Latest news with #Motherwell
STV News
39 minutes ago
- Sport
- STV News
Interest in Motherwell star Miller 'becoming more concrete and specific'
Jens Berthel Askou has revealed that interest in star player Lennon Miller is becoming 'more concrete and specific' as it looks increasingly likely that the teenager's future is away from Fir Park. The Motherwell manager won't rule out including the midfielder in his squad for this weekend's Premiership opener if he proves his fitness in training on Friday after a minor pre-season injury. But the 18-year-old looks set for a move from Motherwell this window, with reports in Italy claiming Bologna and Udinese are competing to sign the Scotland international. Askou said: 'A lot of things are going on and have been for a while, and the interest is increasing every day and every week for Lennon. 'There is extensive interest from a lot of places and it is becoming more and more concrete and specific.' Looking ahead to their game against Rangers on Saturday, Askou, who replaced Michael Wimmer after the German's departure at the end of last season, stressed the need for bravery and togetherness. The Dane has been looking for his side to play out from the back, and they emerged from the League Cup group stage relatively unscathed, with 11 points and a second-round trip to St Johnstone secured. A bigger test awaits on Saturday as he comes up against a former teammate in Russell Martin, as both men make their Premiership debut in the dugout. Speaking to the media on Thursday, he said: 'We want to reach out for things, we want to be brave while we're doing that and not protective and defensive. 'I expect us to try and do what we want to do and not let the level of Rangers and the level of difficulty stress us and take away our courage to do what we want to do, and to do what we know we are best at instead of trying to just do it very basically and with fear and stepping away from our principles. 'And I also expect us to do it in a very good way through many phases of the game. 'And then on top of that, I expect it also to be very, very difficult to do what we want to do on and off the ball at times. And that's where we have to be really, really good when we feel the game is getting tough, we're making a few more mistakes, Rangers are really showing their abilities. That's where we have to help each other. 'I hope and I expect that everyone around us and behind us will help us through these periods and cheer for us also when we need it the most.' Askou appears to have a similar approach to the game as his former Norwich colleague. He said: 'A lot of the younger generation – I still consider me part of that – are looking into different ways to develop the game than the older generation traditionally have. 'And I think that's why not only Russell and I but a lot of younger coaches share some similar vision and ideas, and we also get inspiration from each other and from what we see, what we try to develop. 'So I think you would find many younger coaches, but also coaches who are older than me, who try to play with bravery on the ball as one of their headlines. 'I'm pretty sure that over time we will reap the benefits of what we're trying to do, both in terms of results, in terms of attractiveness for the fans, and in terms of personal growth and development as a team and as a club, creating more value within the squad for future revenue.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Askou on Miller, 'being brave' & 'harmonic' Motherwell
Manager Jens Berthel Askou has been speaking to the media prior to Motherwell's Scottish Premiership opener at home to Rangers on are the key lines:On whether the club has accepted a bid for Lennon Miller, Askou says: "That is a question not for me but for the board."Askou would not reveal how many clubs are interested in the teenage midfielder, but says Miller could be involved on adds: "He was partially in training today and will be almost full training tomorrow. Then we'll take a decision on whether it's time for him to be part of the team again on Saturday or whether it's too late while all the other things are working in background."On his team's form going into Saturday's match, Askou says they are getting "better and better" but knows there is "still work to be done". "Recent performances have been quite solid, although we know there are areas we haven't practised that much," he adds. "We'll be tested on these areas on Saturday."Askou says his current group are "quite harmonic", but he still wants to add to his squad: "We need to add more depth, more quality and more competition."On facing Rangers: "We know it'll be a very big test against a top side who performed really well [against Panathinaikos]. We know we're not favourites, but it doesn't mean we can't make a result and good performance."On his expectations for the season, Askou's aim is to finish in the top six: "We want to reach out for things and be brave while doing that and not protective and defensive. We'll see how far it takes us."And on what he wants from his team on Saturday: "I expect us to do what we want to do and not let the level of Rangers stress us and take away our courage to do what we want to do and what we know we're best at, instead of trying to do it very basically and with fear."
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Lennon Miller: 'Extensive and concrete' bids received for Motherwell star
Jens Berthel Askou confirmed that talks are progressing but wouldn't be drawn on interested clubs Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou says there has been 'extensive interest' in Lennon Miller, but wouldn't be drawn on how far negotiations have gone. Rumours linked Miller with a £5m bid from Serie A side Bologna, and though Askou says there have been 'concrete' bids in for the midfielder, he refused to reveal which clubs were interested. It's speculated that it would take upwards of £6m to prise Miller away from Fir Park, but Askou is looking at potentially playing the youngster in Saturday's Premiership curtain-raiser against Rangers. When asked if a bid had been accepted, Askou said: 'That is a question maybe not for me but for the board, who are working with this matter at the moment. 'A lot of things are going on, have been for a while, and thee interest is increasing every day, and every week for Lennon's situation. 'We'll see when we can say more, but there is real concrete interest, there have been some bids, and it intensifies the situation around him. 'Whenever these things are drawing to a conclusion we will be able to say more, but there is extensive interest in Lennon Miller from a lot of places, and more and more is becoming concrete and specific. 'But still Lennon is doing his best to get back fit, he has been partially in training today, and hopefully he will be in full training tomorrow, and we can then take a decision on whether it's time for him to be part of the team again on Saturday, or whether it's a little bit too late, while all the other things are working in the background. 'Lennon has to give us some feedback on how he feels, then the medical staff will advise whether it's a good decision, but at the end of the day it's my decision.' Askou added: 'Lennon is dealing with it really well. He's a young man, but a mature young man. I've had some talks with him, and I understand that a lot of things go through your head when there is all this speculation and also concrete things going on. 'But I think he's himself when he's here, he's happy and works hard, and just wants to play football and be part of the group, which is really enjoyable to see. 'It's not affecting him, and it's not affecting us.'
Scotsman
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Who is the referee for Motherwell v Rangers? Match officials and VAR confirmed for Scottish Premiership clash
Who is the referee for Motherwell v Rangers this weekend? Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The new Scottish Premiership season gets underway at Fir Park this weekend as Rangers travel to Motherwell in the opening game of the campaign. Rangers head coach Russell Martin's first domestic game in charge of the club, the Gers head into the clash on the back of a morale boosting 3-1 aggregate victory over Panathinaikos in the Champions League qualifiers on Wednesday, though hosts Motherwell - who are also under new management - will be hoping the fresh legs benefit them, having not played since the 1-1 friendly draw with Hertha Berlin on July 25. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad New Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou will be without Zach Robinson due to an Achilles injury, while it is unlikely that star midfielder Lennon Miller plays any part, with reports that a transfer to Bologna is edging closer in recent days. Visiting Rangers could be missing both Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane, after the duo were forced out of the midweek clash against Panathinaikos, while Gassama, Cyriel Dessers and Jefte are all pushing to start the game. The Light Blues will be hoping to end a run of two league games without a victory over Motherwell, with Rangers winning just one of their three league games against them last season. Ahead of the game, we look at who the Scottish FA have confirmed as the the match officials for Saturday's game: Can Rangers start their season with a win at Fir Park? | Getty Images Who is the referee for Motherwell v Rangers? The man in the middle for this weekend's game will be Steven McLean. Last season, he take charge of 20 Scottish Premiership games, including five Rangers games and one Motherwell game. His most recent Rangers game was the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie in April. The only Motherwell game he took charge of was the 3-2 win over St Johnstone in the same month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad During the 2024/25 season, McLean has handed out a total of 63 yellow cards (an average of 3.25 per game), and two red cards (0.10 per game). He has booked just nine Rangers players this season, and sent off Ross McCausland in the aforementioned game against Aberdeen last season. His booked four Motherwell players in the one game he took charge of last season. He awarded an average of 21.15 fouls per game, and 0.30 penalties per game.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
What would success be for Killie this season?
Manager Stuart Kettlewell believes success can be measured in three ways as he prepares for his first Premiership game in charge of Kilmarnock on already topped their League Cup group, with a second-round tie against Dundee United to come in August, the former Motherwell and Ross County boss is clear on what a positive season looks like for the Rugby Park side, who host Livingston in the season opener."Your league position, a cup run and the potential of selling a football player," he explained."We talk about ways to make football clubs grow and earn money and for the wheel to keep turning. There are only three ways that that can happen."From a manager's perspective, your league position, being as high as it possibly can be, a cup run and that player development to sell a player are the three goals, that's the main ones."Kettlewell was reluctant to pinpoint specific aims in terms of reaching the top six or initially focussing on Premiership safety this term, but did suggest the former may be the initial goal."It's safe to say that we have lofty aspirations of where we want to be," he said."As long as my players and the staff and everybody at the football club understands what that looks like, what success is, what failure looks like, then that's really all I'm concerned about. Sometimes those goals can shift as well."Sometimes it's a scenario where you do that a little bit better and you think that you can push boundaries even further than what might be expected. "I think it's safe to say that the goals that we all set will be difficult to obtain, but we think also achievable."
