Kettlewell says ‘Taylor Swift video’ made impact on investor arrival Boss shakes off any comparisons to £6 million pumped into Hibs
For me, it was a blank canvas before and now there are options we didn’t have beforehand
MOTHERWELL manager Stuart Kettlewell has admitted that the club’s viral “Taylor Swift video” has “had an impact” on drawing in new investors to Fir Park.
The tongue-in-cheek clip released in January aimed to attract funds from Hollywood A-listers, including a plea to pop sensation Taylor Swift to “gies some dosh” – and it appears to have worked.
After a club statement on Wednesday confirmed discussions with a US-based family over potential investment have reached “the next stage”, Kettlewell conceded the video may have played a part, although he denies having watched it himself.
He said: “There were a number of potential external investment options that were there that weren’t before that video was released.
“I wasn’t involved with that one, which possibly tells you something. It’s not really my bag!
“But from the outside looking in, it does seem to have had an impact in drawing people in. For me, it was a blank canvas before and now there are options we didn’t have beforehand.”
The Motherwell boss has previously outlined one of his longterm goals at Fir Park is to ensure his team are consistently in the running for the top six and European football.
Kettlewell, whose side currently sit eighth in the cinch Premiership table and six points off sixth place, believes new investment could be the catalyst needed to spark evolution at the club.
He said: “I’ve always hoped for more. I always want evolution in myself, in our dressing room and across our club at every single level. Commercial, on the field, off the field and in the community.
“I think if we’re standing still, we’re going backwards. That’s always been my mindset. We can’t just settle and rest on our laurels. Anything that can help and contribute to this football club becoming better and setting our goals higher has to be a good thing.”
Brushing off any comparisons to Bournemouth owner Bill Foley’s £6 million investment into Hibernian, the Motherwell manager said: “There are different levels in terms of what’s happened at Hibs and what’s being proposed here. But anything that can add on has to be welcomed. We’re quite clearly sitting at the bottom end of this league in terms of budget.
“For all managers, we’re always looking to strengthen our group. Earlier this season, we struggled when we got a couple of key injuries and it limited our options. We became a bit predictable. Looking at this as an opportunity to potentially bring in players and strengthen, then I’m always going to welcome it.
“It’s still a big ‘if’, as this was only a small step towards that, but if it happens then as a football department the goal for us is to progress up the table and build a stronger squad.
“We have a plan for this summer already. We’ll see where it goes as the statement indicates there is still a timescale to go and stages to pass.”
The club says the process of formalising the terms of their current non-binding agreement with a potential investor will take around six weeks, with updates to follow in the coming months.
Despite the inevitable buzz generated by new investment talks, Kettlewell, who was appointed as Motherwell’s permanent manager in February last year after a short spell in interim charge, is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
He said: “I don’t get carried away with anything. I’m just a realist! I look at what we have guaranteed.
“You have to be as good as possible with what you have at your disposal right now. I think we’ve done that well, we maximise what we can do with what we’ve got. I think we’re competitive compared to a lot of clubs in this division.
“That doesn’t stop you having those thoughts of ‘what if’ when it comes to stretching those boundaries and being a bit more competitive financially.
“You see this expectation of clubs like Motherwell that it’s a given we go out and beat a club like Aberdeen.
“I think we all know what financial levels those two clubs are at and so I don’t see that as a given.”
Looking ahead to next season, the Steelmen boss and former Ross County midfielder says it’s too early to think about any financial boost to the club’s recruitment aspirations in the summer.
He said: “If there’s any certainty on something then I think it can [provide a boost]. If there’s no certainty and it’s not been rubberstamped then it’s harder because you can’t definitively tell people you have anything more to play with.
“What I can say is that I have a budget set for next season. I’ll work with that until such time I’m told it’s any different.”