Motherwell appoint Steven Hammell as manager on a permanent basis

Motherwell’s post-war record appearance holder Steven Hammell has been appointed as the club’s new permanent manager.

The 40-year-old, who played almost 600 games for the Steelmen across 17 years, has signed a two-year contract.

Hammell has been in interim charge for the last fortnight since the departure of Graham Alexander and leaves his previous role as academy director to take full control of first-team affairs. He will be assisted by his former Well team-mate Brian Kerr.

“It is an honour for me to be given the responsibility as manager of this wonderful club and something I am very excited about,” Hammell told club’s website.

“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.

“I think 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, I think 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.”

Hammell, who will lead Motherwell away to Aberdeen this Saturday, was described as the “unanimous pick” of the club’s board.

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