Europe the target for Stuart Kettlewell as he lays out Motherwell vision

Stuart Kettlewell has set a long-term aim of making Motherwell regular contenders for European football after being named as manager at Fir Park.

Kettlewell was appointed successor to Steven Hammell after winning games against St Mirren and Hearts when asked to step in as caretaker manager.

With a permanent appointment secured, and an initial contract through to the summer of 2024, he is ready to get started reshaping the team to steer them clear of relegation trouble this season, and to look to the future.

The former Ross County manager was delighted to be back in full-time management and has made it clear that his target is for Motherwell to be well away from the bottom end of the Premiership table and eyeing qualification for Europe.

He said: “My long-term vision for the football club, and it’s always been the case and I’m not going to make any wild predictions, is that this football club has had the opportunity to play in Europe.

“This football club has occasionally been a top six club and been in that mix.

“So I’m not going to shy away from that task. I think it’s one of the biggest football clubs in this country. It’s right up there.

“We all know that kind of bracket of Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs but when we look at the achievement of Livingston and St Mirren this season we firmly want to be in that mix.

“That’s where we want to be, in that top half of the table, and hopefully seeing if we can achieve some kind of European football and get on that journey as well.”

Kettlewell steps up to the job from a position as lead development coach at Fir Park and he sees improving players as a key part of the club’s plan to improve.

He added: “To get slightly back from [Europe and top six], those things are all great but can we be a club that develops and produces players that then becomes a business plan of football. Can we bring players in, facilitate that development?

“I’m not wishing anybody’s career away but I think you know the cycle in this country that anybody that kids themselves on that we’ll bring players in, keep them for the rest of their career and they’ll be top, top players is not being realistic.

“That’s been a big aspect of how I’ve worked before and that will be something that I look to do as we move forward.

“You see so many guys in the past here that have had a brilliant career n football, playing down south and in different places. I would like to have that again as part of the identity of this football club.”