Motherwell have sold Theo Bair to French giants Auxerre for an initial fee of £1.6m plus a potential £500,000 in future add-ons, Herald Sport understands.
The striker, who joined the Fir Park club on a free transfer last summer after an underwhelming spell at St Johnstone, has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes under Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell.
Bair scored 15 goals in 41 appearances last season after managing just a solitary goal across 31 games in his previous campaign at McDiarmid Park.
That fine form earned him a call-up to Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for this summer’s Copa America, where he made an appearance as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s third-place play-off match against Uruguay.
He now caps off his incredible rise from the football scrapheap with a move to one of Europe’s top five leagues.
“My time at the club has been unbelievable,” Bair told the official Motherwell website.
“These have been some of the most enjoyable moments of my career. I love this club and I will always be a supporter. I wish everyone nothing but the best!”
In a dramatic day for The Steelmen, the proposed investment offer from American businessman Erik Barmack and his Wild Sheep Sports organisation has been withdrawn ahead of the results of a shareholder vote being published next Monday.
Having held talks with the Motherwell board this week, Barmack decided to withdraw his offer, with ‘significant divisions within the fanbase’ cited as the primary reason behind his decision.
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Motherwell investor pulls out amid 'significant divisions' over offer
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The fan-owned club’s majority shareholder, The ‘Well Society, had urged its members to vote against the proposed investment, arguing that it had undervalued the club, while Motherwell chairman Jim McMahon and the executive board had recommended that supporters back the deal.
In a statement released earlier today, The ‘Well Society called upon fans to now come together and get behind their own strategy for growing the club’s revenue.
The statement read: “The Well Society Board would like to acknowledge the statement released this morning confirming that the Wild Sheep Sports investment proposal has now been retracted. We thank Erik and Courtney Barmack for their interest in Motherwell Football Club and hope they retain a strong support for the club.
“Given our majority stance that the proposal should be rejected, we welcome the news that the process has reached an end and we look forward to now being able to turn our full attention to furthering our plan for growth, increasing our membership, advancing discussions with potential investors, and ensuring Motherwell Football Club continues to be safeguarded and successful for generations to come.
“We are, however, disappointed that the decision to withdraw has come in the midst of a members’ ballot, which will now be suspended. In addition to significant financial cost to the Well Society, this period has required significant focus from our members and caused unwelcome uncertainty for supporters.
“As the majority shareholder in Motherwell Football Club, we have been clear that we’re committed to growth and sustainable investment, including working collaboratively with a range of new partners.
“We’ve also been clear that partnership means just that, not investment at any cost. We’re grateful for the overwhelming support that we have received from members and fans, former players and officials, as well as clubs across the UK and beyond, both in relation to our plan for growth, and our position taken on the Wild Sheep Sports investment proposal.
“Well Society members and Motherwell fans have been clear on the need for change and we agree. As we reflect on today’s developments, now is the time for a significant reset in the relationship between the Club Board, the Well Society Board, Society members, and the Motherwell fanbase as a whole.
“The democratic process in recent weeks has been fan-ownership in action, boosting Society member numbers, increasing membership engagement, and empowering fans to have an input in the direction of their football club, no matter their views. That increased engagement and empowerment is a positive platform to build upon.
“We believe that the Well Society’s recently published prospectus for growth, “Our Club, Our Future”, gives us a fresh opportunity to work together, in true partnership, with the club’s Chief Executive, Finance Director, and new Chair leading a new Club Board.
“We have today reached out to Chief Executive, Brian Caldwell, to begin discussions on the next steps.”
