THE deal for Les Hutchison to take control at Motherwell is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

At the start of December a memorandum of understanding was agreed between the Lanarkshire-born businessman, the club and fan group The Well Society for him to facilitate a supporter-led takeover.

Hutchison was to supply his own money to take on John Boyle's majority shareholding, with funds raised through the Society within the next five years paying him back.

When that amount is reached, it means fans of the Lanarkshire side who have enrolled in the scheme will then own their club.

Last month Motherwell general manager Alan Burrows jetted out to Hutchison's Barbados mansion to work on the tycoon's plans for Well.

And Well Society acting chairman Brian McCafferty has now revealed the takeover is close to being completed.

He said: "It is now a month since it was announced that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Les Hutchison, Motherwell FC and the Well Society.

"Financial and legal due diligence is still ongoing and much work is being done to prepare for the change in ownership of the club. Significant progress has been made and we are confident the deal will be completed by the end of this month.

"Like the club, the Well Society board and other volunteers are looking at how we function. Our plan is to immediately launch a new recruitment campaign when the deal is complete and also engage Well Society members more fully in the following weeks and months.

"We are determined to improve the links between Motherwell FC and the fans through the Well Society."

As the Society looks to recruit new members to swell its number and cash pot - the cheapest adult membership starts at £300 with a £50 annual fee going up to the most expensive at £25,000 with a £1000 sum every 12 months - they are also seeking to grow their influence within the club.

While the fan group have had some input into Motherwell matters over the last few years since its inception, McCafferty admits there is room for improvement.

And he has told of how the future chairman of the Society will also become the club chair based on current plans.

McCafferty said: "We realise that many fans join the Well Society to be closer to the club, to know what is going on at the heart of the club, and to have their say in how the club is run. We realise that, for a number of reasons, that has not happened to anything like the extent it needs to.

"Although we initially had two and then one Well Society representative on the club board, it did not mean we were necessarily always at the heart of decision-making or the information process and we did not feel we could just go ahead and share club issues with members off our own backs without the club's input.

"We are now in a much better position to be able to do this: the Well Society chairperson will also be the club chair; Les Hutchison's motivation for getting involved is to facilitate fan ownership; and I have been encouraged by the way we have liaised with the club in recent months."

He added: "From the work going on behind the scenes, it is clear that Les Hutchison is very committed to turning around the club's financial health with the help of the staff, the Well Society and the fans in general. Les and the board are also supporting Ian Baraclough's plans as the new manager tries to improve recent performances."

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