Watt is back on Boyle
this will go on for. They’ve now got a twoweek programme to follow until April 13 and hopefully decisions will have been made on the season by then.
“They won’t have kicked a ball. Initially, a few of the boys had a kickabout at the training ground but we now have to be respectful of the government’s advice.
“They can’t be selfish.
“When we were kids, we’d kick the ball against a wall – so I’m sure they can find a wall somewhere.
“The main thing is cardiovascular fitness and trying to keep that at a level until we know what’s happening.”
Robinson and Motherwell have a successful recruitment operation, led by English-based scout Martin Foyle.
The Well boss insists they will continue trying to identify players for next season, whenever that might start. But he knows that financial stability is paramount for the Fir Park club.
The ramifications of the coronavirus outbreak wil l determine what business can be done.
Robinson said : “It ’ s probably possible to work from home as a manager in more ways than you might think, particularly at a club the size of ours.
“We’re constantly working with budgets and there are certain things you can do on the phone that you’d be doing from your office anyway.
“We’re still actively speaking to players, discussing contracts and looking at the finances. There are a lot of players out of contract at the end of this season who haven’t yet agreed deals.
“We are also having ongoing talks with the players we’ve identified and are tryingt to sign. We have kept alla of that going.
“We have a lot of boys out ofo contract.
“Some of them are in a precariousp position but there’st no point in speaking tot them right now because thet current season might starts up again.
“A lot of our recruitment is online where we can watch every single game. That doesn’t stop, we are still constantly looking.
“The players we’ve already spoken to elsewhere will continue to be spoken to. We’d already made decisions on players that we’d go for.
“We’ve tried to carry on with our business. But no one knows how long this will go on for, it’s an uncertain world.
“Thankfully, we’re OK as a football club and can still sign players on pre-contracts. But that could change depending on how long this goes on for.
“Finances will be massively affected as a result of what’s happening in the world right now.
“So that could impact on the decisions we make.
“We’ll be in a better position when we know exactly what’s happening. But for now it’s important that we support the people who are doing the real work.
“And in the background we’re trying to keep the club running the best we can.”
Jimmy Boyle believes Tony Watt has f inally found a home at Fir Park.
The journeyman striker has never settled since bursting on to the scene at Celtic in 2012.
After spells overseas and with other SPFL clubs, Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson gave Watt the chance to return to his native Lanarkshire and resurrect his career.
Boyle unearthed Watt as a rough diamond at Airdrie and believes Fir Park is the perfect platform for him to rediscover the form that saw him shoot to stardom.
He said: “It’s good to see Tony play ing regular football at Motherwell.
“He’s at a good club that develops young players and sells them. Stephen Craigan did a great job establishing the youth set-up.
“Tony has had a few hard times when I think he got a bit disillusioned. I know he has had a lot of clubs but he’s got major ability.
“He’s a strong enough character and will get that belief back again.
“I’ve spoken to him and he’s enjoying working with the great bunch of boys at Fir Park. He knows he can score if given a chance.
“Chris Long is the main striker but Tony is willing to work hard and bide his time.
“Tony can move back up the game to the heights he reached before but it’s entirely up to him. He certainly has the ability.”
Watt wrote his name into Champions League folklore by netting against Barcelona for Celtic aged just 18.
Boyle is proud of the part he played in his development and said: “Tony was a blank canvas, we didn’t really know what he could do.
“I told him to believe in his own ability. When he did that, he f lourished and earned his move to Celtic.”
“Obviously, the Barcelona goal was a pinnacle in his career. But for a wee spell there he wasn’t happy with some of the clubs he was at.
“Now he looks happy and hungry again.”