Motherwell

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New Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson says it's a "huge honour" to become the club's 31st manager.

The Fir Park side have been searching for Jens Berthel Askou's replacement following his departure to French Ligue 1 side Toulouse last month.

The 35-year-old was most recently manager of Norwegian side Rosenborg but has also had spells with FC Copenhagen in their youth set-up.

"This is a huge honour for me," manager Alfred Johansson said.

"To work at this football club and to lead is a privilege. I've analysed the club closely, and the direction that it's going in is of huge importance to me. Last season was hugely successful, and I want to be able to carry this success forward. The squad of players we have is exciting, and we will get to work straight away.

"There is no time to waste with European football next month and the league season starting in a few weeks. I can't wait to get to know all the players and staff at the club, but most importantly, I'm looking forward to meeting the supporters. I'll see you all very soon."

Have your say on Johansson's appointment via this link

Motherwell have been drawn against Havnar Boltfelag of the Faroe Islands in the second round of Conference League qualifying.

Satisfied with that? Confident of progress?

Give us your thoughts.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Whoever is chosen as Jens Berthel Askou's successor as Motherwell manager will be fairly confident of progressing beyond the Conference League's second qualifying round following Wednesday's draw.

Being unseeded, the Fir Park side could have faced Denmark's FC Copenhagen or Finland's HJK Helsinki, two sides with regular European football behind them.

Instead, they were paired with the lower-ranked Havnar Boltfelag of the Faroe Islands, with Well hosting the first leg on 23 July and travelling to the 5,000-capacity stadium at Gundadalur, Torshavn the following midweek.

The 24-time champions qualified as Faroe Islands Premier League runners-up for 2025, nine points adrift of Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag, and currently lie sixth in the current season after 13 games.

However, Faroese football has improved since Motherwell last played Havnar, in the Uefa Cup in 1994, and won both legs convincingly for a 7-1 aggregate.

Havnar have lost in their opening Conference League qualifier four seasons in a row, but they were only narrow defeats by Brondby, Hajduk Split, Derry City and Newtown of Wales, the latter on penalties after winning their home leg 1-0.

Their most glorious European triumph came in 2021, when they thrashed Montenegro side Buducnost Podgorica 6-0 on aggregate before losing to Maccabi Haifa in the play-off round.

Given Motherwell lost home and away at the same stage to Irish side Sligo Rovers on their last European venture four years ago, there will be no room for complacency against a side who will be midway through their domestic season.

Image source, Uefa

Motherwell now know more clearly who their first opponents will be in Conference League qualifying.

From a list of 86 clubs, European governing body Uefa on Wednesday morning narrowed it down by splitting it into nine groups ahead of the draw at 13:00 BST.

The Fir Park side are one of five unseeded clubs in a group of 10, although the total number of potential opponents is six.

Denmark's FC Copenhagen, Finland's HJK Helsinki, Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Havnar Boltfelag of the Faroe Islands are possible opponents.

As are the winners of the first qualifying round tie between Wales' Caernarfon Town and Levadia Tallinn of Estonia.

The two legs of the second qualifying round ties will be played on 23 and 30 July.

Portuguese coach Goncalo Feio, who decided to leave Tondela after relegation from his country's top flight, has revealed he is open to moving abroad with the 36-year-old among the names being considered for the Motherwell vacancy. (Daily Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Chris Wood and Elijah Just performed some double act on Monday, linking up not once but twice to drive New Zealand to a point in their World Cup opener against Japan.

Image source, Reuters

Elijah Just was left "a little disappointed" despite scoring twice as New Zealand started their World Cup with a 2-2 draw with Iran that had BBC pundit Chris Sutton suggesting had "added a couple of zeros" on to the Motherwell midfielder's transfer value.

The 26-year-old became the first Well player to score at a World Cup - and his country's top scorer ever at a finals - with two sublime finishes at Los Angeles Stadium.

"It is a memory that'll last me for the rest of my life," Just said while paying tribute to captain Chris Wood, the 34-year-old Nottingham Forest striker, for setting up both goals.

"Obviously incredible. It's not something I could have even dreamt of, so I'm just so happy. One was nice, so two was amazing."

Just, who was bought by Well from Danish club Horsens on a two-year contract last summer, has now scored 11 goals in 45 appearances for the All Whites but had mixed emotions considering they only took a point from a game they dominated and led twice.

"It is really, really special," he said. "We have a lot of goals coming into this tournament and the first was to get on the board, so one point is okay.

"There are a lot of positives we can keep building on.

"We were unfortunate to miss out on the last World Cup, so being here today was such an amazing feeling and, to start with a point, I think everybody is happy, but coming into the tournament our goal was to get out the group, so we're almost a little disappointed because it could have been three points."

Asked if New Zealand had surprised many with their opening performance at their first World Cup in 16 years, Just replied: "If people were surprised, maybe they haven't been following us, because we have such a talented group and we work really hard."

All four sides have a point in Group G after Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 earlier.

"We know we have tough opponents," Just added. "We all watched the Egypt-Belgium game and we know how strong they are, so we've got a lot of work to do.

"A point in the World Cup is always tough to get, so a huge amount of confidence. It was almost a perfect game except for the result.

"I think we showed today we are a dangerous team, a team that's good with or without the ball."

Motherwell are down to the final three candidates for their new manager and Gonçalo Feio, who took over at Tondela in March before their relegation from the Portuguese top flight, is among them but also has options in Portugal, Poland and Scandinavia. (Ben Jacobs on X), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Former Scotland full-back Stephen O'Donnell has swapped defensive duties for partying with the Tartan Army in Boston and is hoping for the night of his life at the World Cup opener against Haiti.

"I'm would love to be sitting in the stand witnessing a memorable night that I can look back on in 20 years' time and say I was there with my son because you want to create moments that don't get forgotten," the 34-year-old Motherwell defender told BBC Scotland.

"That's what this squad has managed to do time and again and I would love it to be another night like that.

"I think there will be a few people not turning up to work if we get the three points. Hopefully we can all be celebrating into the night."

O'Donnell, who played in all three Scotland games at Euro 2020, knows the importance of Steve Clarke's side making a winning start before facing Morocco and Brazil.

"It's going to be tough against Haiti," he said. "You don't qualify for the World Cup without being a decent side and, like us, they're going to be looking at the game as their best opportunity to get something.

"It's going to lead to an interesting game. I hope it's one we can dominate and create chances. With the likes of Scott McTominay, Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland if he plays, you've definitely got goals.

"We hope to get momentum for the second and third games to then go and achieve something incredible, but to get three points would be a hell of a good start."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Motherwell are closing in on a new manager to replace Jens Berthel Askou, with the club saying their search is at an "advanced stage".

The Dane left to join Ligue 1 side Toulouse three weeks ago after leading the Fir Park side to a fourth-placed finish.

The Lanarkshire club say they have still been working on a "comprehensive pre-season schedule" despite having no manager in place.

Motherwell will travel to Denmark at the end of this month for a seven-day training camp and will take on Danish champions AGF Aarhus in a friendly match on 5 July.

Further pre-season fixtures have been arranged as the team prepare for European football, starting in the second round of Conference League qualifying.

The draw takes place on 17 June, with the first leg on 23 July and the second leg the following week.

Image source, SNS

Stephen Welsh says Swansea City "really wanted me" after he agreed to join the Championship club from Celtic following a second loan spell at Motherwell.

The 26-year-old defender will arrive in Wales on a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months on 1 July after agreeing to terminate his contract at Celtic Park.

Welsh made 31 appearances in total last term, with two of those for Celtic in between his loan spells at Well. He netted once and overall has six goals in more than 100 senior club appearances and has been capped up to under-21 level by Scotland.

"I am delighted to be joining Swansea, it's a big club with a proud history," Welsh said.

"They made it clear that they really wanted me and with the way the head coach (Vítor Matos) spoke about the club, the environment he wants to create and the way he wants to play, it was a no-brainer."

Image source, SNS

The World Cup kicks off in a week's time and all 48 squads are locked in.

Seven Scottish top-flight clubs have players at the big show in the Americas.

Of the 1,248 players at the tournament, 21 (1.68%) plied their trade in the Premiership in season 2025-26.

Celtic have the biggest representation with eight players, while Rangers are next on seven (including Derek Cornelius, who spent the season on loan from Marseille).

Here is the full list:

Celtic – Alistair Johnston (Canada), Daizen Maeda (Japan), Benjamin Nygren (Sweden), Yang Hyun-jun (South Korea), Kieran Tierney, Anthony Ralston (both Scotland), Sebastian Tounekti (Tunisia), Auston Trusty (USA).

Rangers – Nicolas Raskin (Belgium), Thelo Aasgaard (Norway), Findlay Curtis, Lawrence Shankland, John Souttar, Liam Kelly (all Scotland), Derek Cornelius (Canada).

Hearts– Cammy Devlin (Australia), Craig Gordon (Scotland).

Hibs – Grant Hanley (Scotland).

Motherwell – Elijah Just (New Zealand).

Kilmarnock – Aaron Tshibola (DR Congo).

Livingston – Tete Yengi (Australia).

Image source, Getty

Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just earned his 43rd cap as New Zealand lost 4-0 to Scotland's group opponents Haiti in their first World Cup warm-up friendly.

Just played 65 minutes of the match at Inter Miami's CF Stadium in Florida.

The 26-year-old is set to make his World Cup debut this summer for the All Whites, who are the lowest-ranked team at the finals.

New Zealand take on England in a friendly on Saturday before their World Cup opener against Iran on 16 June. They also face Egypt and Belgium in Group G.

Motherwell's New Zealand midfielder Elijah Just, 26, will evaluate his future after the World Cup. (Record - subscription required), external

Saturday's Scottish gossip

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Jens Berthel Askou captured the hearts of Motherwell supporters during a whirlwind 11-month tenure.

The Dane has departed for Toulouse after implementing a slick and eye-catching possession-based style that swept the Steelmen to a fourth-place Scottish Premiership finish and European football for the first time in four years.

Motherwell finished the season on 61 points - their fourth-highest tally since three points for a win was introduced in 1994.

To get there, they scored 59 goals (the fourth most in the division) and conceded 36 - the second fewest in the Premiership and also the least Motherwell have shipped in a top-flight season since 1932.

Their 18 clean sheets was the most of any side in the league while their nine defeats were the fewest by a Motherwell team in a top-flight season since 1959.

And goalkeeper Calum Ward set a new club record of 20 clean sheets across all competitions.

Askou's side scored seven league goals from fast breaks, the joint most in the division, and had the third-highest possession with 57.97%. Their expected goals (xG) was the fourth highest (56.09) while their expected goals against was the fifth lowest (47.17).

Askou leaves with a win ratio of 46.8% and a points per game of 1.61 with an average goals scored per game of 1.51.