| Club: | Motherwell |
| Season: | 2019–20 |
| Manager: | Stephen Robinson |
| Chairman: | James McMahon |
| Stadium: | Fir Park |
| League: | Scottish Premiership |
| League Result: | 3rd |
| Cup1: | Scottish Cup |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Second round vs Heart of Midlothian |
| League Topscorer: | Liam Donnelly Chris Long (7 each) |
| Season Topscorer: | Liam Donnelly Chris Long (11 each) |
| Highest Attendance: | 8,822 vs Celtic |
| Lowest Attendance: | 2,763 vs Annan Athletic |
| Average Attendance: | |
| Pattern La1: | _motherwell1920h |
| Pattern B1: | _motherwell1920h |
| Pattern Ra1: | _motherwell1920h |
| Pattern Sh1: | _motherwell1920h |
| Pattern So1: | _motherwell1920h |
| Leftarm1: | FFBE00 |
| Body1: | FFBE00 |
| Rightarm1: | FFBE00 |
| Shorts1: | 9E0000 |
| Socks1: | FFBE00 |
| Pattern La2: | _motherwell1920a |
| Pattern B2: | _motherwell1920a |
| Pattern Ra2: | _motherwell1920a |
| Pattern Sh2: | _motherwell1920a |
| Pattern So2: | _motherwell1920a |
| Leftarm2: | FFFFFF |
| Body2: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm2: | FFFFFF |
| Shorts2: | FFFFFF |
| Socks2: | FFFFFF |
| Prevseason: | 2018–19 |
| Nextseason: | 2020–21 |
The 2019–20 season was Motherwell's thirty-fifth consecutive season in the top flight of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish First Division at the end of the 1984–85 season. After the season was postponed on 13 March by the Scottish Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[1] the season was curtailed on 18 May by the Scottish Professional Football League, with Motherwell finishing the season in third place with a points per game ration of 1.5333, 0.0333 higher than fourth placed Aberdeen.[2] In the League Cup, Motherwell where knocked out by Heart of Midlothian in the Second Round, whilst St Mirren knocked Motherwell out of the Scottish Cup by penalties in a Fifth Round Reply.
On 10 June, Motherwell announced the singing of Chris Long to a one-year contract, beginning when his Blackpool expires on 30 June.[3] On 12 June, Motherwell announced that they had agreed a record transfer fee with Celtic for the transfer of midfielder David Turnbull, with the player given permission to discuss personal terms with Celtic.[4] On 27 June Motherwell announced that the transfer had fallen through during the medical, with Turnbull requiring preventive surgery on his knee.[5] On 2 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Devante Cole on an initial six-month loan deal from Wigan Athletic.[6] On 8 July, Motherwell signed Sherwin Seedorf to a two-year contract from Wolverhampton Wanderers.[7] On 12 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Christian Ilić to a one-year contract.[8]
On 18 July, manager Stephen Robinson and assistant manager Keith Lasley both agreed new contracts, keeping them at the club until the summer of 2022.[9] The following day, Rohan Ferguson moved to Linfield for the 2019/20 season.[10]
On 23 July, Allan Campbell signed an improved contract with Motherwell until the summer of 2021.[11] On 25 July, Motherwell announced the singing of Christy Manzinga on a one-year contract, with the option of a second, from Sporting Châtelet.[12] The following day, 26 July, Danny Johnson moved to Dundee for an undisclosed fee,[13] and Reece McAlear moved to Norwich City for an undisclosed.[14]
On 2 September, Adam Livingstone joined Greenock Morton on a season-long loan deal,[15] Craig Tanner declined a new contract from Motherwell and left the club,[16] and Mark O'Hara joined on a season-long loan deal from Peterborough United.[17]
On 12 September, Motherwell announced the signing of Bevis Mugabi on a contract until January 2020.[18]
On 20 September, Motherwell announced that P. J. Morrison had joined Cowdenbeath on an emergency one-week loan deal.[19]
On 2 October, Motherwell announced that they had extended their contract with Liam Donnelly until the summer of 2022.[20]
On 22 November, Motherwell announced that they had extended their contract with Bevis Mugabi until the summer of 2021.[21]
On 7 January, Motherwell announced that Trevor Carson had signed a new contract with the club, until the summer of 2022.[22] On 13 January, Mikael Ndjoli joined Motherwell on loan from AFC Bournemouth for the remainder of the season.[23]
On 15 January, Liam Grimshaw signed a new contract with Motherwell until the summer of 2022.[24]
On 23 January, David Devine joined Queen of the South on loan for the remainder of the season.[25]
On 28 January, Ross Maciver signed a new contract with Motherwell, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.[26]
On 31 January, Casper Sloth left Motherwell by mutual consent,[27] Rolando Aarons joined the club on loan from Newcastle United for the remainder of the season,[28] and James Scott moved to Hull City for an undisclosed fee.[29]
After returning to the club from his loan deal with Greenock Morton on 31 January,[30] Adam Livingstone joined Clyde on loan for the remainder of the season on 4 February.[31]
On 7 February, Motherwell announced the signing of Tony Watt on a contract until the end of the season.[32]
On 9 March, Motherwell announced the signing of Harry Robinson on a contract until the end of the season.[33]
On 11 March, David Turnbull signed a one-year extension to his contract, keeping him at Motherwell until the summer of 2022.[34]
On 13 March, the Scottish Football Association postponed all league fixtures until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[35] [1]
On 18 May the season was curtailed by the Scottish Professional Football League with Motherwell finishing the season in third place with a points per game ration of 1.5333, 0.0333 higher than fourth placed Aberdeen.[2]
On 29 May, Motherwell announced that Tony Watt had signed a new contract with the club, for the 2020–21 season.[36]
On 31 May, Motherwell announced that Rohan Ferguson, Mark Gillespie, Richard Tait, Peter Hartley, Christian Ilić, Adam Livingstone and Christy Manzinga were all leaving the club after their contracts expired, whilst Charles Dunne, Chris Long, Barry Maguire, P. J. Morrison, Harry Robinson and Yusuf Hussain have been offered new contracts with contracts due to expire too Lokopd.[37]
See main article: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2019 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2019-20.
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 April 2019 | DF | Declan Gallagher | Livingston | Free | [38] | ||
| 17 April 2019 | MF | Liam Polworth | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Free | [39] | ||
| 29 April 2019 | DF |  | Jake Carroll | Cambridge United | Free | [40] | |
| 21 May 2019 | MF | Casper Sloth | Silkeborg | Free | [41] | ||
| 29 May 2019 | MF | Jermaine Hylton | Solihull Moors | Free | [42] | ||
| 10 June 2019 | FW | Chris Long | Blackpool | Free | |||
| 8 July 2019 | MF |  | Sherwin Seedorf | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Undisclosed | ||
| 12 July 2019 | MF | Christian Ilić | TSV Hartberg | Undisclosed | |||
| 25 July 2019 | FW | Christy Manzinga | Sporting Châtelet | Undisclosed | |||
| 1 August 2019 | FW | Ross Maciver | Ross County | Undisclosed | |||
| 12 September 2019 | DF |  | Bevis Mugabi | Yeovil Town | Free | ||
| 7 February 2020 | FW | Tony Watt | CSKA Sofia | Free | |||
| 9 March 2020 | MF | Harry Robinson | Oldham Athletic | Free |
Transfers announced on the above date, becoming official when the Scottish transfer window opened on 1 June.
Transfers announced on the above date, becoming official when they're contracts expire on 30 June.
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 July 2019 | FW | Danny Johnson | Dundee | Undisclosed | |||
| 26 July 2019 | MF | Reece McAlear | Norwich City | Undisclosed | |||
| 31 January 2020 | FW | James Scott | Hull City | Undisclosed |
| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date to | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 July 2019 | FW | Devante Cole | Wigan Athletic | 1 January 2020 | |||
| 2 September 2019 | MF | Mark O'Hara | Peterborough United | End of Season | |||
| 13 January 2020 | FW | Mikael Ndjoli | AFC Bournemouth | End of Season | |||
| 31 January 2020 | FW | Rolando Aarons | Newcastle United | End of Season |
| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 2019 | GK | Rohan Ferguson | Linfield | End of Season | |||
| 2 September 2019 | DF | Adam Livingstone | Greenock Morton | 31 January 2019 | |||
| 20 September 2019 | GK | P. J. Morrison | Cowdenbeath | 27 September 2019 | |||
| 23 January 2020 | DF | David Devine | Queen of the South | End of Season | |||
| 4 February 2020 | DF | Adam Livingstone | Clyde | End of Season |
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | Joined | Date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 September 2019 | FW | Craig Tanner | Aldershot Town | 9 December 2019 | [43] | ||
| 31 January 2020 | MF | Casper Sloth | Notts County | 20 August 2020 | [44] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | GK | Mark Gillespie | Newcastle United | 3 July 2020 | [45] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | GK | Rohan Ferguson | Queen of the South | 17 September 2020 | [46] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | DF | Peter Hartley | Jamshedpur | 20 August 2020 | |||
| 31 May 2020 | DF | Richard Tait | St Mirren | 18 June 2020 | [47] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | DF | | Charles Dunne | Motherwell | 27 June 2020 | [48] | |
| 31 May 2020 | DF | Jack Brown | Albion Rovers | 18 June 2020 | [49] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | DF | Adam Livingstone | Cove Rangers | 27 August 2020 | [50] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | MF | Christian Ilić | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 21 August 2020 | [51] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | FW | Christy Manzinga | Linfield | 1 August 2020 | [52] | ||
| 31 May 2020 | FW | Chris Long | Motherwell | 10 July 2020 | [53] | ||
| 30 June 2020 | GK | Robbie Hemfrey | Stoke City U23 | 6 October 2020 | [54] | ||
| 30 June 2020 | MF | Adam Kettings | Syngenta | ||||
| 30 June 2020 | FW | Cole Starrs | Forfar Athletic | 1 September 2020 |
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||||||||
| 1 | Trevor Carson | GK | 2020 5, df=yes | Hartlepool United | 2017[56] | 2022 | 63 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Mark Gillespie | GK | 2020 5, df=yes | Walsall | 2018 | 2020[57] | 67 | 0 | ||
| 41 | Robbie Hemfrey | GK | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2012 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 43 | Matty Connelly | GK | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2019 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Defenders | ||||||||||
| 2 | Richard Tait | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Grimsby Town | 2016[58] | 2020[59] | 142 | 5 | ||
| 3 | Jake Carroll | | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Cambridge United | 2019 | 2021 | 27 | 2 | |
| 5 | Peter Hartley | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Blackpool | 2018 | 2020[60] | 65 | 7 | ||
| 15 | Barry Maguire | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2015 | 2020[61] | 14 | 0 | ||
| 18 | Charles Dunne | | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Oldham Athletic | 2017[62] | 2020 | 78 | 1 | |
| 22 | Liam Donnelly | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Hartlepool United | 2018[63] | 2022 | 40 | 12 | ||
| 24 | Bevis Mugabi | | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Yeovil Town | 2019 | 2021 | 11 | 0 | |
| 31 | Declan Gallagher | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Livingston | 2019 | 2021 | 36 | 2 | ||
| 32 | Yusuf Hussain | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Falkirk | 2018 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 34 | Jack Brown | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2014 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 35 | Sam Muir | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2019 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 36 | Matthew McDonald | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2019 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 38 | Cameron Wilson | DF | 2003 5, df=yes | Academy | 2019 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Midfielders | ||||||||||
| 4 | Liam Grimshaw | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Preston North End | 2017[64] | 2022 | 102 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Allan Campbell | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2016 | 2021 | 120 | 11 | ||
| 7 | David Turnbull | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2017 | 2022 | 36 | 15 | ||
| 11 | Sherwin Seedorf | | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2019 | 2021 | 28 | 3 | |
| 16 | Christian Ilić | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | TSV Hartberg | 2019 | 2020 | 13 | 1 | ||
| 19 | Liam Polworth | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2019 | 2021 | 37 | 3 | ||
| 26 | Dean Cornelius | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Hibernian | 2018 | 2021 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 33 | Adam Kettings | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2012 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 40 | Paul Hale | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2019 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 42 | Lewis Robertson | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Rangers | 2019 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 52 | Mark O'Hara | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Loan from Peterborough United | 2019 | 2020 | 20 | 2 | ||
| Harry Robinson | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Oldham Athletic | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Forwards | ||||||||||
| 8 | Tony Watt | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | CSKA Sofia | 2020 | 2021 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 9 | Chris Long | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Blackpool | 2019 | 2020 | 31 | 11 | ||
| 12 | Christy Manzinga | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Sporting Châtelet | 2019 | 2020 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 14 | Jermaine Hylton | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Solihull Moors | 2019 | 2021 | 36 | 4 | ||
| 17 | Rolando Aarons | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | loan from Newcastle United | 2020 | 2020 | 8 | 1 | ||
| 25 | Jamie Semple | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2018 | 2021[65] | 6 | 0 | ||
| 29 | Cole Starrs | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 37 | Ross Maciver | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Ross County | 2019 | 2021 | 8 | 1 | ||
| 39 | Findlay Cook | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2021 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 44 | Mikael Ndjoli | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | loan from AFC Bournemouth | 2020 | 2020 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Away on loan | ||||||||||
| 13 | Rohan Ferguson | GK | 2020 5, df=yes | Airdrieonians | 2017[66] | 2020 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 21 | Adam Livingstone | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2008 | 2020[67] | 5 | 0 | ||
| 28 | David Devine | DF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2019 | 2021 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 31 | P. J. Morrison | GK | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 2009 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Left during the season | ||||||||||
| 8 | Casper Sloth | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Silkeborg | 2019 | 2021 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 17 | James Scott | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 42 | 7 | ||||
| 24 | Danny Johnson | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Gateshead | 2018[68] | 2020 | 28 | 8 | ||
| 27 | Craig Tanner | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | Reading | 2017[69] | 36 | 9 | |||
| 30 | Reece McAlear | MF | 2020 5, df=yes | Academy | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 44 | Devante Cole | FW | 2020 5, df=yes | loan from Wigan Athletic | 2019 | 2020 | 21 | 4 | ||
See main article: 2019–20 Scottish Premiership.
See main article: 2019–20 Scottish Cup.
See main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup.
See main article: 2019–20 Scottish Challenge Cup.
|-|colspan="12"|Players away from the club on loan:|-|colspan="12"|Players who left Motherwell during the season:|}
| width=60 | Ranking | width=60 | Position | width=60 | Nation | width=60 | Number | width=150 | Name | width=150 | Scottish Premiership | width=100 | Scottish Cup | width=150 | League Cup | width=80 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DF | 22 | Liam Donnelly | 7 | 0 | 4 | 11 | ||||||||||
| FW | 9 | Chris Long | 7 | 3 | 1 | 11 | |||||||||||
| 3 | MF | 6 | Allan Campbell | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||
| FW | 17 | James Scott | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 5 | FW | 44 | Devante Cole | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||
| FW | 14 | Jermaine Hylton | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 7 | MF | | 11 | Sherwin Seedorf | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
| MF | 19 | Liam Polworth | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| 9 | DF | | 3 | Jake Carroll | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||
| DF | 31 | Declan Gallagher | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||
| MF | 52 | Mark O'Hara | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||
| FW | 8 | Tony Watt | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||
| DF | 5 | Peter Hartley | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 14 | FW | 12 | Christy Manzinga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||
| FW | 37 | Ross Maciver | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| FW | 17 | Rolando Aarons | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| MF | 16 | Christian Ilić | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Own goal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 40 | 8 | 14 | 62 | |||||||||||||
| width=60 | Ranking | width=60 | Position | width=60 | Nation | width=60 | Number | width=150 | Name | width=150 | Scottish Premiership | width=100 | Scottish Cup | width=150 | League Cup | width=80 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | 20 | Mark Gillespie | 11 | 1 | 4 | 16 | ||||||||||
| TOTALS | 11 | 1 | 4 | 16 | |||||||||||||
| Number | Nation | Position | Name | Scottish Premiership | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||||
| width=90 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=90 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" | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | DF | Richard Tait | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||||
| 3 | DF | Jake Carroll | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |||||
| 4 | MF | Liam Grimshaw | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 5 | DF | Peter Hartley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 6 | MF | Allan Campbell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 9 | FW | Chris Long | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |||||
| 11 | MF | Sherwin Seedorf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 12 | FW | Christy Manzinga | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| 14 | FW | Jermaine Hylton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 15 | DF | Barry Maguire | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 16 | MF | Christian Ilić | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 17 | FW | Rolando Aarons | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 19 | MF | Liam Polworth | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 20 | GK | Mark Gillespie | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 22 | DF | Liam Donnelly | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |||||
| 24 | DF | Bevis Mugabi | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 31 | DF | Declan Gallagher | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |||||
| 52 | MF | Mark O'Hara | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Players who left Motherwell during the season: | |||||||||||||||
| 17 | FW | James Scott | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 44 | FW | Devante Cole | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| TOTALS | 58 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 4 | |||||||