Former Well manager says new man ‘needs his head examined’
NEW Motherwell boss Stephen Hammell has been described as a brave man by one of his Fir Park predecessors for entering the volatile world of football management. Stephen Robinson, currently in charge of St Mirren, insisted that the 40-year-old former Scotland international ‘needed his head examined’ for taking on a job where the scrutiny and pressure is so intense. Former Motherwell defender Hammell was appointed to the Fir Park academy when Robinson was still manager of the Steelmen. The Northern Irishman subsequently left the club in December 2020, before returning north of the border to Paisley after a short stint at Morecambe. He wished Hammell well after learning that he has been promoted from the academy to replace Graham Alexander as manager at the Lanarkshire club after a brief spell as caretaker. But his tongue was perhaps slightly in his cheek when he was asked about Hammell being the newest face on the Premiership managerial merry-go-round. ‘He needs his head examined, is all I can say,’ said Robinson. ‘It is the only job where people take bets on you losing your job and pundits actually canvas for you to get sacked. ‘I hope he knows what he is letting himself in for. It’s a crazy world of football. It is a very good job for your first stint in management and I wish him all the best. He has come through Motherwell, he has Motherwell at heart and fans like the connection with the football club. He will be focused and determined to do well. I gave him the academy manager’s role and Steven has very much been involved in the academy, he wasn’t with the first team when I was there. ‘A lot of people working in academies eventually want to work at first-team level. ‘He has got his opportunity and he is obviously keen to take it.’ Robinson is used to handling the pressure in Scottish football. His St Mirren side and today’s visitors Ross County are the only two clubs to have lost their opening two league games — the Paisley men having been beaten by Motherwell and Aberdeen and County by Hearts and Celtic — but Robinson believes they both have put in encouraging performances. He said: ‘If you are not playing well it is a concern. Sometimes performances come before results and I believe that has been the case. I also think it has been the case for Ross County. ‘I watched both their games and they were really strong in both. Malky Mackay will probably be feeling the exact same as myself but we are both experienced enough to know it is a long season. Ross County started poor last season and ended up in the top six. ‘There are lots of things to be positive about for us but, of course, you want a result, you want to get off the mark. The confidence and belief is still here but obviously results help that.’ Defender Declan Gallagher is suspended for the visit of the Staggies after being sent off at Aberdeen last week, while Scott Tanser’s injury continues to puzzle. Robinson said: ‘He broke down on Tuesday again, so we need to take the foot off the gas with him a little bit. He won’t be available. ‘We think it could be a combination of hamstring and back. We have tried a couple of different procedures to try to get him fit but he won’t be ready for Saturday.’