Alexander promises clean slate for Motherwell players

New Motherwell manager Graham Alexander has said the club’s players will have a clean slate under him but said he doesn’t think drastic changes are needed to turn around the team’s form.

Former Scotland international Alexander was named as the club’s new boss on Thursday night and spoke ahead of his first game in charge, against St Mirren on Saturday.

Alexander, who previously managed Preston, Fleetwood, Scunthorpe and Salford, revealed he had spoken to his Stephen Robinson, his predecessor at Fir Park, about the club and players and had nothing but complimentary reports.

But regardless of his discussions, he said the players would get a fresh start under him and everyone has a chance to impress and earn their first team place.

“I’m not one for going into a new club and sitting saying chapter and verse about this and that,” he said. “I believe in actions. Anyone can walk in the door and talk.

“It’s over time that players realise that it’s open, that if you do the things the team needs then you’ll be in the team.

“I do think it’s important when a new manager comes in that the players know you haven’t got any pre-conceived ideas. I think it’s a massive negative so I purposefully steer clear of that.

“What I see with my own eyes from analysing some games, that’s my opinion, because at the end of the day me and Stephen are different people.

“I played with Robbo a bit at Preston and I’ve known him for a few years but I don’t know how he coached or his basic principles.”

The 49-year-old inherits a team that is second bottom of the Premiership and hasn’t won in their last ten games but he believes improvements can be made without severe changes.

“When I spoke to people about the club, they didn’t believe there was a massive, massive problem,” Alexander added.

“I think there are a couple of problems that we need to work out but I think it has been a team that has just been nearly there.

“So personally, sitting here, I don’t think it is major surgery and big overhauls and drastic action.”