Steven Hammell has been appointed Graham Alexander’s Motherwell successor as Fir Park chiefs put their faith in the Steelmen legend to make the step up from Academy boss to top team gaffer. The 40-year-old, in the Motherwell Hall of Fame, spent almost two decades with the Lanarkshire club as a player either side of a short stint at Southend United after coming through the youth ranks. And now fans favourite Hammell has been appointed to the first team dug-out as the club's 26th permanent boss.
Hammell was one of four candidates to be interviewed and Record Sport revealed former midfielder Simo Valakari was also in the running. But it’s Hammell who has won the race after taking interim charge following Alexander’s departure following their catastrophic Europa Conference League exit at the hands of Irish side Sligo Rovers.
Hammell, assisted by Brian Kerr recently, already stated he was ready for the promoted role and told the club website of his delight at landing the gig ahead of Saturday's Scottish Premiership trip to Aberdeen. He said: "It is an honour for me to be given the responsibility as manager of this wonderful club and something I am very excited about.
“The last two weeks have given me an even bigger appetite for it and I am determined and ambitious to take this team on and put my own stamp on it. I hope I can continue to get my message across and give our supporters a team that will entertain them and a team that they can see are giving their all.
“I have also spent that time assessing the squad and where I believe our short-term needs are. We have some hugely talented players in this group and it’s now my job to get the best from them. I also have first-hand knowledge of the exciting young players at the club and we will integrate them into the first-team environment when they are ready.
“In addition, the players need some help with some new faces. As well as taking the team and planning my application, I have been busy identifying potential targets, should I be successful in getting the job. Now that I have, one of my first tasks will be to look to strengthen our options across a couple of areas.”
Chairman Jim McMahon added: "We ran a very robust process that started with over 70 applicants. We met last weekend to narrow that down to a final three and we spent time interviewing them over the last few days.
“All three candidates were impressive, and each brought their own positives, but Steven was the unanimous pick of the directors and Well Society board members who sat on the panel.
“He inspired us with not only his short-term plans to reshape the squad and adapt the style, but his medium to long-term vision around a fully integrated club and we felt this matched how we see the future of the club.
“We think he will bring many qualities to the job that he has demonstrated running the biggest department at the club for almost five years and it’s abundantly clear to us that he has the support and buy-in of the current squad and staff.
“We are going to have a busy few weeks and months ahead, but the board will give Steven all the support we can to be successful.”
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