Stuart Kettlewell comfortable Motherwell are doing all they can to keep out of contract players

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell insists he is relaxed about members of his squad nearing the end of their contracts at Fir Park and has made players the best offer the club can afford.

More than a dozen players reach the end of their existing deals this summer, including Dean Cornelius, Dan Casey and talented teenager Max Johnston.

The club is keen to tie that trio and others down on new deals and have tabled offers but are yet to resolve the situation.

Kettlewell says he is not losing sleep over the prospect of losing players in the summer as he’s content that Motherwell have done everything they can to persuade the players to stay.

“I think we’ve been really proactive, as much as we possibly can, in a number of situations,” he said.

“It’s where I’m very calm as a person, I get asked the question constantly and I hear people that start to panic and worry and all the rest of it.

“When you as a football club, and as a manager, have taken every step that you possibly can, make it known what players you want, put offers down in front of them, try to make it as lucrative as you possibly can in relation to what your club can offer, then I think there’s a point where you have to just step back and be calm about it. Allow players to make their own decisions and take advice from the relative people.

“I believe in development. I believe in trying to hit milestones as a player, playing game time, being on the park, becoming a better player but a better person as well.

“If you think Motherwell is the place where you will become both a better player and a better person, then this is the right place for you.

“If it’s not, then it’s not, so I don’t ever get too caught up in it.

“This is never a personal attack on players or anything like that but there has to be a point where we take a step back. We have done absolutely everything we possibly can.

“I am really comfortable with that, and we will find out what the decisions are through time.”

Motherwell, who currently sit eighth in the table, begin their post-split fixtures against Kilmarnock on Saturday and the manager admitted he would rather not have had a two-week break from action after his side secured a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park last time out.

However, he wants his side to continue their good form this weekend and make a strong finish to the season.

“You’ve got to embrace and look forward to the last five games,” he said.

“As a player and manager I’ve always looked forward to this part of the season and I think it’s about getting that mentality.

“At times people start to worry or get apprehensive or there’s sleepless nights but I don’t really buy into all that. I think we’re privileged to be involved in sport in this country and when there’s so many possible outcomes I’ve always been a guy that embraces that.

“We need to look forward to this last five games that we’ve got. It’s all mapped out in front of us now in terms of who we play and where we play them.

“I’m not really looking too far ahead to the last one or one in the middle. I’m focused on Kilmarnock and the players are as well.”