Motherwell boss 'working tirelessly' to find No.2 after Koc's departure
The Steelmen's new gaffer admits he has plenty of work to do over the coming weeks to bring in new staff and players
Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou insists he is working 'tirelessly' to bring in an assistant manager but admits he is on no rush to make an appointment.
The Dane was appointed the new gaffer at Fir Park last week and on his first official day in charge on Tuesday, the Steelmen decided to part with No.2 Ahmet Koc, who had stayed in his position despite former boss Michael Wimmer quitting the club at the end of May to pursue a return to his homeland in Germany.
With Koc out, Motherwell will look to bring a new man in, but Askou says he will continue to put in the work to make sure they make the right appointment.
Askou said: "We've started the process obviously, but I don't have one sitting downstairs already, but we are doing everything we can to get organised and trying to find the replacement for Ahmet.
"So it's also one of the challenges we're facing, but also an interesting one, which gives us an opportunity to get the perfect one in, and if that means that it's going to take some days or a week or two, then I'm positive that the guys that I have with me already, they will help us through the initial period of the pre-season in a very good way, they're very positive and very keen to help, and have a lot of knowledge about the players and the club.
"And then, as I said, we're working tirelessly to get the last bits and the last persons in, and of course it's a key person with an assistant manager, especially for me coming in as a new manager. But we'll do our best to do it as fast as possible, that's for sure.'
Meanwhile, Askou has enjoyed his first few sessions with his squad in some rare Scottish sunshine.
The Steelmen have seen plenty of departures over the summer so far, with the likes of defender Dan Casey going to Wycombe Wanders and Shane Blaney joining Premiership rivals Livingston. Midfielders Harry Paton and Ross Callachan have joined defender Steve Seddon plus forwards Moses Ebiye and Mark Ferrie out the door.
In the door are midfielder Lukas Fadinger joined from Rheindorf Altach and defender Jordan McGhee, who arrived after siging a pre-contract last season. But he is hoping to add more as he moulds a squad in his image.
Asked how much work is needed to get Motherwell to where he wants them by the start of the season, Askou said: "A lot, obviously.
"But I will also use the experience from the staff who's already here, and all the information they've gathered and the knowledge they have on the players, and what we need and what they are capable of.
"And I'm gathering as fast as I can all that information, and I'm trying to take that in. And then obviously we will, with the help of each other and my new ideas, slowly but steadily move it forward.
"I'm sure that soon you will see what we try to do, and over time you will also see us being more and more effective with what we do. And in more time we will reap the benefits of what we will do, and what we will try and implement.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
O'Riley 'eager' to make Serie A move as preferred destination revealed
The midfielder could depart Brighton and Hove Albion less than a year after joining the club from Celtic. O'Riley endured a nightmare start to life on the south coast when he was stretchered off six minutes into his debut at the AMEX. Read more: He went on to make 23 appearances in his first season at Brighton, although according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via RecordSport), Roma have made contact to sign the Dane, with him 'eager' to join the club. The capital side are managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, who reportedly wanted to bring the ex-Celtic man to Atalanta last summer. It is said that Roma are 'formulating' a loan offer for O'Riley, with the obligation to buy him next year for £30 million. The report adds that the Italian side are currently focused on selling players to balance the books before the Financial Fair Play deadline on Monday, June 30, with O'Riley telling Brighton that Rome is his preferred destination. "I am not completely happy, and I am just giving my opinion," the 24-year-old recently said in his homeland [RecordSport]. "It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you are not completely happy with. I can play better for the team if I play the number eight position, but I can play well in other positions. "You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don't lose anything. The coach can always say he doesn't agree."
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
I'm a Rangers title-winner but when my son made history it was best night of my life – even though I cried like a BABY
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DEREK FERGUSON admitted he WEPT with joy after watching son Lewis win the Coppa Italia with Bologna. The former Rangers midfielder was in the Olympic Stadium in Rome to see Bologna end a 51-year trophy drought by beating Inter Milan 1-0 on 14 May. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Derek Ferguson spent seven years in the Rangers first team and won two Scottish titles Credit: Getty - Contributor 4 Son Lewis won the Coppa Italia as captain of Bologna in May Credit: Getty 4 Derek was there to watch Lewis lift Bologna's first trophy in 51 years Credit: Getty Ferguson told BBC Sportsound: "It was so emotional when they won it. "When I was going to the game in Rome, if I'm being honest I thought Inter Milan would win. "I looked at Inter and they had good players, and I thought the class players always turn up in big moments. "But what Bologna have is a real belief and togetherness and you saw that on the night. "I cried like a baby at the final whistle. "I got in a bit of a tiff with my older son Darren, because he was saying, 'It's in the bag'. "I'm not religious but I was looking up in the final few minutes. "When the final whistle went I burst out greetin' for five minutes. "It was the best footballing night of my life. "I won a few cups and league titles, but because his family and his pals were there - guys he'd been at Hamilton Grammar with - it was a special moment. Scot in Serie A Lewis Ferguson shows latest Italian talent with fluent interview "We got on the pitch at the end, which felt surreal. "I'm not a cuddler, I'm more a high-five type, but I gave him a hug and I wouldn't let him go. "He was like, 'C'mon da!' "It meant so much because of what he'd gone through with his injury. "But his mental attitude is so strong, he's a lot tougher than I ever was. "After the first five or six games he missed he was his own self - he was actually reassuring me that everything would be OK, that he was going to meet it head on. "So that made it even more special - it was a magical night. "When I go over to watch him I can go as a fan and enjoy myself." Ferguson revealed Bologna weren't the first Italian side to register an interest before Lewis' move in 2022. He said: "Cagliari and Lecce came in and there was a bit of interest in England as well, all before Bologna. "But when Bologna came in he told his agent to pursue that one. "He'd spoken to Aaron Hickey about Bologna and he'd raved about everything about the club and city, especially the food. 4 "Lewis likes his food so that was a factor in his decision. "Having been across, the restaurants are sensational." Former Ibrox midfielder Ferguson says Russell Martin will have to prove fans wrong as Rangers manager. Ferguson said the new Gers boss - who'll meet his squad for pre-season training tomorrow - has to focus on winning games rather than the way they do it. He said: "The word 'underwhelming' has been used a lot about the appointment. "He wouldn't have been the first choice for a lot of fans - but now he's in, we back him. "I wish him all the best. "I actually like what he's saying because throughout his career he's had to prove people wrong and he's going to have to prove a vast majority of the support wrong now. "You maybe hear about the style of football he likes to play, but for me, talking from a Rangers perspective, I want winning football. "I don't mind if we win a game 1-0 or 6-0, I just want to win games of football. "But the demands at a club like Rangers or Celtic, are that you win and win with style." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Celtic see Matt O'Riley windfall put in major jeopardy as 'preferred' suitor performs £30m Brighton transfer trick
A host of Italian clubs are on alert despite the Premier League side remaining keen to keep the playmaker at the AMEX In-demand Matt O'Riley has reportedly told Brighton he would prefer to join Roma this summer if he leaves the club. But that could leave Celtic's sell-on windfall at risk with the Serie A giants looking to avoid a major Financial Fair Play pitfall. The Hoops have already seen the Parkhead coffers boosted this summer by a sell-on windfall after Jeremie Frimpong 's move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. And the Scottish champions powerbrokers are on alert again amid reports that Napoli made a £25.6million (€30million) offer for the Danish international just 12 months on from his £25million Parkhead exit. Celtic hold a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the deal that took the 24-year-old to the AMEX Stadium last season - but the Seagulls are said to be in no rush to sell with talks "ongoing" over a deal. La Gazzetta dello Sport now claim Roma have already made contact with the midfielder's entourage with O'Riley "eager" to join the club. However, I Giallorossi are said to be 'formulating" a loan offer with obligation to buy next summer - with Brighton demanding £30million for the playmaker. It is noted that Roma are currently focussed on selling players to balance the books before the June 30 FFP deadline. O'Riley is said to be willing to wait for a move to link up with Gian Piero Gasperini - who is a big fan of the player having previously attempted to bring him to Atalanta from Celtic. O'Riley endured an injury-hampered debut campaign at the AMEX Stadium but showed flashes of his best form in the final weeks of the season. But the man himself has bemoaned the fact he's been unable to play in his favoured position under head coach Fabian Hurzeler - with Georginio Rutter deployed in the playmaker role. Speaking in his homeland, the Denmark international said: "I am not completely happy, and I am just giving my opinion. 'It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you are not completely happy with. I can play better for the team if I play the number eight position, but I can play well in other positions. "You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don't lose anything. The coach can always say he doesn't agree." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp, where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
