FOURTEEN years ago a hand of kindness was reached out to a football club staring into the abyss.

It came on a rain-soaked May night in deepest and darkest Lanarkshire. A deluge flooded Fir Park as those suffering from the same affliction shuffled and splashed their way into the stands, a ritual they had carried out on a bi-weekly basis for as long as they could remember. To most, it was all they knew of a Saturday, an unconscious act that threatened to be taken away from them.

On that typical Scottish summer's evening, a total of 4019 souls sat with a lump in their throat and their hands wedged in their emptied pockets as Motherwell played out what on the face of it was a meaningless friendly with Chievo of Italy.

This could not have been further from the truth.

As it happened, the Serie A side had agreed to come over to play the fixture to generate funds for the crisis-hit Lanarkshire club who, gripped by administration, had just sacked 19 players.

There seemed little hope for those tortured disciples waiting for salvation. I should know, I was one of them.

That is why I can say how proud a day it was for all concerned with Motherwell Football and Athletic Club that yesterday this wee diddy team took a great stride forward in opening a new momentous chapter of its history books.

After a long road fan ownership has finally been achieved as Motherwell became the first full-time Scottish club to be run by supporters.

Thanks to the generosity and bridging help provided by Lanarkshire owner Les Hutchison, fans of the Steelmen have now taken over his 76% shareholding.

It has not been an easy road. Various recruitment drives have been tried out with different schemes rolled out to bring in subscribers both in one lump sum and in monthly instalments.

Regardless, the real hard work now starts for all concerned with making this a success.

The target was to reach 2000 memberships in order to facilitate the plan going forward. At this point 11 months ago there were just 1202 adults and 472 juniors signed up. That's less than half the attendance of those who stood drookit watching Chievo back in 2002.

The realisation must now set in for all Motherwell supporters that this is their opportunity now to step up and make a difference. The days of rich millionaires swooping in are gone, and the prospect of suspicious Argentinian consortiums lurking in the background should still be fresh in the memory.

Every single person who witnessed James McFadden equalise against the Italians 14 years ago, or shed a tear at the news of administrators walking in through the door, should keep those thoughts close to their heart when they consider not parting with their money.

AND ANOTHER THING

Those kicking around Edmiston Drive on Thursday afternoon may have been fortunate enough to catch the smallest glimpse of Joey Barton being covertly ushered out a side door at Ibrox.

The supporters who regularly frequent the Govan ground will be wishing they never clapped eyes on him in the first place.

It may be hard to believe but four months have come and gone since Joey Barton was unveiled at Rangers, proclaiming that he was in Scotland to become the best player in the country and take the Ladbrokes Premiership by storm. In fairness he's certainly caused one or two.

Barton may never play for Rangers again and may yet return to the land of milk and honey that is the Barclays Premier League, but with him he will take the baggage of a tumultuous short spell up here with him.

During his inaugural press conference the England international spoke at length about his philosophies, his maturing nature, his burning ambitions as well as his pragmatic views upon life.

With that in mind, it will surely not rest easy with him that yet another controversy in his career has cost him.

That may be some consolation to those who have funded his disastrous sojourn north.