IAN BARACLOUGH believes a break from all distractions will do his Motherwell team the world of good as they set up camp in Holland.

And the Fir Park manager is hoping it's a far cry from a pre-season jaunt abroad he enjoyed as a player – in the heart of the party island of Ibiza.

Back in 2006 the then defender was part of a Scunthorpe squad that was taken over to the Balearic hot-spot to compete in the San-An Cup with Carlisle, Stockport and local outfit UE San Antonio.

But while the Iron ended up winning the trophy, it didn't stop some of Brian Laws' squad from sneaking out to enjoy and sample the atmosphere of one of Europe's top nightlife destinations.

However, Baraclough insists there will be no such distractions for Motherwell, who have been taken to the sleepy Dutch village of Doorwerth, just outside Arnhem.

"I love a pre-season trip away because you get some real good work from it," Baraclough told SportTimes. "I've been to Italy, Spain, Portugal, even Ibiza!

"We went there at Scunthorpe with Brian Laws. We got invited to a tournament in San Antonio, of all places. The San-An Cup was brought back with us! I think he was always on edge with that one.

"It was a few years ago, but I behaved. But I suppose there were perhaps one or two who went out for a look about, but if you take a team to Ibiza you are asking for trouble.

"There will be several things we do in the hotel as well as while away the hours at night. It helps get the group together. During the day it will be more work and recovery.

"What the players will get is a sense of being cocooned away from all outside influences. Normally if they trained in Scotland they'd go back to their families and do whatever, but for a full week we will be able to monitor everything from work time, rest time, sleeping patterns and eating."

Motherwell have recruited well so far this summer with a raft of new and old faces signing up for next season. 

This week away, which will see the Ladbrokes Premiership side face Borussia Monchengladbach U-23s tomorrow and Heerenven on Thursday, offers those players a chance to bed in and get to know one another.

For Baraclough, this is one of the main benefits of the trip, and he insists all players will get a chance to break themselves back into playing games gently.

He said: "We aim to get everyone through the week with no injuries. We'll put in some good work in a different environment which allows the group to get together.

"It allows new players to get to know each other and get to know the way we like to do things. We will put in several sessions each day and the games we have will also be a good test.

"In saying that, I don't want the players to be playing more than 45 minutes in each game. Everyone will get an early taste of some football."

Meanwhile, Motherwell are hopeful they will get an answer by the end of the week from Scott McDonald over a potential permanent deal at Fir Park.

The Aussie striker signed a short-term contract back in February with the Steelmen and went on to play a key part in their survival.

It is understood the Fir Park club have had discussions with McDonald over the past few days, and are hopeful that a decision, one way or another, will be forthcoming by the time they return from Holland.