Burning ambition to get it right
Baraclough has put in the hours and is ready for challenge New boss surprised by the real quality within the Fir Park squad
IAN BARACLOUGH jokes that the long hours he has put in during his first full week as manager of Motherwell have l eft him at risk of burnout. But the Englishman insists he does not detect even the merest hint of weariness or fatigue about his Fir Park playing staff despite their punishing season so far.
In fact, based on first impressions of his new squad, Baraclough has become increasingly astonished t hat t hey f ound t hemselves l anguishing under predecessor Stuart McCall: three points off the bottom of the Premiership and mired in play-off danger.
The 44- year- old Englishman knows, of course, that looking good i n training is f ar easier than performing in high-pressure game situations. But he is adamant that the early promise of his first few days at Fir Park can translate into a big win against fellow strugglers St Mirren in Paisley today.
‘I don’t know where my first week has gone — it’s been a whirlwind,’ said the former Scunthorpe and Sligo Rovers manager with a smile.
‘There’s been so much to do and I’ve been leaving the ground at 9pm every night. My family aren’t up here yet so there’s no pressure to get home and see my kids — meaning I can concentrate fully on my job. There’s a risk of burnout, I suppose, but I do have a rest.
‘It’s been a good first week, really positive. The lads have worked very hard, training has been great and, to be honest, I’m struggling to understand why we are in the position we are in.
‘From what I’ve seen so far, I don’t really understand why we haven’t picked up more points.
‘I know it’s different in training when there’s no crowd, no pressure and no three points to play for. But the standard is very good. There is some real quality in this squad.
‘But I’ve been in their position before when you struggle to get to the bottom of what’s going wrong. You come away f r om games wondering how you lost. You take it home with you and the feeling takes you down.
‘But I believe that we can turn this around. I honestly can’t wait for the St Mirren game.’
Baraclough’s f our chil dren finished school for their holidays yesterday and they will join him in Scotland this weekend in time for Christmas.
‘Hopefully we can get a house soon,’ he said. ‘Nobody likes living in a hotel. There’s also a danger of putting on weight if I keep staying in one!’
After he gets his feet fully under the desk, it will be decided which areas of his squad need freshened up and whether there is money available to do it.
And yet, although his network of contacts and eye for a player impressed the Fir Park board at his interview, Baraclough’s first week has left him adamant that no major surgery is required to get Motherwell from critical to stable.
‘We can possibly strengthen in January, freshen things up maybe. But, no, I don’t think major surgery is needed, not at all,’ he said.
‘The remit is to keep us up, stay in the Premiership then build from next summer when there will be a good amount of players out of contract.
‘ But I’ m still assessing the players. I haven’t seen everyone in the squad play yet and it would be wrong to make decisions like that after just three or four days of training.
‘I’ve been impressed so far with Scottish football in general. I think you do yourselves a disservice (by talking it down). There’s talent here, it’s a good l eague, it’s competitive and it’s one that’s a great breeding ground for young talent. I’m looking forward to being a part of it.’
Motherwell captain Keith Lasley is delighted that the club’s future is coming together, off the park for now at least.
Agreement has been reached with retired businessman Les Hutchison to buy John Boyle’s 70-per- cent stake with an interest-free loan, before the Well Society of fans takes control further down the line.
Now it’s time for the players to do their jobs properly as well.
Lasley said: ‘The off-field stuff is heading in the right direction and the manager’s position has been taken care of. So now it’s up to us as players to get it right on the pitch.
‘The players would never seek excuses but when it’s not settled off the park, the mind does wander at times in terms of what the medium- to- l ong- term outcome might be.
‘But now we need to get points and start climbing the table.
‘The new gaffer has made a big impression and his positive outlook will hopefully rub off on us all. He’s not a household name up here, like Stuart McCall and Craig Brown were, but he looks and sounds more than capable of doing a good job.
‘He’s managed in all three leagues in England underneath the Premier League, won promotions and won the league in Ireland.
‘ We’ve got i mportant games coming up over the festive period against St Mirren and t hen Hamilton. The players are all dying to impress the new boss.’
Neither the management nor ownership issues are yet settled at St Mirren, but full-back Jason Naismith insists he would love to settle a debt to interim boss Gary Teale by helping him land the Buddies job on a permanent basis.
The Saints youth product regards Teale as something of a mentor and has enjoyed working under him in the period since Tommy Craig’s dismissal.
The l onger- t erm picture is complicated by takeover interest at the club f rom an Argentinian consortium, but 20- year- ol d Naismith would be thrilled to see Teale thrive.
‘It would be great to do well for Tealey,’ he insisted. ‘He has done a lot for me, personally, since I was a young boy and not only since I broke into the first team.
‘He has played at the highest level and is always willing to give me advice. I play in a similar position to him — I was playing behind him when I first broke in — and he was always talking to me and helping me after training.
‘Tealey’s been a big inspiration to me and it would be nice to pay him back a bit.
‘You could always see he had it in him to step up. He was always helping the young boys and passing on advice. He’s got vast experience in the game and it was always good to listen to him.
‘He’s got a golden chance just now and if we do well, he’ll have a good chance of getting the job. Hopefully it will all go well.’