David Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 With a few English teams looking at a bleak future, it brought to mind the situation that we faced almost eight years ago. What are your memories of the era? Players were getting let go, and things were looking far from rosy. What were the causes of the situation, and how have we recovered since? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeyin Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Cause: We spent more money than we had. Solution: Now we spend less money than we have. Simples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted February 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 I was thinking more about what your thoughts were at the time, how close we were to going under, what you thought about the players we kept and the ones we let go etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinBragg Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Easy to say with hindsight, but it was the best thing that could have happened to us. At the time, it was a horrifying thought. But looking back now, it simply ensured we woke up and smelled the coffee before we got in an even bigger hole. On the field, even at the time it was a fantastic thing for the team. The guys with the higher wages were always going to be the ones shown the door by the administrators. And it was just a happy coincidence that these were the guys not really earning their corn. Guys like Ready, Dow and Martinez getting the push hardly weakened the team. Meant we were left with kids and guys willing to take a paycut. Team spirit? Buckets of it. OK, we finished bottom the following year but what a season it was. Youthful naivety cost us on a few occasions but there were three great nights under the floodlights that season, beating Celtic, Rangers and Hearts (6-1!), games that still bring a smile to my face. And for a brief time, the Motherwell support was united in a common cause. More than at any other time, it seemed a time of "Sod the result, we are the Well can you hear us?"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzie Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 I think it was Mark Reynolds' fault... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartan_Special Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 The cause was down to these immortal words.......... "Third force in Scotland" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinBragg Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 The cause was down to these immortal words.......... "Third force in Scotland" Nah, more likely the 8 words we seemed to use in contract negotiations... "So how much do you want? No problem" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggischomper Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 "But, John, we can spend our way out of this, trust me!" © Pat Nevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobey_Dosser Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Watching Football Years the other week and it was mentioned that the players were offered a £5k bonus each to beat Rangers at Ibrox. Sheer greed by the vast majority of the SPL (excpetion of Celtic & St Johnstone) drove the game to the brink. In hindsight, Boyle was cute enough to call in the administrators early doors. At the time, the prospect of there being no Motherwell was earth shattering. As MB correctly points out though, the sense of unity that emerged in the aftermath will live with us forever. Fond memories of that era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickoza Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 I was at the meeting when we went into administration. For a time those present thought we were doomed, and it seemed like it. Have to say, despite many a bad result over the years, that was the darkest day I have ever known as a Motherwell fan, and one which mustn't ever happen again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 John Boyle saved us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellarmy Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Went into administration on my birthday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yabba's Turd Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 In hindsight I don't think we were ever going out the game, a very clever move on our part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nethertonwellfan Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 I still remember the shuddering sickness I felt when watching Scotland today and hearing Boyle speak. I think alot of credit should be given to Butcher. He was the right man for that particular era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 I think alot of credit should be given to Butcher. He was the right man for that particular era. Agree with that, the guy pulled everyone together and made us difficult to beat. Great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yabba's Turd Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Agree with that, the guy pulled everyone together and made us difficult to beat. Great. Difficult to beat? How exactly? Scottish Premier Hearts 4-2 Motherwell 15-09-2002 Scottish Premier Dunfermline 1-0 Motherwell 21-09-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-1 Dundee 28-09-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-2 Aberdeen 05-10-2002 Scottish Premier Rangers 3-0 Motherwell 19-10-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-5 Livingston 26-10-2002 Scottish Premier Partick 2-0 Motherwell 02-11-2002 Scottish League Cup Aberdeen 3-1 Motherwell 06-11-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 0-1 Kilmarnock 09-11-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-2 Dundee Utd 16-11-2002 Scottish Premier Hibernian 3-1 Motherwell 23-11-2002 Scottish Premier Celtic 3-1 Motherwell 01-12-2002 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finlay Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Difficult to beat? How exactly? Scottish Premier Hearts 4-2 Motherwell 15-09-2002 Scottish Premier Dunfermline 1-0 Motherwell 21-09-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-1 Dundee 28-09-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-2 Aberdeen 05-10-2002 Scottish Premier Rangers 3-0 Motherwell 19-10-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-5 Livingston 26-10-2002 Scottish Premier Partick 2-0 Motherwell 02-11-2002 Scottish League Cup Aberdeen 3-1 Motherwell 06-11-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 0-1 Kilmarnock 09-11-2002 Scottish Premier Motherwell 1-2 Dundee Utd 16-11-2002 Scottish Premier Hibernian 3-1 Motherwell 23-11-2002 Scottish Premier Celtic 3-1 Motherwell 01-12-2002 Spot the odd one out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yabba's Turd Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Butcher's 1st season in charge we were extremly fortunate that Falkirk found themselves in the situation they did, it was a learning year for Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modernist Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 John Boyle saved us! Aye, he did that............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
du_du_dubordeaux Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 pat nevin has a lot to answer for he was like a wean in a sweetie shop wae boyles money. Boyle was new to the game back then, it's been a learning curve for him no doubt about it, but he seems to have his head in the right place these days. My memories: Runnin up to fir park wae ma mate to see the news cameras thinkin there would be thousands of well fans outside the gates (turned out no one was there ) The great cup runs James McFadden giving us so much to hold on to in a time when nothing was for us. Jim Traynor sporting the "well worth saving" badge on the tele. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggayal0 Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 pat nevin has a lot to answer for he was like a wean in a sweetie shop wae boyles money. Boyle was new to the game back then, it's been a learning curve for him no doubt about it, but he seems to have his head in the right place these days. My memories: Runnin up to fir park wae ma mate to see the news cameras thinkin there would be thousands of well fans outside the gates (turned out no one was there ) The great cup runs James McFadden giving us so much to hold on to in a time when nothing was for us. Jim Traynor sporting the "well worth saving" badge on the tele. is that true about jim traynor? would never have believed that, he has a hatred for us, usual Aird#ie bastard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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