Motherwell appoint former Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell as new development coach

Motherwell have appointed former Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell as their new development coach.

The Fir Park club announced the news on their social media accounts on Monday.

Kettlewell said he is “thrilled” to take up the role that will see him work specifically with the development and under-18s squads.

The 38-year-old, who has been out of the game since leaving Dingwall in December 2020, said: “I am thrilled to join the club.

“I’ve obviously been out of the game for a period of time and I’m just looking forward to getting back in.

“The role fits in with my ethos of developing young players which is important to me.

“I’ve had a couple of opportunities prior to this but after I spoke with the staff and the manager, I knew it was a good fit and the right move for me.”

The former midfielder spent most of his playing career at Queen’s Park and spent six years with the club followed by a short spell at Clyde before making his move to the Highlands to sign for County.

He left the club in 2014 before returning as a coach around two years later.

He was appointed manager of the first team in 2017 after leading his under-20s side to the 2016/17 Development League.

In his first season in charge County won the Championship and the Challenge Cup and he was awarded manager of the year.

He left the club in December 2020 and has been involved in the media, which is something he will continue to do whilst leading Motherwell’s young guns.

Motherwell manager Steven Hammell welcomed the appointment.

He said: “We ran a robust recruitment process that was designed to find the very best person and I am glad Stuart is with us.

“He’s one of the country’s most well-respected, talented coaches who will form part of our close-knit staff group.

“We spent a great deal of time internally reviewing all the factors that helped assist the group that included the likes of Cadden, Campbell, Hastie, Turnbull and Scott.

“A big part of that, in our mind, was having a dedicated and focused coach who created a first-team mentality within that squad and that is something we hope Stuart can replicate for what we believe is a very talented group at the moment.”