Motherwell FC News – Nov 1997
Motherwell FC News
November 1997
28.11.97
Motherwell will play West Ham in a testimonial for John Philliben sometime in January or February. Coventry City were originally lined up as opponents but had to pull out because of a fixture pile-up.
27.11.97
Brian Martin has served his two-game suspension and recovered from injury, and is available for the match at Easter Road on Saturday despite suffering an ankle gash in a reserve game against Rangers on Tuesday. Billy Davies and Willie Falconer are also nearing fitness, but Greig Denham is banned for one more game.
Motherwell’s recent record against Hibs is very poor – they have won just two of the last 14 encounters and haven’t recorded a victory at Easter Road since McLeish took charge.
Click here to access Iain Sloan’s brilliant new Inter Motherwell Homepage, including Stramash ’97 photos.
26.11.97
Alex McLeish has emerged as the favourite to become Gordon Strachan’s new No.2 at Coventry City, according to the Sun. Eck, who has been linked with several top jobs, is hotly tipped down south to follow Alex Miller as Strachan’s assistant. The pair are close pals from their days together with Aberdeen and Scotland.
Former Motherwell player Alex Burns is set to be hit with a huge suspension after being sent off twice in three games in Holland. Burns made a promising start with new club SC Heracles, but they have plummeted down the table and now stand in 11th place.
24.11.97
Alex McLeish is being linked with the assistant manager’s job at Aberdeen. However, McLeish has recently signed a new three-year contract at Fir Park so the Dons would be forced to pay the club compensation.
Motherwell have released Argentinian Victor Hugo Curveino and Finn Marco Tuomela after trials. The duo played in a reserve match against Celtic last midweek and Tuomela was a sub in the 2-0 win at Parkhead. The Finn is still under contract so the club would have required to pay a fee to sign him.
Eddie May returned to the first team on Saturday after recovering from injury.
21.11.97
Tommy Coyne is scheduled to return against Rangers tomorrow after missing the Celtic game through World Cup commitments with Ireland.
Motherwell’s match with Hearts at Tynecastle, originally scheduled for Sunday December 7 because it clashed with a rugby international, will now be played on Saturday December 6 with a 2pm kick-off.
Starting next Wednesday, the ‘Well Shop in the Davie Cooper Stand will be open on weekdays from 10am – 4pm in the run up to Christmas.
19.11.97
The Sun reports that Motherwell are interested in Manchester City centre-half Paul Beesley. The 32-year-old is valued at around £100,000.
Scott Howie has signed a new one-month contract after failing to win a move to Sheffield Wednesday.
Argentinian hit man Hugo Curvino played for the reserves in last night’s game against Celtic.
Inter Motherwell team members please note – Iain Sloan has set up an Inter Motherwell Mailing List!
17.11.97
Motherwell’s bid to sign Derek Whyte has failed because the former Scotland defender is back in favour at Middlesbrough.
Former Argentine Under-21 international Victor Hugo Curvino has been on trial at Fir Park for the past week, but red-tape prevented him from playing in the 2-0 win at Parkhead on Saturday. The 27-year-old striker is set for a debut against Celtic reserves tomorrow.
Mickey Weir and Dougie Arnott returned to the side at the weekend after recovering from injury.
13.11.97
The Sun reports that Alex McLeish is trying to sign his old Scotland team-mate Derek Whyte. The former Celtic defender is out of contract with Middlesbrough and is thought to be surplus to requirements. Whyte is valued at £300,000 and is on a £200,000-a-year salary, which would be a major problem if Motherwell were to sign him on loan. McLeish hopes to persuade the Motherwell board to foot the bill for a three-month spell that could save the team from relegation.
New signing Eric Garcin suffered a hamstring injury during the Kilmarnock game and could be out for up to four weeks.
Tommy Coyne will be on International duty with the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and will therefore miss the Celtic game.
Tickets for the Celtic game will be on sale at Fir Park until 12 noon on Saturday. Tickets for the Rangers game go on sale at the ground today. The tickets sold from Fir Park for both games are for Motherwell fans only.
12.11.97
Billy Davies will be out for at least a month after tearing medial ligaments during the 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock. Alex McLeish now faces the double-header against the Old Firm with only 14 players because of injuries and suspensions. The club have now made their worst Premier League start in 12 years.
Alex McLeish is one of the names being linked with the manager’s job at Pittodrie following Roy Aitken’s sacking on Monday.
Martin Dillon, the Motherwell fan who attacked Jim Leighton during a Premier League match last month, has been jailed for three months. He has already been banned for life from Fir Park.
Finnish international defender Marko Tuomela will play for the reserves today against Kilmarnock. The 25-year-old has won eight caps for his country.
10.11.97
Finnish central defender Marko Tuomela has arrived at Fir Park on trial and could go straight into the first team for Saturday’s match at Parkhead. The 25-year-old plays for Jaro in his homeland and was outstanding for his country in a recent World Cup Qualifier against Hungary.
Alex McLeish has contacted NINETEEN English Premierhip Clubs in an attempt to buy or borrow a defender – the only club he couldn’t get in touch with was Wimbledon.
Former Motherwell player Paul Lambert has left Borussia Bortmund to sign for Celtic in a £2million deal. The move has angered Motherwell, who lost him for nothing when he left Fir Park 16 months ago, and secretary Alan Dick will be contacting UEFA to demand an explaination as to why the club won’t be compensated. Motherwell are hoping that the proposed friendly against Borussia at Fir Park will still go ahead.
Shaun McSkimming made his first appearance of the season on Saturday having been out injured for six months. However, Billy Davies was stretchered off during the match.
Inter Motherwell team members please note – we have an 11-aside match coming up next Sunday afternoon!
05.11.97
Alex McLeish could be forced into making a playing comeback after failing to land Scotland stars Colin Calderwood and Brian McAllister on loan. McLeish has only one recognised central defender, John Philliben, fit for Saturday’s visit of Kilmarnock. Eck also failed in a bid to sign Leicester’s Julian Watts on loan, but Wimbledon may allow Scotland Under-21 defender Duncan Jupp to move to Fir Park on a short term deal.
Greig Denham’s three match suspension will see him miss the games against Celtic on November 15, Rangers on November 22 and Hibs on November 29. Brian Martin, who is injured anyway, will be banned for the two Old Firm games.
Alex McLeish says that Icelandic trialist Gunni Jonsson has been released because “he’s simply not good enough.”
Inter Motherwell team members please note – tomorrow night’s game against Almas Tandoori is OFF!!!
03.11.97
Motherwell have signed French midfielder Eric Gracin. The 29-year-old, who was out of contract with Toulouse, made his debut in the 4-3 defeat at Perth at the weekend.
Alex McLeish wasn’t at McDiarmid Park on Saturday – he was at home suffering from the ‘flu.
As if we didn’t have enough defensive problems, Greig Denham will now begin a three match ban. Meanwhile, Alex McLeish has failed in a bid to sign a Leicester City defender on loan.
Icelandic trialist Guini Jonsson has been released after failing to impress in his two first team games.
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