Interim Motherwell boss Gordon Young accepts managerial merry-go-round at Fir Park

Dec 15 2010 by Euan McLelland, Wishaw Press

INTERIM Motherwell boss Gordon Young has admitted the club may struggle to retain managers in years to come.

As the Fir Parkers search for their eighth manager in ten years following last week’s departure of Craig Brown, Young has been placed in temporary charge of the first team.

And the head of youth development is now preparing to lead the Steelmen into battle against Brown and assistant Archie Knox at Pittodrie this weekend.

Despite distancing himself from the job on a full-time basis, Young says the current nature of football management means that for a team like Motherwell, holding onto a quality gaffer will always prove to be difficult.

He said: “In this climate, the managerial merry-go-round will continue to spin as it’s based on either results or is based on people doing well.

“A club like Motherwell are always at the forefront, whether we find attractive, promising young managers who cut their teeth and go onto bigger and better things or experienced managers who come in and galvanise the place.

“That was certainly the case with the last two incumbents. They really galvanised the place and it was a pleasure to work with them.”

Young admitted his team were left somewhat dazed by the managerial duo’s decision to quit the club for Aberdeen despite earlier reiterating their allegiances to Fir Park.

However, the self-confessed Motherwell fan has vowed that his young Steelmen have the mettle to take three points from their old boss at Pittodrie on Saturday, but won’t approach the fixture with gritted teeth.

He said: “I think the Aberdeen game will take care of itself. I don’t envisage a grudge match in any shape or fashion. I think Archie and Craig were so well-liked by the players and that was reciprocated by the management team.

“The Motherwell players, being the professional group that they are, will just be desperate to play the match regardless of who is in charge of the opposition.

“I don’t think the heads have dropped. They’re just too professional a bunch of players to allow that.

“There was the initial feeling of uncertainty – it was a bolt out of the blue – it wasn’t something anybody saw coming round the corner.

“But they’re such a great bunch of players and as people as well they’re fantastic and they’ll not allow that to cloud their commitment.

“They will also be looking to impress any new manager coming in and any potential new manager watching the game. But as I said, they are just far too professional and far too positive to let that affect them.

“We’re a better group of people than we were this time last year when it was in different circumstances where we had a real morale job on our hands. We’ve grown together as a team, both in management and around the players, and I think the guys are just desperate to get out and play.”

Speaking about his own position as interim manager, Young said: “First and foremost it’s a privilege to carry out the role. I won’t hide the fact I’m a Motherwell supporter but at the same time I think we’ve got to be diligent in our work.

“The management team that’s been in place have provided a successful formula and all I’m doing is replicating that.

“I’m more than happy with the role I’ve got in the club. It’s an honour to carry out this transitional bit of work and I’m more than happy to do that, but long term I think I’ve got the skill-set as the head of youth development. I think there are lots of exciting prospects coming through the system that I can benefit from.

“I’ve got no objection to anyone coming in.

“If someone comes in tomorrow afternoon and I can hand over the reigns – fantastic. If it’s before Saturday, not a problem, but I think it’s more important for the club to operate due diligence in getting the correct manager in.”

When asked about the reception the travelling Motherwell support will offer the new Aberdeen bench, Young wryly commented: “I think it will be warm.

“These guys are too experienced to let anything like that bother them. I can see it from the Motherwell point of view because I’ve got that allegiance, but the most important people are the players and then it’s the fans after that.

“They pay their money and they want to see the best and maybe that’s a compliment to Craig and Archie, the fact they are so upset is because of the job they did.”