What now for Well as Fir Park soap opera hits season four?
This time last year Motherwell's board, fan ownership group and support were braced for a toxic summer amid a potential takeover from a former Netflix vice-president.That attempted bid collapsed spectacularly when proposed American buyer Erik Barmack withdrew his offer because he felt there were "significant divisions within the fanbase".In the 12 months since, the club hierarchy has been ripped up and refreshed, one manager has departed after citing fan abuse, and another has left for family reasons.Three summers ago, Graham Alexander was sacked on the eve of the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership season after his team were chased out of Conference League qualifying by Sligo Rovers.Club legend Steven Hammell picked up the pieces, but he was gone by the following February after a humiliating Scottish Cup defeat at second-tier Raith Rovers.With the search for a fourth manager in three years under way, supporters of the Fir Park side will have to wait a little longer for the extended period of normality they crave.Until last week, fans were optimistic about the summer. There were signs manager Michael Wimmer was starting to flex his coaching pedigree.Three wins from five post-split games contributed to an overall record of five victories, three draws and four defeats across 12 matches under the former Austria Vienna boss.Off the pitch, Wimmer spoke of immersing himself in the local culture. A picture of him celebrating in a Lanarkshire pub circulated after an excellent result and performance in a 2-1 win at Rangers in March. All was looking well.Then, last Friday, news emerged the German had returned home and was not coming back. "This decision was an extremely hard one," he said.Some fans joked the 44-year-old's frequent LinkedIn activity, and the regular self-promotion of his profile, suggested he was looking for a way out.But this was real. An "urgent" family matter meant Wimmer wanted to be closer to home, joining third-tier German club Jahn Regensburg.A "shock to everybody" was how chairman Kyrk Macmillan described it, but the club will now need to move on quickly.However, with the players not due arrive back for pre-season for another month, Motherwell will not rush or panic in their hunt to find Wimmer's successor.The board will follow the same process that led them to the German, using data and metrics to judge how candidates align with the club's values, such as youth development.If Motherwell land on a manager with a similar CV, they will be doing well. But it is worth remembering there are coaches closer to home now available.Tony Docherty is without a club after being sacked by Dundee, plus Shaun Maloney is also unattached following his Wigan exit.But Robbie Neilson's record at both Hearts and Dundee United surely makes him the standout among the realistic Scottish options.The 44-year-old, who left Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year, has said the vacant jobs at Motherwell and Dundee would interest him.Neilson got Hearts promoted twice and led them to two third-placed top-flight finishes across two spells, as well as making two Scottish Cup finals. He also guided United to promotion in 2020.Motherwell assistant Ahmet Koc, who joined with Wimmer, will continue his role at Fir Park after talks with Regensburg. It is unknown whether or not he will put himself forward for the managerial role.But it feels like the smart money is on another left-field move. No media outlet had any wind of Wimmer's arrival until just minutes before he was announced, and it will be no surprise if something similar is repeated.
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