Cadden case will not be forgotten

While Motherwell are focused on their Premiership opener on Saturday against Livingston, they are not taking their eye off the ball in their hunt for compensation for departed youngster Chris Cadden.

The Steelmen could take their case to FIFA this week as they had still not heard back from Columbus Crew 48 hours after requesting training compensation.

The Major League Soccer side announced the signing of the 22-yearold last week and immediately loaned him to Oxford, who had also been in the hunt for his permanent signature.

They would have been due to pay close to £400,000 should he have joined them instead of heading Stateside.

The MLS agreed to start abiding by the international system of compensating clubs for developing young stars in April, but there’s been no confirmation of the ranking of American clubs.

Motherwell believe Columbus Crew are a Category 2 club and should be paying £200,000 for the Scotland international, who rejected a new deal under FIFA’S compensation formula.

The Americans have an annual player wage budget of almost £10million.

However, they fear Columbus will argue they are a Category 4 club, similar to the likes of Leaguetwo clubs in Scotland, who don’t have to pay any compensation.

Manager Stephen Robinson said:“we are due compensation so that will be an ongoing thing.

“What’s the point in developing players from nine years of age and then they can just walk out with a loophole? We will certainly be taking that further.”

Meanwhile Motherwell are set to sign freed Ross County youngster Ross Maciver on a one-year deal.

Attacking midfielder Maciver, 20, has been training with the club and impressed Robinson enough to win a contract. He could be seen as a replacement for midfield starlet Reece Mcalear, 17, who joined Premier League side Norwich.