Motherwell's new manager could become clear next week, as Frail will take charge for Ross County clash

Motherwell caretaker manager Stephen Frail revealed it was always the plan for him to take charge of Saturday's visit of Ross County as their hunt for new boss continues.

The Motherwell board are in the midst of a recruitment process following the resignation of Stuart Kettlewell on January 27, with former Newcastle United midfielder and ex-Cyprus boss Temur Ketsbaia understood to have applied for the role.

But Frail and the players have had clarity while preparing for Saturday's Premiership encounter at Fir Park.

"The search is obviously still continuing for the new manager, but I've always been tasked with this game," Frail said. "That's always been the case since the start of last week.

"Hopefully things will be more clearer sometime at the start of next week, but all the preparations have been from myself and the rest of the staff to make sure we're ready for Ross County on Saturday.

"We've been able to see right from the start of the week this is how we're doing things, this is the way we'll be looking to prepare and organise and to make sure we're ready.

"I'm sure when the new manager does come in, he will have his own ideas, his own thoughts on the game, it might be a rip-up of everything that we've done, which is fine, but the players know what's expected of them come Saturday.

"They have been first class in everything that they've done, everything that I've asked them to do. They've attacked it. Their attention in training, their detail in training, the way they've worked in training has been excellent.

"They wish they'd had a game last week. They obviously didn't, but the whole focus after the Celtic game was two weeks later for the Ross County game."

Motherwell have had contrasting news on the fitness front