Motherwell legend in Fir Park hotseat
STEVEN HAMMELL has won the race to become new permanent manager of Motherwell. The Fir Park academy director and former left-back was placed in interim charge against St Mirren and St Johnstone after Graham Alexander’s departure. Hammell, 40, who is the club’s record postwar appearance holder, faced competition for the role from ex-Steelmen favourite Simo Valakari. However, following a round of interviews this week, Motherwell directors identified club legend Hammell as their No 1 choice. He will face the media for the first time this morning before taking charge for the trip to Aberdeen tomorrow. ‘The last two weeks have given me an even bigger appetite for it and I am determined and ambitious to take this team on and put my own stamp on it,’ said Hammell. ‘I hope I can continue to get my message across and give our supporters a team that will entertain them and a team that they can see are giving their all.’ Also the club’s record European appearance holder, Hammell retired from playing in 2018. He became caretaker boss when Alexander left the club by mutual consent after supporters reacted angrily to the Europa Conference League defeat to Sligo Rovers last month. Promising to strengthen the team in the final weeks of the transfer window, Hammell added: ‘I think we have some hugely talented players in this group and it’s now my job to get the best from them. ‘I also have first-hand knowledge of the exciting young players at the club and we will integrate them into the first-team environment when they are ready. ‘As well as taking the team and planning my application, I have been busy identifying potential targets should I be successful in getting the job. Now that I have, one of my first tasks will be to look to strengthen our options.’ Motherwell chairman Jim McMahon admitted there were three candidates in the frame for the post. With KuPS boss Valakari and Linfield manager David Healy potentially commanding hefty compensation fees, Hammell was the unanimous choice of the board.