Motherwell FC News – June 1999
Motherwell FC News
June 1999
26.06.99
No updates for a week I’m afraid, as I’m off to Cyprus for a well-earned holiday! Don’t worry though as, unlike Ricky, I’ll be back in plenty of time for the pre-season games.
24.06.99
Motherwell have finalised their pre-season tour of Sweden and will play matches against Third Division side Jonkoping Sadraif on July 14, Second Division IK Tord on July 16 and First Division Huskvarnaff on July 18. All of the club’s pre-season friendlies will take place away from home in an attempt to protect the new Fir Park pitch for as long as possible.
The Fixture List for the new season is now available and, as reported earlier, Motherwell start the new campaign with a trip to Easter Road.
John Boyle says he is pleased with early season ticket sales. Speaking in today’s Motherwell Times, he says:
“We have had a very brisk start and are ahead of last year’s sales at this time. We are very, very pleased with the sales so far.”
Speaking in today’s Daily Record, Pat Nevin says he is ready to hang up his boots provided his playing skills are no longer required. Pat, who turns 36 in September, will keep in shape and do all the pre-season training, but says he’d prefer not to be called on by Billy Davies. The full article is available from the Daily Record web site.
23.06.99
The Sun reports that Motherwell are set to sign out-of-contract Falkirk full-back Martyn Corrigan. It may take a tribunial to settle the transfer, but Falkirk are keen to settle a price and the two clubs should agree an £80,000 fee.
Swedish side Helsinborgs have launched a second attempt to sign Simo Valakari.
Willie McLean is to retire from his coaching role at Fir Park. John Boyle thanked him for his services to the club.
22.06.99
Radio Clyde reports that Motherwell will be away to Hibs on the first day of the new season.
The list of players freed by Motherwell is confirmed as follows: Herve Bacque, John Dow, Sandy Hodge, Daniel Kemp, Greg Miller, Jered Stirling, Mickey Weir and David White. Eddie May is also believed to have left the club.
20.06.99
According to the Wishaw Press, general admission prices for next season are as follows…
| East Stand | General | Premium Gate |
| Adult | £10 | £12 |
| Juvenile | £2 | £4 |
| OAP/Student | £5 | £7 |
| Davie Cooper Stand | General | Premium Gate |
| Adult | £13 | £15 |
| Juvenile | £4 | £6 |
| OAP/Student | £7 | £9 |
| Main Stand | General | Premium Gate |
| Adult | £15 | £17 |
| Juvenile | £5 | £7 |
| OAP/Student | £8 | £10 |
| South Stand (Visiting fans) | General | Premium Gate |
| Adult | £15 | £17 |
| Juvenile | £5 | £7 |
| OAP/Student | £8 | £10 |
“Premium gate” applies to games against the Old Firm
18.06.99
Motherwell are to stage a youth tournament on Saturday, September 25 in memory of Andy Thomson, who died last season aged 20.
17.06.99
Dunfermline are reported to be interested in Eddie May.
Karen Paterson will take over the role of commercial manager at the club from John Swinburne, who has been appointed to the board of directors.
15.06.99
According to the Daily Record, Billy Davies WON’T have any money to spend this summer. John Boyle feels the £2 million he has already invested in new players since taking over last September should be enough for the squad to be challanging for a place in Europe. A further £1 million will be spent, but it will be used to upgrade facilities at Fir Park, which includes having the pitch relaid. The full article is available from the Daily Record Web Site.
The club are distributing 167,000 leaflets, one for every single household in Lanarkshire, in an attempt to attract new supporters.
14.06.99
The club today held a press conference to publicly announce next year’s season ticket prices. During the conference, John Boyle re-stated his ambition to install Motherwell as Scotland’s “third force” behind Rangers and Celtic, and added that the way to achieve this was to encourage fans in Lanarkshire to support their local team. He said:
“One of our great aims for the season ahead is to increase the level of support. Motherwell is at the heart of Lanarkshire with a population of 600,000. With time, commitment and the support of the local population we hope to see Motherwell as the third way in Scottish football. Here at Fir Park we don’t care about race, creed or colour, only people who are interested in football. In the long term the only way forward is to have a pricing structure in place that will attract people through the turnstiles. We have to try and stop the buses bypassing Motherwell and going to Rangers or Celtic. It might take half a generation to do that but we need to start somewhere.”
The club also announced the appointment of commercial manager John Swinburne onto the board. He is due to retire shortly as commercial manager.
11.06.99
Season Ticket prices for 1999/2000 have been announced by the club…
| STAND | PACKAGE | FULL PRICE | DEPOSIT | INSTALLMENT x3 | TOTAL | |||||
| East | Adult | £160 | £69 | £32 | £165 | |||||
| Juvenile | £40 | £21 | £8 | £45 | ||||||
| Senior Citizen | £80 | £37 | £16 | £85 | ||||||
| Student | £80 | £37 | £16 | £85 | ||||||
| Parking | £50 | £50 | ||||||||
| Cooper | Adult | £210 | £89 | £42 | £215 | |||||
| Parent + Child | £240 | £101 | £48 | £245 | ||||||
| Additional Child | £40 | £21 | £8 | £45 | ||||||
| Juvenile | £65 | £31 | £13 | £70 | ||||||
| Senior Citizen | £120 | £53 | £24 | £125 | ||||||
| Student | £120 | £53 | £24 | £125 | ||||||
| Box + Parking | £695 | £283 | £139 | £700 | ||||||
| Box | £645 | £263 | £139 | £650 | ||||||
| Parking | £50 | £50 | ||||||||
| Main | Adult | £240 | £101 | £48 | £245 | |||||
| Juvenile | £85 | £39 | £17 | £90 | ||||||
| Senior Citizen | £140 | £61 | £28 | £145 | ||||||
| Student | £140 | £61 | £28 | £145 | ||||||
| Centenary + Parking | £440 | £181 | £88 | £445 | ||||||
| Centenary | £390 | £161 | £78 | £395 | ||||||
| Millennium + Parking | £950 | £385 | £190 | £955 | ||||||
| Millennium | £900 | £365 | £180 | £905 | ||||||
| Parking | £50 | £50 |
10.06.99
According to the Motherwell Times, the friendly against Carlisle will take place on Saturday, July 24 at Brunton Park. The club have also arranged matches against Queen’s Park on Wednesday, July 21 and Tranmere on Tuesday, July 27. Motherwell are currently attempting to arrange a pre-season tour of either Denmark, Sweden or Holland.
Two Dutch sides are also believed to be interested in Falkirk’s Martyn Corrigan, who has been targeted by Motherwell.
Motherwell are setting up an under-18 side after being the only Premier club not involved at that level last season. Development officer Dave McParland is currently organising the club’s under-13s, 14s, 15s and new 18s for the new term.
09.06.99
Newspaper reports are linking us with 21-year-old Falkirk right-back Martyn Corrigan, who is out-of-contract this summer.
07.06.99
Tranmere Rovers’ Official Web Page reports that Motherwell will play a friendly at Prenton Park on Tuesday July 27th, kick-off 7.45pm.
04.06.99
Simo Valakari has announced that he has no plans to leave Motherwell, despite speculation linking him with a £200,000 move to Swedish side Helsingborgs. Simo, who plays for Finland against Turkey tomorrow in a Euro 2000 qualifier, said:
“It is very flattering that Helsingborgs are keen to sign me. But I am very, very happy at Motherwell and I do not have any intention of leaving.”
Motherwell are close to arranging a summer tour in either Spain or Scandinavia. A friendly against Carlisle has also been arranged, although confusion appears to surround the date. According to the Daily Record, the game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21. However, yesterday’s Record reported that we’d be playing Queen’s Park that night.
03.06.99
Motherwell have arranged a friendly against Queen’s Park at Hampden on Wednesday, 21 July.
The Motherwell Times confirms that Mark Gower has returned to Spurs after his loan period expired. Billy Davies said:
“Spurs called him back and that was a bit disappointing.”
Pre-season training begins at Fir Park on Monday, July 5 and Motherwell will kick off the new season with an SPL fixture on Saturday, July 31. They then face either Raith Rovers or Stranraer away from home in the second round of the League Cup on August 3 or 4.
02.06.99
Motherwell are reported to be interested in Rangers’ striker Gordon Durie. The player is believed to have been the subject of an initial inquiry from Billy Davies and now the club will decide whether they can construct a package that would meet both Rangers’ asking price and Durie’s wage demands.
Steve Woods has signed a new two-year contract and has vowed to challange Andy Goram for the No 1 jersey next season.
Billy Davies hopes to persuade Stevie McMillan and Stephen Craigan to sign new contracts. McMillan is believed to have been targeted by both Old Firm clubs.
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