Toxteth O'Grady

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5402153/tony-watt-motherwell-extend-contract-silence-doubters/ WELL WISHER Tony Watt wants extended Motherwell stay as he aims to silence doubters Roger Hannah 18 Mar 2020, 22:35Updated: 18 Mar 2020, 22:35 TONY WATT can’t tell fans when he’ll next pull on a Motherwell jersey as the coronavirus crisis bites deep into Scottish football. But the far-travelled strike star is determined to answer his critics by wearing the Steelmen’s shirt for some time to come. Tony Watt celebrates after scoring for MotherwellCredit: Andy Barr - The Sun Glasgow The Scotland cap has played for 12 clubs in five countries since kicking off his career at Airdrie a decade ago. Still only 26, he knows the cynics say he has “untapped potential” that’s still to be fulfilled. But he reckons extending his stay at Fir Park for at least another two years will finally silence the doubters. Watt said: “I need to be somewhere for a period of time. I tried to do it at St Johnstone last year but, for one or two reasons, it didn’t work out. “I feel I’ve been lucky with the set-up at Motherwell, coming back to Scotland after my time in Bulgaria, with them in third place. “I need to be at a club for two years — minimum. If I can play well enough, I need to be somewhere to make a mark rather than having this untapped potential. “Everyone says, ‘Oh, he’s got ability but he’s not done it’. “I need to put positive words in people’s mouths by staying in one place for a long period of time and not moving.” Watt has scored twice in six games for Well since penning a short-term deal after his January exit from CSKA Sofia. After time in Belgium, England and Wales, the frontman would love to put down roots in Lanarkshire. And despite the uncertainty gripping the game right now, he’s already spoken to Stephen Robinson and the Fir Park hierarchy about extending his stay. He added: “The manager had me in after a day and said, ‘I like you, I know what I can get out you’. “I was in his office a week ago and he was saying those things again. “You can see why Motherwell are where they are with the demands on the players. “He has been so good with me and I’d like to pay him back. “The quality is there as well and, if they do get Europe, it’s totally deserved. “I’m out of contract soon but the club has been good and told me I’m there to the summer with a view to next year. “You trust what they say and trust how they look after you. It’s a good club and I’ve not really worried.” Watt and his team-mates are training alone after their home clash with Aberdeen was the first top-flight game called off by the outbreak six days ago. They won’t return to Fir Park until Monday at the earliest but have a strict training schedule to keep them fit in case the season does resume. Watt revealed: “It feels strange. We were preparing for the Aberdeen game when we got a text telling us to stay away until Monday. "Things escalated and we have now been told to stay away until this Monday. “It’s been madness — something that I never, ever expected would happen. “We have been given a programme with options to run on treadmills, track or road. We have weight programmes online on our phones to go through everything. “The sports scientist, Andy Boles, has been spot on with it all. “It’s week by week for us all at the moment. We will play it by ear with the government and nothing has been confirmed in terms of a return. “The club will decide if we’re in in ones or twos or all in together when we go back. There is no certainty and no one has an answer. “The first day we’re back, we’ll be tested and, if they see a gap in fitness, it will leave a bad taste. “If you go back unfit, you can’t fool anybody. They will see straight away and be unhappy. “For your own career, you have to go back in good shape so we are all taking the advice seriously.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51870540 Champions League and Europa League suspended

The police wouldn't let Motherwell fans walk up past the Main Stand to Gorgie Road after the game. Similarly, Hearts fans weren't allowed to go in the other direction. Seemed completely OTT to me, and meant I had a long walk back to my car.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51721467 Motherwell: Manager Stephen Robinson keen to reward club's loyalty after assault case 31 minutes ago Motherwell have gone eight matches without victory Scottish Premiership: Motherwell v Ross County Venue: Fir Park Stadium, Motherwell Date: Wednesday, 4 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio Scotland 810MW/DAB/online & the BBC Sport Scotland website Stephen Robinson says "a weight has been lifted off me" as he pledged to repay Motherwell for their loyalty throughout his domestic abuse case. The Motherwell manager was cleared on Friday at Edinburgh Sheriff Court of assaulting partner Robyn Lauchlan on 13 December last year. Robinson insists the case had no bearing on Motherwell's form, with the club on an eight-game winless run. "It was very stressful on all my family and everyone involved in it," he said. "But justice has been done and we can draw a line under it. (Chief executive) Alan Burrows and (chairman) Jim McMahon, the whole board, have been fantastic with myself and my family, and I can't ask for any more. "I put my brave face on, which you have to. My determination is to reward those people for their loyalty to me and make sure we finish strongly this season." Robinson admits the backing of the fans was a major boost - especially when they were chanting his name. "It's been absolutely huge," he said. "I don't get too emotional but I have to say at Dundee walking down when the crowd were at the back of the stand, it's very emotional. I am more desperate than anyone to turn these results around and give them a season to remember." Motherwell remain third in the Scottish Premiership despite taking just two points from their last six matches, and Robinson says the downturn in results cannot be pinned on the battle to clear his name. "The club have been fantastic," he said. "They were unwavering in their support for me. They knew what I was doing, they see my work ethic and all the staff's work ethic. That didn't change throughout this. "There were numerous reasons why we weren't winning - loss of form, suspensions and injuries, and everyone forgot to mention we lost Devante Cole and James Scott, and Chris Long for long periods."

Not guilty https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/5333668/motherwell-stephen-robinson-trial-assault-cleared/

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/rickie-lamie-wanted-motherwell-stephen-21579097 Rickie Lamie wanted by Motherwell as Stephen Robinson eyes pre-contract transfer for Livingston star The Fir Park club want to reunite the centre-back with former Livi team-mate Declan Gallagher. By Scott Burns 09:32, 26 FEB 2020 Motherwell want to land Ricki Lamie from Livingston . The Steelmen are looking to do a deal to sign the defender who is out of contract in the summer. Well boss Stephen Robinson took Declan Gallagher from Livi last season and now wants to team him up with Lamie. There is also interest from England in the centre-back but Motherwell look to have stolen a march. The Fir Park outfit are looking to get a pre-contract done that will see Lamie move for nothing in the summer. Gallagher has already made the move west Livingston had wanted to open talks with the 26-year-old over a new deal but he had indicated he wanted to keep his options open. Since then he has fallen down the pecking order at Livi. The Staggies were willing to pay a fee but Lamie turned down that move because he wasn’t keen on a move to the Highlands. A move to Fir Park would mean the former Morton defender is able remain in the central belt. The move could also have the potential of European football if third-placed Motherwell keep themselves up at the top end of the Premiership.

Cash gates will be in operation

https://mobile.twitter.com/Alan_Burrows/status/1229798308991979523 Alan Burrows @Alan_Burrows Looks like we’re going to get it on. Few heavy showers have come and gone through the afternoon as forecasted, but we’re still holding up. Hope you can join us for the big game... #COYW

I see the club have announced on Twitter that the St Mirren league game has been rescheduled for next Tuesday night, so presumably they are confident tonight will go ahead.

Agreed. Problem is that given the weather forecast, I'm not sure how likely it is that Tuesday night's game will go ahead.

Game off.

https://mobile.twitter.com/MotherwellFC/status/1228642129737588736 Pitch inspection 12.30pm

Flow on Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/Alan_Burrows/status/1228634049507405825 Alan Burrows @Alan_Burrows The pitch is wet, but playable as it stands. It has been spiked during the week & lying open to try & mitigate the volume of rain. However, the forecast is for very heavy wind/rain, which could make things difficult. No inspection planned atm, but if that changes, I’ll update...

The winners of the Motherwell v St Mirren replay will be playing at 7.20pm on the Saturday... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51507049 Scottish Cup: BBC to show Hibs v Inverness and all-Premiership tie in last eight 25 minutes ago From the sectionScottish Cup Sharethis page Goals: BSC Glasgow 1-4 Hibernian BBC Scotland will show live television coverage of Hibernian v Inverness CT and St Mirren or Motherwell v Aberdeen or Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup. Championship Inverness travel to take on top-flight Hibs in the last eight on Friday, 28 February at 19:45 GMT. The replay between Motherwell and St Mirren takes place on Tuesday, with Kilmarnock and Aberdeen's replay the following night. And the meeting of the winners will be on Saturday, 29 February at 19:20. There will also BBC Radio Scotland coverage of Hearts v Rangers at 17:30 and holders Celtic's tie away St Johnstone at 15:00 on Sunday, 1 March. Hibs, who beat Inverness at the quarter-final stage en route to winning the tournament in 2016, defeated BSC Glasgow in the fifth round while Caley Thistle shocked Premiership Livingston. St Mirren drew 1-1 with Motherwell and Aberdeen were held to a 0-0 draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday. Inverness CT win at Celtic 20 years ago is 'a JFK moment for Invernesians' Scottish Cup quarter-finals Friday, 28 February Hibernian v Inverness CT (19:45) - live on BBC Scotland Saturday, 29 February Hearts v Rangers (17:30) St Mirren/Motherwell v Aberdeen/Kilmarnock (19:20) - live on BBC Scotland Sunday, 1 March St Johnstone v Celtic (15:00)

We are. Not seeing any sign of this...

https://mobile.twitter.com/MotherwellFC/status/1226929000989196288

So we can sit in any seat we like today, right?

Not a former player, but Stuart McCall is back for a third spell in charge of Bradford City.

He had a rest yesterday.

I will be astonished if anyone other than Gillespie gets a single vote.

Just home. I know football fans are prone to exaggeration, but that is up there with the worst performances I have ever seen. Completely outplayed and outfought in all areas of the park. Scoreline doesn't even come close to accurately reflecting how the game panned out, such was Livingston's dominance. Felt sorry for Mark Gillespie playing in that team.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/51303997