Latest news with #Lanarkshire
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
McGhee joins Well following Dundee exit
Motherwell have confirmed the signing of Jordan McGhee on a two-year deal, with the club holding the option of a further year, following his Dundee Scotland reported that the versatile 28-year-old had penned a pre-contract agreement with the Lanarkshire side in Kettlewell was Well's manager at that point, but he has since left. Kettlewell's replacement, Michael Wimmer, is also no longer at the Fir Park side are yet to appoint a new first-team boss, but their summer player recruitment continues as McGhee's arrival follows the signing of Austrian midfielder Lukas departure from Dundee brings to an end a six-year stay at Dens Park. The former Hearts and Falkirk player made 197 appearances for the club, scoring 21 goals and gaining top-flight promotion twice.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Farage takes on SNP ahead of crucial by-election
Nigel Farage has arrived in Aberdeen to take on the SNP ahead of a crucial by-election. In his first visit to Scotland since 2023, the Reform UK leader will meet oil and gas executives and hold a press conference this morning. Later in the day, Mr Farage will visit Lanarkshire to campaign in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, which will take place on Thursday. It comes as Reform continues to perform well in opinion polls, and ranked second to the SNP with 21 per cent of the vote in one recent survey. John Swinney, the First Minister, has declared the by-election a 'two-horse race' between Reform and the SNP. He also provoked fury by claiming Reform had brought 'racism and hatred' to the area and that Mr Farage 'hates the very idea of Scotland having its own Parliament'. The Reform leader has denied the claims.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Farage as PM could push independence support close to 60%, poll suggests
Nigel Farage becoming prime minister could push support for Scottish independence to 58%, a new poll suggests. The survey by Norstat for the Sunday Times, which spoke to 1,007 Scots between May 27 and May 30, showed support for separation currently sits at 54% in Scotland. But if Reform UK were to win the next general election that figure could near the 60% level some believe should be the tipping point for another referendum. The figure rose from 50% in the last Norstat poll in January. The highest that support for independence has reached in recent years is 58%, in an Ipsos Scotland poll for STV News in the early months of the pandemic, as Nicola Sturgeon received plaudits for her handling of Covid-19. But the increase comes as support for the SNP continued to fall ahead of next year's Holyrood elections, with the party dropping two percentage points in both the constituency and regional list votes to 33% and 28% respectively. Labour's support rose slightly to 19% in constituencies and 18% in Scotland's regions. But Reform UK would see a surge, if the poll was to reflect the returns seen next May, with Mr Farage's party jumping to 18% in constituencies and 16% on the list – up two and three percentage points respectively. Meanwhile the Scottish Tories dropped two points to 13% locally and remained at 15% in the regions. The figures come ahead of a by-election in Lanarkshire this week, after the death of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie. According to polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice, in projections for the Sunday Times, John Swinney was on track to win an unprecedented fifth term in office for his party next year, securing 54 seats. Labour would drop to 20 seats, while Reform would win 18 in their first full political test in Scotland. Meanwhile, the Tories would drop from being the second biggest party to the fourth, with just 17 MSPs, followed by the Lib Dems on 11 and the Greens on nine. The poll also looked at Westminster voting intentions, with the SNP recording 31% of the vote, followed by Reform surging into second on 21% and Labour dropping 15 points from last year's election to 20%. The Conservatives sit at 12%, while 8% said they would vote for the Lib Dems. But despite leaping into second, Nigel Farage's party would not return a single MP, the polling expert said, with the SNP rising to 30, Labour falling to 16 and the Lib Dems and Tories remaining on six and five respectively. SNP depute leader Keith Brown said his party has 'momentum' and Labour has lost Thursday's by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. 'In government, Labour has taken away the winter fuel payment, cut £5 billion of support for disabled people and watched on as energy bills rose by £150,' he said. 'With an SNP Government, the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse are getting action on what matters to them: bringing back the universal winter fuel payment, record funding for our NHS and key costs lower, with peak rail fares scrapped and lower income tax for the majority of taxpayers. 'The Labour Party has let you down and Farage is trying to stoke division, but the SNP is always on your side.' Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'Scotland has been let down for too long by this tired and out-of-touch SNP government. 'After 18 years in charge, the SNP has left our NHS at breaking point, our economy flatlining and our schools tumbling down the international league tables. 'This week the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will get a chance to call time on SNP failure and choose a new direction with Scottish Labour. 'It's clear the SNP does not deserve to win this by-election and only Scottish Labour can beat them.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
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 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 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 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 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 last week, fans were optimistic about the summer. There were signs manager Michael Wimmer was starting to flex his coaching 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 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 last Friday, news emerged the German had returned home and was not coming back. "This decision was an extremely hard one," he 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 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 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 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 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 Docherty is without a club after being sacked by Dundee, plus Shaun Maloney is also unattached following his Wigan Robbie Neilson's record at both Hearts and Dundee United surely makes him the standout among the realistic Scottish 44-year-old, who left Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year, has said the vacant jobs at Motherwell and Dundee would interest 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 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 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.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Who will Motherwell face in League Cup?
Motherwell have been drawn alongside Greenock Morton, Stenhousemuir, Peterhead and Clyde in Group G of the 2025-26 Premier Sports to appoint a new manager after the shock exit of Michael Wimmer, the tournament will mark the new boss' first game in charge of the Lanarkshire club, with the opening fixture on 12-13 July and further matchdays on 15-16 July, 19-20 July, 22-23 July and 26-27 eight group winners and three best runners-up will join Scotland's five European entrants - Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United - in the last 16 on the weekend of 16-17 were one of four semi-finalists last term but lost out narrowly to Rangers at Hampden.
