Stuart Kettlewell doesn't fear Motherwell sack as boss points to dressing room reasons he feels can help turn the tide

Stuart Kettlewell knows the nature of the beast in football management. Nobody needs to tell the Motherwell boss that winless runs can’t go on indefinitely without his position becoming untenable.

Particularly after a year which saw him become the Premiership’s fourth longest serving manager when he was just nine months in the job. The 39-year-old has already experienced the brutal reality of the sack himself after being bulleted from his first job at Ross County three years ago this month.

But there’s something about the Fir Park boss that, even with pressure building after a run of 12 games without a win, seems to make him a good fit for the Steelmen. Maybe it’s exactly that - his steely determination. Now more than ever he needs it. A promising start that saw Well sitting level at the top with Celtic on 10 points after four games has turned dramatically to the stage where they’ve taken just four points from the 12 outings since then.

Kettlewell insists he doesn’t fear the sack. Furthermore he won’t allow social media snipers or keyboard warriors to derail his plans for the club. There’s been no discussions over his future with the board and he’s “100 per cent” certain he has the backing of his players.

He admits the supporters - particularly those who made the seven-hour round trip to Dingwall to watch their side swatted aside by the Staggies on a cold Tuesday night - deserve an apology. But the best way to do that is by producing the goods on the park starting in what is a massive match at the bottom of the table against a resurgent St Johnstone tomorrow.

Kettlewell said: “Growing up I was always told by my old man if I can’t take criticism then I’ll never get praise. I’m incredibly resilient when it comes to