Hammell out to make most of spell in Well hotseat

StEvEn HammELL is set to have further discussions regarding the vacant motherwell manager’s job next week. It is understood the Fir Park board will draw up a shortlist today — and Hammell’s name will be on it after he led the Lanarkshire side to victory over St mirren in his first game as caretaker boss. With the transfer deadline looming, the preferred option is to make a permanent appointment before the trip to aberdeen on august 13. Hammell, the club’s academy director, is determined to give himself every chance of success when St Johnstone visit Fir Park today. He said: ‘myself, the chairman (Jim mcmahon) and (chief executive) alan Burrows had a chat about how we see things going forward and what we can do as a club to improve. It was a positive meeting. ‘It was mostly about Saturday and where we see things. I don’t want it to be anything other than that. We need to perform against St Johnstone. ‘the whole focus this week has just been the game and then we will take it from there.’ apart from an 18-month stint at Southend, the 40-year-old (right) has spent his entire career at Fir Park and is motherwell’s post-war record appearance holder with 583 games. the former Scotland international was careful not to make his pre-match media conference about his own ambitions but claimed his experience of working as head of the academy would stand him in good stead. asked what it would mean to be offered the manager’s job, he said: ‘I’m in a senior football position at the club and I’m grateful and privileged to be in the position I am in just now. ‘If that’s to then progress to the first-team manager, then fantastic. If that’s what the club want and they feel it’s the best thing for the club, it’s something I am prepared to do.’ Hammell has the advantage of knowing the club and squad inside out — and his academy role could see him fast-track youth players to the first team. While recognising the resilience of his side in grinding out a win against St mirren last weekend after the trauma of defeat by Sligo rovers and alexander’s exit, he is looking for more flair from his side,. ‘In and out of possession we need to be better,’ he said. ‘the squad needs a little bit of tweaking, the balance isn’t quite where it should be, but we need to be more than we showed last Sunday. ‘We are not saying we are going to be rewriting football, but we need to be more of a threat in the final third. ‘We need to be creating more, be more positive with our running and a little bit fitter and stronger.’