adminMOTHERWELL. — STUART KETTLEWELL has resigned as manager of Motherwell.
He was appointed in February 2023 and departs with the club fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
In a statement, Motherwell, who face Celtic on Sunday, said they “reluctantly” accepted the resignation.
They added that Kettlewell told the club’s CEO Brian Caldwell, “Some of the personal abuse was now affecting his family, to the point where they didn’t wish to attend games.”
Assistant manager Stephen Frail will take charge of the team for Sunday’s match, assisted by Jon Obika, Richard Foster, and the backroom staff.
The club, which is home to Zimbabwean forward Tawanda Maswanhise, said in a statement their Board of Directors was saddened by the development.
The statement said Kettlewell approached Chief Executive Caldwell yesterday morning to explain why he wished to resign.
He explained that some of the personal abuse was now affecting his family, to the point where they didn’t wish to attend games.
As a result, he felt it would be best if he tendered his resignation.
Since being appointed manager in February 2023, Stuart has managed 92 games overall, boasting a win percentage of 41.3 percent, the highest of any Motherwell manager since Stuart McCall.
He guided Motherwell to safety, narrowly missing out on top-six football in his first three months in charge, collecting 30 points out of a possible 42. The good form ran into 2023/24, when Motherwell went ten league games without defeat, the longest run since 2010, and again, narrowly missed out on top-six football. This season, he guided the club back to Hampden for the first time in six years in the Premier Sports Cup and has the team sitting fifth in the league currently.
All of this was achieved despite the sale of a number of key players for substantial transfer fees.
“It’s really sad that Stuart felt that the time was right to move on,” Chief Executive Caldwell said.
“He had an exceptional record and has generated an impressive amount of transfer income for the club.
“He has been a critical factor in the development of Motherwell Academy Graduates, as well as developing young loan players during his tenure. “When Stuart approached me, I was very disappointed to learn the effect this was having on his family and how he was feeling. No manager, player, or club employee, every one of whom gives their all for the club, should feel this way.
“We therefore had no option but to reluctantly accept his resignation in the best interests of Stuart and his family. As a fan-owned, community-driven football club, we will always look after our own.” — SkySports/Sports Reporter.
Online Reporter