Motherwell have appointed Stuart Kettlewell as their new boss on an 18-month deal.
Kettlewell steered the Steelmen to a 2-0 Fir Park win over Hearts on Sunday, following up a 2-1 victory at home to St Mirren last midweek.
It seemed like a logical conclusion that the former Ross County gaffer would then be asked to permanently succeed Steven Hammell, who was sacked just over a week ago following their 3-1 Scottish Cup fifth round defeat at Championship side Raith Rovers.
And now the club have confirmed his appointment, which will run initially to May 2024, with Kettlewell saying: “I’m immensely proud. It’s been a whirlwind eight or nine days.
“I had a burning desire to take the job to see if I can take this club forward and be a catalyst to what we hope will be a good chapter for the football club.
“I genuinely think I come to Motherwell a better manager than what I was previously and I hope that is something that appeals to the Motherwell supporters.
“There’s some real good players here. I wouldn’t have taken the job had I felt there was a real issue with the playing squad.
“This is a community club. It’s important that we join that up. I think this club is unique. It now becomes my job to drive it forward.”
Kettlewell will name his assistant manager in due course and the lead development coach role which he leaves will be filled shortly.
Chairman Jim McMahon said: “Stuart impressed the board, not only with how he has got the team going in the last two games against St Mirren and Hearts, but with his vision for the club.
“We took time to speak to a number of impressive candidates, each of whom had their own strengths, but Stuart was, in our eyes, the best person to take Motherwell forward.
“He has managed at this level, he’s already won a league title and a domestic cup and we could sense from him a real desire and determination to take this role on and improve us across all areas of the football department.”
His first game in permanent charge of the club will come on Saturday away to Kilmarnock.
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