Motherwell FC News – Mar 1999
Motherwell FC News
March 1999
31.03.99
Reports suggest that Stevie McMillan has signed a new three-year contract.
30.03.99
Scotland were beaten 1-0 by the Czech Republic in tonight’s Under-21 match at Fir Park. Lee McCulloch started the game, but was substituted midway through the second half.
27.03.99
Motherwell coach Miodrag Krivokapic and his family are trapped in Belgrade as a result of the NATO air strikes on Serbia. Mio flew home to visit his wife and children during the break from Premier League action, but cannot return to Scotland until he is given the all-clear by the government.
Ricky’s report of the recent friendly against Partick Thistle is now available.
25.03.99
Motherwell won tonight’s friendly against Partick Thistle 1-0 thanks to a goal from Rob Matthaei.
Lee McCulloch is currently serving a three-match suspension. He missed last week’s game against Aberdeen and will also sit out the matches against Dundee United and Dundee.
Aberdeen FC have agreed to pay for the damage caused to the Fir Park tunnel after a Dons player kicked in a perspex wall as he left the field last Saturday.
Speaking in the Wishaw Press, Jim Griffin says he is confident John Spencer will be fit to face Dundee Utd in Motherwell’s next game a week on Saturday. Ged Brannan, back in training this week after being concussed in a collision with Aberdeen’s Paul Bernard at the weekend, will also be back in the squad.
Motherwell’s £300,000 artificial traning pitch was officially opened this week.
Ricky’s report of the Aberdeen game is now available.
24.03.99
Motherwell have completed the signing of Don Goodman. The 32-year-old former West Brom and Wolves striker was on loan with Barnsley from Japanese side Hiroshima, and arrives at Fir Park on a free transfer. Goodman, who has signed a two-year deal, will begin training with his new team-mates at the end of the week.
Rumours that Motherwell would be signing Spurs defender Colin Calderwood have proved unfounded, as the former Scotland internationalist has signed for Aston Villa.
23.03.99
According to this morning’s Sun Billy Davies is holding signing talks with veteran English striker Don Goodman. The 32-year-old is currently with Barnsley, where he is on loan from Japanese side Hiroshima. However, the former Bradford, West Brom and Wolves frontman can leave and negotiate a new deal.
John Spencer has missed out on a Scotland recall for the Euro 2000 clashes with Bosnia and the Czech Republic because of a knee injury. The problem flared up on after Saturday’s game against Aberdeen and Spenny, who has had a cortisone injection, will be out for two weeks.
20.03.99
According to today’s match programme, Motherwell will play Partick Thistle in a friendly at Firhill on Thursday night, kick-off 7.30pm.
18.03.99
There has been no international recall for Andy Goram. The goalkeeper was left out of Craig Brown’s squad for the games against Bosnia and the Czech Republic later in the month. However, Lee McCulloch has been called up to the Under-21 squad.
Saturday is Ladies’ Day at Fir Park, with a special £2.00 admittance to any part of the ground.
Fir Park will host a European Under-21 Championship qualifying tie on Tuesday, March 30 when Scotland take on the Czech Republic. Kick-off is at 7.30pm and prices are £5.00 for adults and £2.00 for juveniles.
17.03.99
Remember we played English non-league side Ashington in a pre-season friendly a couple of years ago? Well, unfortuately they’ve hit hard times and are in need of cash. Full details are available here.
Ricky’s report of the Rangers game is now available.
16.03.99
The Sun reports that Craig Brown will meet with Andy Goram this week in a bid to settle the ‘keeper’s international future. Brown will name his squad for the fixtures against Bosnia and the Czech Republic on Thursday.
15.03.99
Motherwell have signed Steven Nicholas from Stirling Albion for a fee in the region of £100,000. The 17-year-old striker obviously impressed Billy Davies in last month’s Scottish Cup tie.
12.03.99
Motherwell have signed Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mark Gower on loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s game at Ibrox.
11.03.99
Motherwell have insisted Steve McMillian is NOT for sale. Recent reports indicated that both Celtic and Rangers were interested in the 23-year-old, who is under contract until the end of next season. However, both Billy Davies and the player’s agent, Blair Morgan, have denied there are any plans to sell the left-back.
Motherwell’s bid to sign Nottingham Forest’s Dougie Freedman on loan has been knocked back. The English side are looking for a £600,000 transfer fee.
The SFA are set to carry out an investigation following last Saturday’s bottle-throwing incident.
Tony Thomas is back in training and will face a late fitness test before Saturday’s game at Ibrox, while Michael Doesburg has fully recovered from a head knock he suffered against St Johnstone.
10.03.99
Another newspaper report suggests that Stevie McMillan will join Celtic at the end of the season.
09.03.99
Ricky’s report of the St Johnstone game is now available.
08.03.99
Motherwell look certain to be fined by the SFA after a plastic bottle was thrown from the East Stand at St Johnstone’s John McQuillan on Saturday.
Billy Davies has promised an internal inquiry into Owen Coyle’s controversial transfer to Dunfermline. Coyle has claimed a member of the coaching staff, believed to be Willie McLean, informed clubs that the striker was available for transfer, without his knowledge.
Motherwell have linked up with junior side Pollok, who will act as a feeder team. The club will use Newlandsfield Park for five reserve games. In return Pollok can take Fir Park players on deferred transfer and they’ll get a share of gate receipts and ground rent.
Motherwell have opened contract talks with Stevie McMillian, who is understood to be interesting Rangers and Bolton.
06.03.99
In today’s papers, Owen Coyle claims he was forced out of Motherwell. Owen, who signed for Dunfermline yesterday, says that a club official had made his life miserable and left him with no option but to quit. Although he refused to name the official, it is believed that a rift with coach Willie McLean, coupled with the offer of a two-and-a-half year deal at East End Park, convinced him he had to leave.
05.03.99
Owen Coyle has completed his move to Dunfermline for a fee of £170,000. The 32-year-old will make his Pars debut at Kilmarnock tomorrow.
A possible replacement for Owen could be Nottingham Forest’s Dougie Freedman. Billy Davies has enquired about taking the Scotland fringe player on loan until the end of the season. Freedman is out of favour at the City ground, and is available to buy at around £700,000.
04.03.99
Motherwell have accepted a near £200,000 bid from Dunfermline for Owen Coyle. All that remains is for the player to agree personal terms, and he is expected to be paraded at East End Park tomorrow.
Kevin Christie and Jered Stirling have returned to Motherwell following trials with Livingston. Ray Stewart, manager of the Second Division leaders, decided not to offer them contracts.
03.03.99
Reports suggest that Motherwell are set to sign former Scotland left-back Tosh McKinlay, who is out of contract with Celtic at the end of the season.
Another report indicates that Owen Coyle will sign for Dunfermline tomorrow for £150,000.
Ricky’s report of the Dunfermline game is now available.
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