Stuart Kettlewell aims to transform flaws into success in Motherwell revamp

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has revealed that he has to look for players with “flawed” backgrounds to get the best value from a tight transfer budget.

Kettlewell is looking to revamp his squad for the new Premiership season and is hopeful about bringing new faces to the club before the window closes at the end of August.

But with the club looking to recruit free agents, the manager knows that he can’t afford to be shopping for top level players and will have to be creative to improve his options.

He says that means looking for players who haven’t enjoyed success recently, and then trying to give them opportunity and help them rediscover their best form.

“We’re working hard,” Kettlewell said. “But you find yourself in a situation, and I’m not pleading poverty or making excuses, but we don’t have top dollar to go out and sign players willy-nilly and pay transfer fees.

“We’re not paying transfer fees for any players and we’re looking for free agents.

“Sometimes we’re looking for guys who have had a flawed season or maybe haven’t been at their best for a spell. It’s our job to try and turn that into a successful season.

“Again, I’m not trying to shy away from it or scared of it but that’s where we are at.

“To do that, you have to find the right one and someone that you think your coaching methods and managerial skills can resonate with and you can get the best out of them.”

More than a dozen players have left Fir Park since the end of the season, with Ross Tierney and Connor Shields being the latest departures, while four new faces have already arrived.

Kettlewell says there may be more heading through the exit door, with those leaving allowing him to bring in replacements.

“It’s evident that we have to move out one or two players who I feel I am being fair to, if I don’t see them fitting into the system or what I am trying to do,” he said. “These guys have known that for a period of time.

“That brings me the opportunity to bring in a couple of players if that happens. If that doesn’t, then as always I will work with the players I have at my disposal and there will be no complaints.

“But there are one or two other players we have spoken to who we feel their game time might be limited.

“I am not going to go into dramatic detail about that but that’s where I am very transparent. The first person that hears that is the player.”