Hammell still hopeful of Snodgrass deal
MOTHERWELL boss Steven Hammell wants more signings before the transfer window closes next week — but still doesn’t know if Robert Snodgrass will be one of them. Former Scotland and West Ham star Snodgrass is considering his options, including an offer from the Steelmen, after leaving Luton Town. The Fir Park side this week signed 24-year-old Ipswich left-back Matt Penney on loan and he could make his debut at Kilmarnock today. Whether the club also makes a more star-studded addition in the shape of Snodgrass (right) remains to be seen. ‘There’s no update, I don’t think, positive or otherwise,’ said Hammell, when asked about the 34-year-old midfielder. ‘It’s pretty much where it was last week. There is nothing really to add to that, unfortunately. We’ve not put a deadline on it as such, but we will be looking to bring players in and we’ve not got an endless budget here. We’ll be looking to bring in a couple of players before Thursday.’ Hammell sees new arrival Penney as ‘a great addition’, saying: ‘He will fit into the group and the environment we are trying to create here. He is keen to be here, which is massive for me. ‘He’s been training, he’s a fit boy and he’s in good condition, so he will come right into the plans straight away.’ Hammell is looking to continue his bright start to life in management against a Killie side who are joint bottom with just one point. By contrast, he has secured three wins from four Premiership matches — the same amount Motherwell achieved in the last 17 league games of the previous season under Graham Alexander. Midfielder Callum Slattery feels the new boss has restored confidence after the embarrassing European exit to Sligo Rovers. ‘It’s just adding that little bit of belief,’ said Slattery. ‘We are going into games now to win and put on a good performance as well as getting the three points.’ Slattery is benefiting from the freedom to get into more attacking positions. ‘A lot of players are,’ he said. ‘That’s just the way we want to play — be attacking and get up the pitch. ‘He (Hammell) has given that kind of freedom to a lot of players to go and express themselves and get up the pitch.’