8th). A draw was all we deserved last night following another shocking performance. We had plenty of possession but very few chances, as time and time again the final ball let us down. Arbroath scored with probably their only shot on goal all night and we never were in any real danger of losing the game, but we didn’t look like we were ever going to win it either. A big improvement is required if we are to take care of Dundee on Saturday.
Shaun Teale looks as though he will miss out on a move to Swedish side Enkopping, because their coach thinks he isn’t tall enough!
01.02.2000
Ged Brannan is available for selection tonight, after it was originally feared the booking he received on Saturday would earn him a one-match ban. However, John Spencer is still suspended and Martyn Corrigan is suspended.
Shaun Teale is currently in Sweden to have signing talks with First Division side Enkopping. The 35-year-old said:
I’m having a look at the club but there’s nothing definite. I know I’ve still got a lot to offer the game, I’m far from finished and that’s why I am weighing up my options.”
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