MOTHERWELL have told nine first-team players that their futures lie away from Fir Park.

 

SportTimes exclusively revealed yesterday that Iain Vigurs, Paul Lawson and Mark O'Brien were among a raft of players to leave the club.

A dozen members of Ian Baraclough's squad saw their contracts expire on Sunday night and it has now emerged only three of them have been offered new terms.

Winger Lionel Ainsworth, top goalscorer John Sutton and striker Lee Erwin are the lucky trio, however it is anticipated the latter will soon sign a deal with English Championship club Leeds United.

It means Stuart Carswell, Simon Ramsden, Paul Lawson, Iain Vigurs, Adam Cummins, Bob McHugh, Zaine Francis-Angol, Fraser Kerr and Ross Stewart will have to look for new clubs.

Baraclough said: "I would first and foremost like to take the time to sincerely thank each and every player who is leaving the club for all their hard work and endeavour.

"Guys such as Bob McHugh, Stuart Carswell and Ross Stewart have been Motherwell players for a significant amount of time and deserve particular recognition for their length of service.

"Simon Ramsden, Fraser Kerr and Zaine Francis-Angol have been at the football club during an almost unprecedented period of success and played their parts, as did Paul Lawson and Iain Vigurs.

"We wish each and every single player leaving the club all the very best with their future careers. However, I feel we need a freshness in the squad and that's my role over the summer."

The Motherwell manager also sees loan players George Long, Mark O'Brien, Anthony Straker, Louis Laing, Nathan Thomas and Conor Grant depart, along with short-term signing Scott McDonald.

It leaves the Motherwell squad effectively cut in half as Baraclough looks to put his own stamp on the side. However, he has not given up hope that some of his loan stars may return to shine again next season.

He told the official Motherwell website: "Some of the lads who arrived during January / February certainly impressed and aided in our league survival, and we would be keen to keep them on.

"However, we still need to have a conversation with either the individuals or their parent clubs to see what is possible.

"We have or will also offer extensions to Lionel Ainsworth, John Sutton and Lee Erwin for next season. That process has begun and we hope they will stay, but face competition for all three.

"We will offer them the very best we can though and hope they see themselves fitting into the way we want to play in 2015/16 and beyond."