No early Fir Park exit for Moult, warns Well gaffer Robinson . . .
TALKING MOTHERWELL
LOUIS MOULT will be a Motherwell player for at least another year despite refusing to sign a contract extension.
That was the vow of Fir Park boss Stephen Robinson who has backed his star striker to show his professionalism even with the current impasse.
Moult has a year to go on his current deal and was offered fresh terms by the Well board in an attempt to protect their prize asset against potential suitors.
The ambitious forward, who bagged 18 goals in both his first two seasons in Lanarkshire, has told the club he is not prepared to put pen to paper.
However, Robinson has told the 25-year-old he will be in claret and amber for the duration of the campaign.
“I’ve spoken to Louis over the last couple of weeks and he’s indicated to me at this moment in time he’s not going to sign the contract.
“We’ve made Louis a really, really good offer. It’s the best we could have possibly made him for this football club.
“That’s not to say further down the line he won’t look at it but that will obviously be dependant on us on and off the pitch financially.
“He’s going to be here for the next year minimum and he’s 100 percent committed to Motherwell. Louis is a big part of what we are doing and still will be. We have a very good relationship.
“I understand his thinking but we got caught short when Marvin Johnson left on the last day last year. I’ve got to make good decisions and strengthen the squad.”
Robinson intimated defender Ben Heneghan was taking a similar stance, and added: “I’m confident he [Louis] is committed and ultimately he’s playing for his own career as well. I’m still looking for a defender and I need some pace out wide and up front.
“Ben will probably look elsewhere at the end of the season.”
TURNING to today’s game with Ross County at Fir Park, the Motherwell manager is understandably keen to get his first Premiership win of the season at the third attempt.
On the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Rangers on the opening weekend, his side went down 4-1 away to St Johnstone last Saturday in a truly bizarre match that saw three of his players red carded.
Left-back Charles Dunne will be back in today’s squad after his sending off was successfully appealed during the week, and Robinson is keen for referees like Craig Thomson last week to get a helping hand.
He said: “Bizarre is probably the word for it. I don’t think anyone half knows the rules, when you speak to the fourth officials and others.
“I do feel for them because it happened so quickly and they desperately need help. Unfortunately refs can overshadow performances, games and Tommy’s team winning.
“They overshadowed us being right in the game and playing well. Refs are under huge pressure and they’re not getting help from anybody.”
Speaking about the game, the Northern Irishman added: “We want to get the league season up and running now. Other people now get chances to come in so hopefully they take those chances.” games and we will win more than we lose.
“We showed we can create chances against Aberdeen and Motherwell.
The last game here against Motherwell was a typical cup tie; it was a great game and good to watch for spectators but we would like to tighten up a bit and still create as many chances going forward.”
The 23-year-old added: “At the start of the season we were flying, clean sheets-wise and I felt we were solid.
“It’s just the last couple of games we have had a lapse in concentration.
“So it’s important that we get back to that kind of level of performance.”
“If we can rectify that moving forward, I think there will be plenty of clean sheets because we look solid.”