Craig Brown today revealed he will continue as Motherwell manager until the end of next season.

The 69-year-old was rewarded with a permanent deal after making a positive impression during his stint as interim manager following Jim Gannon’s departure.

Motherwell confirmed last week that Brown and assistant Archie Knox would remain in the post until the end of the season at least, and the former Scotland manager now has assurances that his stay will last longer.

“We have the job until the end of the following season,” Brown said today. “The chairman asked us to stay on for at least 18 months. So we are committed.

“When you’re dealing with players, trying to keep them or sign them, we can now say we’ll be here next year.

“Most of the players say ‘are you going to be here?’ or is Archie going to be here?’ and when we say we are, I think it is helpful.”

An Active Nation Scottish Cup defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle has been the only blot on Brown’s report card as Motherwell put eight goals without reply past Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Aberdeen to move fifth in the SPL.

Brown today picked up the Clydesdale Bank manager of the month award in recognition of those achievements.

He was in typically modest mood when accepting the award, hailing goalkeeping coach Stewart Kerr, physio John Porteous and head of youth Gordon Young for their contribution.

He added: “It should at least be a joint award, if not a group award, because I have got the best colleague in the business in Archie Knox.”

Another veteran of the Scottish game, Alex Smith, believes that the ex-Preston boss’s exploits should be of no surprise to anyone.

Smith, assistant to Eddie May at Falkirk, has no doubt that the change of management has been for the better and is pleased to see Brown and Knox back in football.

“I thought Motherwell were heading for the group of clubs at the foot of the table,” he said.

“We were looking at the table wanting to pick up points and we were looking at teams coming back towards us.

“I think that could well have happened to them if they did not make the appointments.”

He added: “For the two of them to come back in and make the impact they have is brilliant. It has not surprised me with the experience and knowledge that they have got in the game.

“Motherwell have got a good set of players that did well in the early part of the year.

“Craig and Archie have gone in and recognised the ability of the players and are getting results.”

Smith added: “It is very important having a team spirit and a winning mentality and if you instill that in your players then it becomes quite a potent weapon.

“They have got the spirits lifted but they are strong disciplinarians too. They are very funny people though, they have always been like that.”

Much has been made of the fact that two of the elder statesmen of Scottish football returning at the highest level but at 69 and 62 respectively, but Brown and Knox have proved they can still mix it with their younger peers.

Smith has spent over 50 years in the Scottish game and pleased that the experienced duo are proving that age is no barrier to success.

“They have got young people around them the club and they still have that enthusiasm,” he said.

“Because you are in your sixties or seventies, that doesn’t mean you can’t have enthusiasm.

“The thrill of being in football and winning games is a great tonic.”