Stuart Kettlewell to remain Motherwell boss for Hearts clash as he earns extended audition with hunt ramping up

Stuart Kettlewell will remain in charge for Motherwell’s clash with Hearts on Sunday and remains a real contender for the job.

The Fir Park board has narrowed their shortlist of external candidates down to Grant McCann and Ian Holloway – with Jack Ross pulling out after initial talks. Directors have already opened talks with some of those candidates as they look for Stevie Hammell’s successor. Former Ross County boss Kettlewell has taken interim charge and has impressed the hierarchy with the midweek win over St Mirren.

The 38-year-old lifted the Steelmen, who have been without a win since October, up the table by not only beating the Buddies but also seeing a significant lift in the individual stats of the Motherwell players. That has made a major impression on those above. Kettlewell had been told to prepare to take the team until today but has now been asked to take this weekend’s home televised clash with Hearts. He had stepped up from his position as the club’s lead development coach.

In charge of Ross County, Kettlewell led the club to the Championship title and Challenge Cup, kept the Staggies up during the pandemic and in a time when budgets had to be cut sold Ross Stewart to Sunderland.

A flood of names have been linked with the job since Hammell was sacked after last weekend’s Scottish Cup exit to Raith. That was down to the fact outgoing chief exec Alan Burrows made approaches to several agents to ask about managerial availability and specific managers. All that information along with applications were put to the board who met on Wednesday to narrow that list down.

Decision makers have already held early talks and the indications are that they would prefer to make a short-term appointment until the summer.