Rickie Lamie: Decision to stay at Motherwell was 'a no-brainer'

Rickie Lamie says it was a ‘no-brainer’ to sign a two-year contract to remain at Motherwell – as he and the club are a good fit.

Lamie says he and his team-mates are looking forward to the new campaign which kicks-off against European opposition.

They’ll face either Bala Town or Sligo Rovers in their Europa Conference League qualifier next month before another demanding season and Graham Alexander’s side is back in training for the challenges ahead.

After a late surge saw them seal a top six place and then European football, with Lamie scoring key goals to secure both, Motherwell had a good season last time out and the central defender is clear on the aims for this one.

“Naturally, as a competitive sportsman, you want to better what you’ve done before,” Lamie told STV. “It’s obviously easier said than done.

“You have to go in with that mindset. We ended up with last year ending on a reasonable high but there were times in the season when we could have done a lot better.

“So we’ll try to achieve at least as much as last season, and put some of the wrongs right so we can have a really good season.

“We need to go in and show positivity and want to be successful again. As we saw last season, it was a really competitive league throughout.

“Outwith the Old Firm, Hearts did really well to solidify their place in third but from there down it was a really topsy-turvy competitive league.

“There’s not much between everybody and it’s down to fine margins. If we put a few wrongs right we’ll see what we can do.”

Lamie had signed a pre-contract agreement to join Dundee this season, but after the Dark Blues were relegated to the Championship, the 29-year-old activated a clause in the deal to remain at Fir Park.

“I feel at home here,” he said.

“I live only 15 or 20 minutes up the motorway. I feel there’s a good group of guys here and the club’s really well run.

“Obviously the European venture is another venture as well but I feel like the way the season ended, on a personal note as well, it was a no-brainer.”

Reflecting on his change of heart, he said “It just shows you the world of football. You never know what is around the corner.

“I feel at home here and that was reciprocated with the value the gaffer placed on me, and he made me feel that.”