I’ll never forget what Motherwell did for me
MADE to feel at home on and off the pitch, Louis Moult admits he will always reflect fondly upon his time with Motherwell.
The chance to complete a £450,000 transfer to Preston North End was simply too enticing to turn down.
While operating in the English Championship will be another step forward in his career, the finance involved in a three-and-a-half-year deal will be transformational for his young family.
The deal will officially go through on January 1 after Preston manager Alex Neil agreed a fee to bring forward a switch initially proposed for when Moult’s Motherwell contract expired next summer.
That means the Fir Park club will not lose their star asset for nothing, but 60 per cent of the fee will go to repaying outstanding loans under the terms of last year’s move into fan ownership.
Wrexham, from whom Moult moved north in 2015, also have a sell-on clause.
Even so, no one could argue about the value Motherwell have gained over the past two-and-a-half years. The 25-year-old striker netted 50 goals and was an inspirational force in Stephen Robinson’s side reaching the Betfred Cup final last month, before ultimately losing out in the showpiece.
‘It’s a strange one because it has happened so quickly and for January,’ said Moult. ‘You don’t normally get to say your goodbyes when you go.
‘But it means I can show my appreciation to the fans and everyone around the football club for how welcome they made me feel when I came in through the door.
‘This football club has been ridiculous for me in terms of my family, my football. On and off the pitch, it has been the right move and I have enjoyed every moment of it.
‘If you would have said I would score 50 goals in two-and-a-half seasons, I’d have laughed at you.
‘But it’s not just that. That’s the icing on the cake. It has been about the life experience for me and my family. We had a baby up here. People around Scotland have been so kind to us. That goes a long way.
‘Everyone at the club has been so helpful off the pitch that it made me settle on it. For anyone coming to this football club in the future, there are not many places like it.’
A hamstring injury means Moult has almost certainly already played his last game for Motherwell. Asked for a favourite memory, his thoughts turned to the long-range lob netted against Rangers at Hampden in October.
‘I have got so many highlights,’ he told the club website. ‘The biggest one has to be the semi-final and scoring the second goal. That one is at the top.
‘I don’t know why, but the goal against Hamilton in the last minute (on Hogmanay last year) is another thing I will never forget. Doing a knee-slide on 3G and having sore knees all over the new year!
‘I only have positive things to say about this club and about Scottish football. It has been brilliant for me.’
Moult came through the ranks at hometown club Stoke City, making one substitute appearance before dropping down to National League level to gain regular firstteam football.
Returning south to Preston will give him a chance to prove how much he has developed in the time since.
‘I cannot wait to get going,’ admitted Moult, a £350,000 target for Aberdeen in June. ‘In my career path, it is a step in the right direction to play Championship football.
‘First and foremost, it is a massive compliment that Championship clubs have been looking at me.
‘Preston came and got me and it just shows how much they wanted me in the door by paying a fee for me. I appreciate that and it is up to me to repay that faith by scoring goals.
‘I’ve got to do the best for my family. I have a three-year-old and a six-week-old. As a family, we discussed it in detail and we understand it is a very short career.
‘There has been a lot of speculation surrounding myself from the start of the season when the Aberdeen thing was going on and rumours about other clubs. I just tried to forget about it and just play. I think I did that and managed to score a few goals.’ Robinson revealed this week that Motherwell had offered to make Moult their highest-paid player in the past 15 years if he signed a contract to stay. ‘Louis has made a terrific contribution to this football club,’ said the Fir Park manager. ‘We are sorry to see him go at this stage but he leaves with our thanks and best wishes.
‘The player made clear he would not be extending his stay after the end of the season.
‘When the offer came in from Preston, we had to weigh up whether the money would benefit the club against the risk and reward of keeping him and then allowing him to leave on a free at the end of the season.
‘We accepted the offer based on that it would be best for all parties now that a club has agreed a contract with the player.’
On and off the pitch, I have enjoyed every minute of it