| Club: | Motherwell |
| Season: | 2016–17 |
| Manager: | Mark McGhee (until 28 February 2017) Steve Robinson (caretacker) (28 February-15 March 2017) Steve Robinson (from 15 March) |
| Chairman: | Brian McCafferty |
| Stadium: | Fir Park |
| League: | Scottish Premiership |
| League Result: | 9th |
| Cup1: | Scottish Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fourth round vs Rangers |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Last 16 vs Celtic |
| League Topscorer: | Louis Moult (15) |
| Season Topscorer: | Louis Moult (18) |
| Average Attendance: | 4,450[1] |
| Pattern La1: | _motherwell1617h |
| Pattern B1: | _motherwell1617h |
| Pattern Ra1: | _motherwell1617h |
| Leftarm1: | FEB300 |
| Body1: | FEB300 |
| Rightarm1: | FEB300 |
| Shorts1: | FEB300 |
| Socks1: | FEB300 |
| Pattern La2: | _motherwell1617a |
| Pattern B2: | _motherwell1617a |
| Pattern Ra2: | _motherwell1617a |
| Pattern Sh2: | _motherwell1617a |
| Pattern So2: | _motherwell1617a |
| Leftarm2: | 4B0082 |
| Body2: | 4B0082 |
| Rightarm2: | 4B0082 |
| Shorts2: | 4B0082 |
| Socks2: | 4B0082 |
| Pattern La3: | _motherwell1617t |
| Pattern B3: | _motherwell1617t |
| Pattern Ra3: | _motherwell1617t |
| Pattern Sh3: | _motherwell1617t |
| Pattern So3: | _motherwell1617t |
| Leftarm3: | FFFFFF |
| Body3: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm3: | FFFFFF |
| Shorts3: | FFFFFF |
| Socks3: | FFFFFF |
| Prevseason: | 2015–16 |
| Nextseason: | 2017–18 |
The 2016–17 season is Motherwell's thirty-second consecutive season in the top flight of Scottish football and the fourth in the newly established Scottish Premiership,[2] having been promoted from the Scottish First Division at the end of the 1984–85 season. Motherwell will also compete in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Following the conclusion of the 2015–16 season, Brett Long, Jack Leitch, David Clarkson and Wes Fletcher were released by the club following the end of their contracts, whilst loan players Connor Ripley and Morgaro Gomis returned to their parent clubs. Also at the end of the 2015–16 season, first team players Steven Hammell, Stephen McManus, Craig Samson, Keith Lasley, Craig Moore, James McFadden, David Ferguson, Ben Hall and Scott McDonald were all offered new contracts, as were Under 20 players Dylan Mackin, Robbie Leith, Jack McMillan, Ross MacLean and Ryan Watters.[3] Lasley signed a new one-year contract on 22 June 2016.[4]
On 2 June 2016, Motherwell were drawn into Group F of the 2016–17 Scottish League Cup, resulting in matches against Rangers, Annan Athletic, East Stirlingshire and Stranraer at the end of July.[5] On 5 June 2016, Motherwell announced their first 4 pre-season friendlies, with another two to be confirmed at a later date.[6] Steven Hammell signed a new two-year contract with Motherwell on 29 June,[7] with Scott McDonald signing a new one-year on 1 July 2016.[8]
On 9 July 2015, Motherwell announced that assistant manager Steve Robinson had left the club to take up the vacant Oldham Athletic managers job.[9] [10]
On 7 December 2016, Ross MacLean signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal with Motherwell, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2019.[11]
On 23 June 2016, Motherwell announced their first signings of the season, with Ben Heneghan, Richard Tait and Jacob Blyth all joining the club. Motherwell announced Dean Brill as their fourth summer signing on 27 June.[12] Two days later, 29 June, Stephen Pearson left the club and returned to the Indian Super League with Atlético de Kolkata.[13] On 5 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Carl McHugh on a free-transfer after his Plymouth Argyle contract had expired.[14] Craig Clay became Motherwells sixth summer signing on 10 August, signing a two-year contract.[15]
On 15 August 2016, Louis Laing joined Notts County on loan until 16 January 2017.[16]
On 31 August, transfer deadline day, Motherwell saw the departure of Marvin Johnson to Oxford United for an undisclosed fee,[17] and Luke Watt to Stranraer on loan until January 2017.[18] Also on the 31st, Motherwell signed Ryan Bowman on a two-year contract from Gateshead for an undisclosed fee,[19] and Luka Belić on a six-month loan deal from West Ham United.[20]
On 14 September, Lee Lucas, who had been on trial early in the summer, signed a short-term deal with the club until January 2017.[21]
On 1 January 2017, Motherwell announced that Dom Thomas had moved to Queen of the South on loan until the end of the season.[22]
On 26 January, Motherwell signed midfielder Elliott Frear from Forest Green Rovers,[23] with Russell Griffiths joining the club on loan for the remainder of the season from Everton the following day.[24] Also on the 27th, Luka Belić loan came to an end, Dean Brill was released by the club, Dylan Mackin joined Alloa Athletic on loan for the remainder of the season,[25] and Zak Jules joined until the end of the season from Reading.[26]
On 31 January 2017, Motherwell signed Sunderland goalkeeper Oliver Pain on loan until the end of the season and Shea Gordon to the U20's, whilst Luke Watt joined East Fife for the remainder of the season.[27]
On 2 February, Stephen Pearson returned to the club, signing a contract until the end of the season.[28]
On 28 February, manager Mark McGhee was sacked by the club, with Steve Robinson being put in temporary charge.[29] [30]
On 15 March, Robinson was given a permanent contract as the club's manager.[31] On 23 March, Kieran Kennedy left the club by mutual consent.[32]
See main article: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2016 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2016-17.
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 June 2016 | DF | Ben Heneghan | Chester | [33] | |
| 23 June 2016 | DF | Richard Tait | Grimsby Town | ||
| 23 June 2016 | FW | Jacob Blyth | Leicester City | ||
| 27 June 2016 | GK | Dean Brill | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | ||
| 5 July 2016 | MF |  | Carl McHugh | Plymouth Argyle | |
| 10 August 2016 | MF | Craig Clay | Grimsby Town | ||
| 31 August 2016 | FW | Ryan Bowman | Gateshead | ||
| 14 September 2016 | MF | Lee Lucas | Swansea City | ||
| 26 January 2017 | MF | Elliott Frear | Forest Green Rovers | ||
| 31 January 2017 | MF | Shea Gordon | Stalybridge Celtic | ||
| 2 February 2017 | MF | Stephen Pearson | Atlético de Kolkata | ||
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 June 2016 | MF | Stephen Pearson | Atlético de Kolkata | Undisclosed | ||
| 9 July 2016 | MF | Josh Law | Oldham Athletic | Free[34] | ||
| 31 August 2016 | MF | Marvin Johnson | Oxford United | Undisclosed |
| Date from | Date to | Position | Nationality | Name | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August 2016 | Six-month | FW |  | Luka Belić | West Ham United |
| 27 January 2017 | End of season | GK | Russell Griffiths | Everton | |
| 27 January 2017 | End of season | DF | Zak Jules | Reading | |
| 31 January 2017 | End of season | GK |  | Oliver Pain | Sunderland |
| Date from | Date to | Position | Nationality | Name | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 2016 | Season-Long[35] | FW | Craig Moore | Ayr United | ||
| 15 August 2016 | 16 January 2017 | DF | Louis Laing | Notts County | ||
| 31 August 2016 | January 2017 | DF | Luke Watt | Stranraer | ||
| 1 January 2017 | End of season | MF | Dom Thomas | Queen of the South | ||
| 27 January 2017 | End of season | FW | Dylan Mackin | Alloa Athletic | ||
| 31 January 2017 | End of season | DF | Luke Watt | East Fife |
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | Joined | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2016[36] | MF | Josh Moore | |||
| 27 January 2017 | GK | Dean Brill | Colchester United | 31 January 2017[37] | |
| 31 January 2017[38] | DF | Louis Laing | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 16 February 2017[39] | |
| 23 March 2017 | DF | Kieran Kennedy | AFC Fylde | 23 March 2017[40] | |
| 31 May 2017[41] | GK | Jordan Pettigrew | |||
| 31 May 2017 | GK | Craig Samson | St Mirren | 7 June 2017[42] | |
| 31 May 2017 | DF | Joe Chalmers | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 14 July 2017[43] | |
| 31 May 2017 | DF | David Ferguson | Ayr United | 13 July 2017[44] | |
| 31 May 2017 | MF | Stephen Pearson | |||
| 31 May 2017 | MF | Tom Fry | |||
| 31 May 2017 | MF | Lee Lucas | Merthyr Town | August 2018[45] [46] | |
| 31 May 2017 | FW | | Scott McDonald | Dundee United | 24 July 2017[47] |
| 31 May 2017 | FW | Craig Moore | Ayr United | 1 June 2017[48] | |
| 31 May 2017 | FW | Dylan Mackin | Livingston | 20 June 2017[49] | |
| 31 May 2017 | MF | Lionel Ainsworth | Plymouth Argyle | 1 June 2017[50] | |
| Date From | Date To | Position | Nationality | Name | Last Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 July 2016[51] | 31 August 2016[52] | MF | Lee Lucas | Swansea City | ||
| 26 July 2016 | 10 August 2016 | MF | Craig Clay | Grimsby Town |
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||||||||
| 1 | Craig Samson | GK | 2017 5, df=yes | Kilmarnock | 2015 | 2017[54] | 42 | 0 | ||
| 13 | Russell Griffiths | GK | 2017 5, df=yes | Loan from Everton | 2017 | 2017 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 31 | Oliver Pain | | GK | 2017 5, df=yes | loan from Sunderland | 2017 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | |
| 41 | P. J. Morrison | GK | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Defenders | ||||||||||
| 2 | Richard Tait | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Grimsby Town | 2016 | 2019 | 31 | 1 | ||
| 3 | Steven Hammell | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Southend United | 2008 | 2018 | 574 | 5 | ||
| 4 | Ben Heneghan | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Chester | 2016 | 2018 | 43 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Stephen McManus | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Middlesbrough | 2013 | 2018[55] | 155 | 6 | ||
| 15 | Joe Chalmers | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Celtic | 2015 | 2017[56] | 32 | 0 | ||
| 21 | Zak Jules | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Loan from Reading | 2017 | 2017 | 10 | 1 | ||
| 25 | David Ferguson | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2013 | 2017 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 28 | Luke Watt | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2014 | 2018[57] | 8 | 0---> | ||
| 30 | Jack McMillan | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 15 | 0 | ||||
| 33 | Barry Maguire | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 43 | Adam Livingstone | DF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2008 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Midfielders | ||||||||||
| 7 | Lionel Ainsworth | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Rotherham United | 2014 | 2017[58] | 127 | 23 | ||
| 8 | Carl McHugh | | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Plymouth Argyle | 2016 | 2018 | 22 | 2 | |
| 12 | Chris Cadden | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2013 | 2018[59] | 69 | 7 | ||
| 14 | Keith Lasley | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Plymouth Argyle | 2006 | 2017 | 485 | 23 | ||
| 17 | Elliott Frear | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Forest Green Rovers | 2017 | 2019 | 15 | 1 | ||
| 18 | Lee Lucas | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Swansea City | 2016 | 2017 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Craig Clay | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Grimsby Town | 2016 | 2018 | 39 | 1 | ||
| 23 | Dom Thomas | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Celtic | 2012 | 2018[60] | 39 | 0---> | ||
| 26 | Allan Campbell | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 7 | 1 | ||||
| 27 | Ross MacLean | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2014 | 2019 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 32 | David Turnbull | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2016 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 34 | Jake Hastie | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2016 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 36 | Shea Gordon | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Stalybridge Celtic | 2017 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 88 | Stephen Pearson | MF | 2017 5, df=yes | Atlético Kolkata | 2017 | 2017 | 142 | 24 | ||
| Forwards | ||||||||||
| 9 | Louis Moult | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Wrexham | 2015 | 2018[61] | 76 | 36 | ||
| 11 | Ryan Bowman | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Gateshead | 2016 | 2018 | 24 | 2 | ||
| 19 | Jacob Blyth | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Leicester City | 2016 | 2018 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 22 | Craig Moore | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2011 | 2017 | 30 | 1---> | ||
| 24 | James McFadden | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2015 | 2017[62] | 123 | 44 | ||
| 29 | Dylan Mackin | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 2013 | 3 | 0---> | |||
| 35 | Dylan Falconer | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Academy | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 77 | Scott McDonald | | FW | 2017 5, df=yes | Millwall | 2015 | 2017 | 215 | 74 | |
See main article: 2016–17 Scottish Premiership.
See main article: 2016–17 Scottish Cup.
See main article: 2016–17 Scottish League Cup.
See main article: 2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup.
|-|colspan="14"|Players away from the club on loan:|-|colspan="14"|Players who left Motherwell during the season:|}
| width=60 | Ranking | width=60 | Nation | width=60 | Position | width=60 | Number | width=150 | Name | width=150 | Scottish Premiership | width=100 | Scottish Cup | width=150 | Scottish League Cup | width=80 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | 9 | Louis Moult | 15 | 1 | 2 | 18 | ||||||||||
| 2 | FW | | 77 | Scott McDonald | 9 | 0 | 2 | 11 | |||||||||
| 3 | MF | 12 | Chris Cadden | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 4 | MF | 7 | Lionel Ainsworth | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||
| MF | 11 | Marvin Johnson | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 6 | MF | | 8 | Carl McHugh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||
| FW | 24 | James McFadden | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||
| FW | 11 | Ryan Bowman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Own goal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 10 | DF | 2 | Richard Tait | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||
| MF | 20 | Craig Clay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| MF | 88 | Stephen Pearson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| DF | 21 | Zak Jules | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| MF | 26 | Allan Campbell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| MF | 17 | Elliott Frear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| TOTALS | 46 | 1 | 9 | 56 | |||||||||||||
| Nation | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||||
| width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Craig Samson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| DF | 2 | Richard Tait | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |||||
| DF | 3 | Steven Hammell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| DF | 4 | Ben Heneghan | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||||
| DF | 6 | Stephen McManus | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 7 | Lionel Ainsworth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 8 | Carl McHugh | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |||||
| FW | 9 | Louis Moult | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 11 | Marvin Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| FW | 11 | Ryan Bowman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 12 | Chris Cadden | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 14 | Keith Lasley | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||||
| DF | 15 | Joe Chalmers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 18 | Lee Lucas | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| MF | 20 | Craig Clay | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| DF | 25 | David Ferguson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 26 | Allan Campbell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| MF | 27 | Ross MacLean | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| FW | 77 | Scott McDonald | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |||||
| MF | 88 | Stephen Pearson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| TOTALS | 67 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 73 | 3 | |||||||