The 2020–21 season was Motherwell's thirty-sixth 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.
Season review
Pre-season On 17 June, UEFA announced that all UEFA Europa League qualifying and playoffs rounds would be played over one-leg, instead of the usual two, with Motherwell's First Round match taking place on 27 August.
On 23 June, Declan Gallagher was announced as the club's new captain, with Trevor Carson being appointed vice-captain after former captain Peter Hartley left the club at the end of the previous season.
On 24 June, Motherwell announced that they had giving permission to manager Stephen Robinson to discuss the vacant Northern Ireland managerial position.
On 27 June, Charles Dunne signed a new short-term contract with the club, until December 2020.
On 10 July, Chris Long signed a new one-year contract with the club.
Transfers On 10 June, Motherwell announced the singing of Ricki Lamie on a contract until the summer of 2022.
On 12 June, Motherwell announced their second singing of the summer, with Jordan White.
On 15 June, Motherwell announced the signing of Nathan McGinley to a two-year contract after his contract with Forest Green Rovers had expired. The following day, Motherwell announced that youngsters Barry Maguire, Harry Robinson and Yusuf Hussain had all signed new one-year contracts with the club.
On 22 June, Motherwell announced the singing of Scott Fox on a one-year contract, after his Partick Thistle contract had expired.
On 24 June, Motherwell announced that they had signed Mark O'Hara on permanent deal from Peterborough United for a nominal fee, with O'Hara signing a two-year contract.
On 3 July, Motherwell announced the return of Jake Hastie on a season-long loan deal from Rangers.
On 29 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Callum Lang on a season-long loan deal from Wigan Athletic.
On 13 August, Motherwell announced the signing of Stephen O'Donnell on a contract until the mid-season transfer window.
On 27 August, David Turnbull left the club to sign for Celtic for a club-record fee, reported to be in the £3,000,000 range.
On 15 September, Jamie Semple joined Scottish League One club Cove Rangers on a season-long loan.
On 18 September, Motherwell signed Robbie Crawford on loan from Livingston until January 2021, whilst Harry Robinson was loaned out to Queen of the South for the remainder of the season.
On 21 September, Ross MacIver joined Greenock Morton on loan for the season.
October On 2 October, the day of the game, Motherwell's trip to Kilmarnock was postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the Kilmarnock squad. Later on the same day, Motherwell announced the departure of Jermaine Hylton to Ross County and the arrival of Devante Cole on a permanent deal until the end of the season.
The same day, the 2020-21 Challenge Cup was cancelled due to the restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.
On 4 October, Sam Muir moved to Gretna 2008 on loan for the season. On 7 October, Motherwell announced the signing of Aaron Chapman on a contract until the end of the season, and Matthew Connelly joined Falkirk on a short-term loan deal. On 15 October, P. J. Morrison joined Falkirk on loan for the remainder of the season. On 17 October, Motherwell's trip to St Mirren was cancelled after St Mirren informed the SPFL that they could not field a squad.
After Trevor Carson suffered a knee injury that will see him ruled out for 'several months', Motherwell signed Jordan Archer on 28 October to a short-term deal until January 2021.
November On 9 November, Tony Watt extended his contract with Motherwell until the summer of 2022.
December On 3 December, the SPFL awarded Motherwell a 3-0 technical victory over Kilmarnock in relation to their postponed game scheduled for 2 October, and a 3-0 technical victory over St Mirren in relation to their postponed game scheduled for 17 October. On 26 December, the two technical victories over Kilmarnock and St Mirren were suspended after appeals from both clubs.
On 31 December, Stephen Robinson resigned as Motherwell manager following an 8-game winless streak, with Keith Lasley being appointed Interim Manager.
January On 2 January, P. J. Morrison was recalled from his loan at Falkirk.
On 5 January, Motherwell confirmed that Jordan Archer had left the club after his contract had expired, to sign for Middlesbrough. The following day, Callum Lang was recalled from his loan by parent club Wigan Athletic, and goalkeeper Liam Kelly signed on loan from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season.
On 7 January, Graham Alexander was appointed as Motherwell's new manager. The following day, Ross MacIver was recalled from his loan spell with Greenock Morton.
On 15 January, Motherwell announced the return of Academy graduate, Steven Lawless on a permanent transfer from Burton Albion, until the end of the 2021–22 season.
On 18 January, Motherwells postponed match against Kilmarnock from 2 October was rescheduled for 10 February, and their game against St Mirren originally scheduled for 17 October was rescheduled for 24 February.
On 21 January, Motherwell announced that Jake Carroll had signed a new contract with the club until the summer of 2023, and the signing of Harry Smith on loan from Northampton Town for the remainder of the season.
On 28 January, Jordan White left Motherwell to sign for Ross County. The following day, Motherwell signed Sam Foley from St Mirren on a contract until the end of the season.
February On 1 February, Motherwell announced the permanent signing of Robbie Crawford from Livingston on a contract until the end of the season, and the extension of Charles Dunne and Stephen O'Donnells contracts extended until the end of the season. Later that same evening, Motherwell announced that Jamie Semple had been recalled from his loan deal with Cove Rangers, due to the suspension of football below the Championship, and the loan signings of Jordan Roberts from Heart of Midlothian and Eddie Nolan from Crewe Alexandra, both until the end of the season. On 2 February, Queen of the South confirmed that Harry Robinson had returned to Motherwell after his loan spell was ended, and Tyler Magloire joined Motherwell from Blackburn Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season.
March On 11 March, Yusuf Hussain joined Brechin City on loan for the remainder of the season, with Ross MacIver joining Partick Thistle on a similar deal the following day.
April On 9 April, P. J. Morrison joined Ayr United on an initial seven-day emergency loan deal.
On 13 April, Stephen O'Donnell signed a new two-year contract with Motherwell, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023.
On 30 April, Graham Alexander was announced as the Scottish Premiership manager of the month for April.
May On 17 May, Scott Fox joined Greenock Morton on an emergency loan deal for their Scottish Championship play-off finals against Airdrieonians.
On 24 May, Motherwell announced that Allan Campbell, Aaron Chapman, Findlay Cook, Sam Foley, Declan Gallagher, Paul Hale, Yusuf Hussain, Chris Long, Ross MacIver, Matthew McDonald, Sam Muir, Liam Polworth, Lewis Robertson, Harry Robinson, Sherwin Seedorf, Jamie Semple and Cammy Williamson would all be leaving the club at the end of the season when their contracts expire, whilst Devante Cole, Dean Cornelius, Charles Dunne and Scott Fox had all either been offered new contracts or had been invited back for pre-season training.
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref 10 June 2020 DF Ricki Lamie Livingston Free 12 June 2020 FW Jordan White Inverness Caledonian Thistle Free 15 June 2020 DF Nathan McGinley Forest Green Rovers Free 22 June 2020 GK Scott Fox Partick Thistle Free 24 June 2020 MF Mark O'Hara Peterborough United Undisclosed 13 August 2020 DF Stephen O'Donnell Kilmarnock Free 2 October 2020 FW Devante Cole Doncaster Rovers Free 7 October 2020 GK Aaron Chapman Peterborough United Free 28 October 2020 GK Jordan Archer Fulham Free 15 January 2021 MF Steven Lawless Burton Albion Undisclosed 29 January 2021 MF Sam Foley St Mirren Undisclosed 1 February 2021 MF Robbie Crawford Livingston Undisclosed
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. 3 July 2020 FW Jake Hastie Rangers End of Season 29 July 2020 FW Callum Lang Wigan Athletic 6 January 2021 18 September 2020 MF Robbie Crawford Livingston 31 January 2021 6 January 2021 GK Liam Kelly Queens Park Rangers End of season 21 January 2021 FW Harry Smith Northampton Town End of season 1 February 2021 FW Jordan Roberts Heart of Midlothian End of season 1 February 2021 MF Eddie Nolan Crewe Alexandra End of season 2 February 2021 DF Tyler Magloire Blackburn Rovers End of season
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 27 August 2020 MF David Turnbull Celtic Undisclosed 2 October 2020 FW Jermaine Hylton Ross County Undisclosed 28 January 2021 FW Jordan White Ross County Undisclosed 15 June 2021 MF Allan Campbell Luton Town Undisclosed
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. 15 September 2020 MF Jamie Semple Cove Rangers 1 February 2021 18 September 2020 FW Harry Robinson Queen of the South 2 February 2021 21 September 2020 FW Ross MacIver Greenock Morton 8 January 2021 4 October 2020 DF Sam Muir Gretna 2008 1 February 2021 7 October 2020 GK Matthew Connelly Falkirk Short-term 15 October 2020 GK P. J. Morrison Falkirk 2 January 2021 11 March 2021 DF Yusuf Hussain Brechin City End of season 12 March 2021 FW Ross MacIver Partick Thistle End of season 9 April 2021 GK P. J. Morrison Ayr United 16 April 2021 17 May 2021 GK Scott Fox Airdrieonians 21 May 2021
Released Date Position Nationality Name Joined Date Ref.5 January 2021GKJordan ArcherMiddlesbrough5 January 202131 May 2021GKAaron ChapmanGillingham6 July 202131 May 2021DFCharles DunneSt Mirren2 June 202131 May 2021DFDeclan GallagherAberdeen1 June 202131 May 2021DFYusuf HussainForfar Athletic2 July 202131 May 2021DFMatthew McDonaldAirdrieonians7 July 202131 May 2021DFSam MuirDumbarton12 July 202131 May 2021DFCammy WilliamsonFalkirk13 July 202131 May 2021MFSam FoleyTranmere Rovers22 July 202131 May 2021MFPaul HaleGretna 20081 August 202131 May 2021MFLewis Robertson 31 May 2021MFLiam PolworthKilmarnock23 June 202131 May 2021MFJamie SempleEast Fife6 August 202131 May 2021FWDevante ColeBarnsley8 June 202131 May 2021FWChris LongCrewe Alexandra7 June 202131 May 2021FWHarry RobinsonClyde7 June 202131 May 2021FWFindlay CookThomas Night Hawks 31 May 2021FWRoss MacIverPartick Thistle31 May 202131 May 2021FWSherwin SeedorfLänk Vilaverdense31 January 2024
Squad