Motherwell FC News – November 1999
Motherwell FC News
November 1999
30.11.99
Ricky’s report of Sunday’s 3-2 VICTORY OVER CELTIC is available here.
Derek Adams has returned to Fir Park following his one month loan spell with Ayr Utd.
29.11.99
John Spencer missed last night’s 3-2 VICTORY OVER CELTIC with a hamstring injury, and he’s a major doubt for Wednesday’s Leage Cup tie at Tannadice.
28.11.99
Benito Kemble has revealed he played against Hearts last Tursday night while suffering from hypothermia. However, the Dutch defender refused to come off, and hopes to play in tonight’s game against Celtic.
Newspaper reports suggest that Motherwell will offer Lee McCulloch a new contract worth £350,000 on Thursday morning. The new three-and-a-half year deal is worth £2000 a week, a rise of more than 50% on his current contract.
27.11.99
Andy Goram’s calf injury has cleared up, and he is set to return to the team tomorrow night against Celtic.
A report suggests that Motherwell have agreed a five figure sum for Rothes’ teenage striker Martin Wood.
26.11.99
In an interview on new Lanarkshire radio station Clan FM, Lee McCulloch claims he’s going nowhere and is going to continue to concentrate on his Motherwell career. ‘Well chairman John Boyle thinks that McCulloch will pledge his long-term future to the club, and said:
“We are due to have a meeting with Lee after our Leage Cup match with Dundee United next week. We would like to think Lee will stay here. Fir Park is an attractive place to play football. Lee’s benefiting from a good blend of youth and experience, he’s benefiting from a progressive manager and he’s befefiting froma move convivial environment. And we hope that the improvement he’s shown so far will continue to benefit us and him in the future.”
Hearts finally appear to have given up any hope on landing Lee after their final offer of £1 million was rejected. The Tynecastle club have instead turned their attention to Gillingham striker Robert Taylor.
A rumour on the Motherwell Mailing List is linking Dundee Utd with a move for Derek Adams, who has recently been on loan with Ayr Utd.
24.11.99
Motherwell have turned down a £1 million bid from Hearts for Lee McCulloch. Nine Premiership sides, including Derby, Liverpool and Spurs, had McCulloch watched last night, and Hearts, who say this is their final offer for the player, could now find themselves priced out of the race. Motherwell Chief Executive Pat Nevin said:
“We had a couple of offers from Hearts but we decided to say thanks, but no thanks. We are in the middle of a run and we want to keep it going. If we can keep Lee until the end of the season that would be great. If a huge offer comes in we might have to sell, but the big man loves it here and we love him”.
Contrary to earlier reports, it appears as though McCulloch WILL be available for next Wednesday’s League Cup quarter final at Tannadice. His three-match suspension does not begin until after this game.
An extra European place has been awarded to the SPL, meaning the sides which finish 2nd and 3rd in the league will go into the UEFA Cup along with the Scottish Cup winners. Could it be time to look out those passports once again…?
Dundee’s Nicky Banger has labelled Michael Doesburg a cheat, and reckons the Dutchman’s play-acting cost him a red-card in Saturday’s game at Dens Park. Banger was sent off following a second half off-the-ball incident with Doesburg, who escaped any punishment from the referee.
Ricky’s report of last night’s game against Hearts is now available.
23.11.99
A newspaper report suggests that Motherwell have asked Hearts to wait a few weeks before we decide whether or not to sell Lee McCulloch to the Tynecastle side. Jim Jeffries is thought to have made a significantly increased bid for the striker which is much closer to Motherwell’s £1million valuation than Hearts’ original offer of £500,000.
An interesting Daily Record article on Motherwell can be found here. No, really.
Ricky’s report of the Dundee game is now available.
22.11.99
At long, long last, the club’s official website is now up-and-running at http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk, although it’s not really much kop at the moment. It makes you wonder why they bothered really.
21.11.99
Hearts are believed to have made a third offer for Lee McCulloch, who also attracted representatives from Leeds, Spurs, Portsmouth, Man City, Middlesborough, Celtic and Aberdeen to Dens Park yesterday. However, Lee’s booking in the game means he will start a three match ban after next Sunday’s encounter with Celtic.
20.11.99
Spurs are the latest side to be linked with £1.5 million rated Lee McCulloch. It is believed Motherwell would not stand in the 21-year-old’s way if he wanted to further his career away from Fir Park. Lee scored his 6th goal of the seaon in this afternoon’s 1-0 win at Dens Park.
A report on Radio Clyde last night claimed that Greig Denham had joined Falkirk in a swap deal for full-back Martyn Corrigan, who was linked with a move to Fir Park in the summer. However, it appears Denham has turned down the move and has decided to fight for a first team place at Fir Park.
Former Motherwell player Brian Martin, who recently walked out on Stirling Albion, is now with Partick Thistle.
14.11.99
The Sunday Mail reports that Leeds United are also interested in Lee McCulloch, and the paper claims they will have to cough up at least £1 million more than the £550,000 offered by Hearts last week. A number of English scouts watched McCulloch in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Tynecastle, and Rangers are also believed to be interested in the 21-year-old. McCulloch has three years left on his contract so the Bosman ruling is not an issue for the club.
Lee McCulloch’s booking at Tynecastle last week took him over the SFA disciplinary points threshold, and he will serve a four match ban.
‘Well legend Stevie Kirk has been sacked as manager of East Fife. Another former Motherwell player, Rab Shannon, takes over.
A friendly match between Motherwell and Queen of the South scheduled for Friday night was postponed.
Ricky’s report of the Hearts game is now available.
Did you see me on the telly yesterday morning? Ricky, Derek Wilson, Graham Barnstaple, Ally Milne, Graeme Morrison, Drew Buddie and myself were representing Motherwell as the Fans of the Week on Sky’s Soccer AM show. A great time was had by all, and we did the club proud by winning the ‘Lobstar’ competition at the end of the programme! But without a doubt, the highlight of the show was watching our ace match reporter, Ricky Mullen, strutting his stuff on the catwalk with the Soccerette! Watch this space for some photos of the day out.
11.11.99
Billy Davies collected his Manager of the Month award yesterday, and insisted that Hearts would have to increase their offer for Lee McCulloch to have any chance of landing the player. Davies said:
“Lee has a much, much higher value than the amount Hearts have put on him. There is no doubt about that, considering his international background, his age and the way he is playing. We are obviously a selling club. Motherwell Football Club cannot survive unless they are producing young talent and selling that young talent on. But at the same time we are not in the market to destroy a good side we have built up. There is still a lot of work to do with this side and we have achieved nothing yet”.
Make sure you tune into Saturday’s edition of Sky Soccer AM to see Ricky, Derek Wilson, Graham Barnstaple, Ally Milne, Graeme Morrison and myself represent Motherwell as the show’s Fans of the Week! The programme starts at 8am on Sky Sports 2. Essential viewing, if you want to see six ‘Well fans make complete fools of themselves on live television!
09.11.99
Former ‘Well target Glynn Hurst has handed in a transfer request at his current club, Ayr Utd.
The Under-21s went down 2-0 to Hearts last night.
07.11.99
Motherwell have turned down a £550,000 bid from Hearts for striker Lee McCulloch. The offer, which came on the eve of yesterday’s SPL meeting of the two clubs, was dismissed by Billy Davies, who said:
“Their valuation is nothing near what we think he is worth. In any case, we don’t want to lose him – he is a great player who improves with every game.”
Billy Davies has been awarded the SPL Manager of the Month award for October.
05.11.99
Two ex-‘Well players have been in the news today. Brian Martin is leaving Stirling Albion by mutual consent after falling out with manager John Philliben, while Brian McClair is on his way out of Blackburn Rovers after he and boss Brian Kidd were sacked following the club’s poor start to the season.
04.11.99
Jim Griffen was left stunned after being sacked as assistant manager. Griff, who had been at Fir Park for 13 years and was a member of the 1991 Scottish Cup winning side, said:
“This has come as a complete surprise. I spoke to the chairman John Boyle and director Alisdair Barron, who said they wanted to restructure the coaching. They told me my services were no longer required and thanked me for the work I had done. If this is for the good of the club then so be it. I have had many years at the club and it is a big disappointment. But I want to stay in the game.”
The Motherwell Times reports that the club have been granted permission to open a public bar within the Davie Cooper Stand, despite objections from local residents and Knowetop Primary School.
03.11.99
Motherwell assistant manager Jim Griffin has been sacked by the club, with Under-21 coach Miodrag Krivokapic taking over as Billy Davies’ No 2. No further details are availablle at present.
This morning’s papers confirmed that Andy Goram has indeed torn a calf muscle and will be out for three to four weeks.
Motherwell’s Under-18s won 7-2 (aet) against Albion Rovers last night.
Ricky’s report of the St Johnstone game is now available.
Last month’s news
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