What's Happening to Motherwell Should Sound Shock Waves......

Last updated : 25 April 2002 By Dave Webster
What's happening to Motherwell should send a chill shiver down the spine of several SPL clubs as they read of the fate of the popular West Coast side.

Dundee's financial circumstances for the season almost finished is still unknown, but few Dee fans would be surprised to hear we, too, are in debt paying the wages of some big named players. The only consolation Dundee have is that we do have players who can be sold on to keep us afloat, whilst other teams, Motherwell among them, would struggle to do that.

Obviously, that's why Dundee are about to offload Gavin Rae, Zurab Khizanishvilli and Juan Sara. I would be very surprised if at the very least we don't rake in £2 million for the trio, a sum that would go a big way towards keeping the fires stoked and the club afloat.

Dundee United set the ball rolling with a boardroom shake up of gigantic proportions and a trimming of the staff at all levels. This has seemingly helped them actually begin to make a profit over the last few months, though their debt remains perilously high.

Already the media are using the Motherwell story to prove that the ten rebels cannot survive without the Old Firm. Yet the truth of the matter is that it is the unfair slices of cake they have demanded from all TV deals over the past few years that have left clubs like Well in the position they are in. No provincial club can survive on the scraps from the annual feast held by Rangers and Celtic.

Maybe all clubs will have to tighten their belts and sadly, it could mean we see less of the talented players the Marrs have brought to Dens. In the long run, though, I see it as the only way ahead. The fans will be hit in the pocket by increased charges for season tickets and if they drop off in numbers the clubs will suffer.

FANS OF ALL THE REBEL TEN, STAND BY YOUR TEAMS, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW SEASONS, WITH A PASSION AND GREAT LOVE FOR THEM, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IF YOU DON'T THEY COULD BE THE NEXT TO WALK THE SLIPPERY PLANK ALONG WITH MOTHERWELL.