MONEY MATTERS FOR ROBINSON

STEPHEN ROBINSON insists he will need financial help if he is to take Motherwell to the next level following Saturday’s Scottish Cup final defeat.

And he hinted that former owner Les Hutchison could play a major role by releasing vital funds for the Lanarkshire outfit.

Businessman Hutchison, who baled out the then ailing club with loans before handing it over to fan ownership, is recovering his money via the lion’s share of transfer fees and other income streams. But manager Robinson now wonders if those deals could be restructured to free up money for his rebuilding job as he seeks to improve upon two cup final appearances and seventh place in the Premiership.

He said: ‘When you consider the money we have brought in this season with sales of players and two cup runs, fresh money could transform the football club. Perhaps a new training ground or an improved training ground, or a couple of players that could make us a really good side.

‘But I don’t know the ins and outs of it or how that can be done. We lose 60 per cent of our income and player sales to the previous chairman.

‘Even a portion of this money would help. We’ve got our set targets and that’s based on a budget. My target is to improve. The expectation increases. Does it put more pressure on me and the players? Yes, but that’s the nature of the job. I think every Motherwell fan is realistic about what we can or can’t spend and my job as manager and Martin Foyle’s as chief scout is to scour the country and try to get another Charles Dunne, Cedric Kipre or Curtis Main.’ Robinson (below), who has already targeted three or four new signings, insisted his players must learn from the 2-0 defeat to Celtic at Hampden. ‘We will respond again,’ he said. ‘The lessons we have learned is that when you’re playing against a very good side you can’t stand off people like (Callum) McGregor and (Olivier) Ntcham. ‘We’re the youngest side in the league and we have to learn. ‘I’m limited to what I can do money-wise. If you look at McGregor, he’s probably on 15 times more in wages than most of our boys. ‘So that’s the gap in class we’re trying to bridge with honest boys who are learning their trade and we’re a club that will continue to do that. ‘I’m speaking to three or four right now because I feel we need more energy, more pace and maybe a little bit more ownership of the game in the middle of the park.’