MOTHERWELL manager Steven Hammell has paid tribute to outgoing chief executive Alan Burrows, saying he will be a huge loss to the club and himself individually as he tries to turn around fortunes at Fir Park.
Burrows announced on Thursday that he would be ending his long association with Motherwell as soon as a replacement can be found to take over his role, and Hammell admits that the news of his imminent departure has come as a real body blow during a period of great uncertainty for the club.
He does however say that despite his own disappointment, Burrows’ legacy at Motherwell is secure for the work he has done over the past decade.
“He’ll be a massive loss,” Hammell said.
“I’m really disappointed from a professional point of view that he’s not going to be here.
“He’s a big part of the club and has a real connection to the club. If you mention Motherwell FC then Alan Burrows is one of the first people you think about.
“The work he does here is incredible and the time and effort he puts in. It’s every minute of the day. He’s not a guy that clocks off at a certain time and goes home then that’s him to the next day.
“He’s constant, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He’s really invested in doing well and has been a big part in anything that we have done that’s progressive and successful over the last number of years.
“He started as a volunteer just helping out. He was the guy who turned up at training and you’d see him there. Fair play to him, his work rate and commitment to this club, just being good at his job because it’s more than just being super-committed.
“Any success he has had professionally he has deserved and it’s not just been given to him. He should be proud of the job he’s done.
“He’s someone I lean on a lot. He’s the guy you go to on a daily basis more than anyone else.
“Even in my previous role he was someone you’d speak to and he’d get things done. I go to him for advice and he has been great for me in terms of being that person to talk to as well as the professional stuff.”
Hammell’s main focus for now though is firmly on matters on the field, with his team facing a huge match against fellow strugglers Ross County at Fir Park this afternoon.
The Steelmen have won just one match at home in the Premiership all season, but if they can defeat a County side they put five past in the Highlands in their last meeting, they can give themselves some precious breathing space at the bottom of the table.
If they lose though, then County would draw level on points with them, and would only remain bottom due to goal difference.
“It’s a massive game for us,” he said.
“With the position in the league, it’s still really congested, so it’s a chance for us to progress if we win the game.
“That’s our goal and that’s the message, it’s a chance for us to put distance between us and the teams below us, Ross County included.
“They will be looking at it from their point of view in terms of closing that gap, but our mindset just now is to get away from that trouble behind us.”
New arrival Ollie Crankshaw will be included in the squad today, and Hammell is excited about what the on-loan Stockport County winger can add to his team.
The Motherwell manager was coy over discussions that have taken place to bring Brisbane Roar attacker Riku Danzaki and Blackburn Rovers winger Dilan Markanday to the club, but says more fresh blood is required.
“I think we need players in, that’s clear, the fans and staff understand that,” he said.
“I think the players will appreciate that as well, that we’re bringing in players to help and to give the place a little bit of an energy boost and to give us better options on the park to start or impact off the bench.
“[Ollie]’s a profile of player that I really like. When we found out he was potentially available we jumped on it straight away.
“When we spoke to him he was really interested, was happy with what I had to say and was really keen to be here, which speaks volumes to me.
“I’m delighted to get that done and hopefully between now and the summer we’ll see a lot of him.
“I think he’s a player the fans will enjoy watching as well.”
