It saddened me this week, as I’m sure it did anyone with any sort of affection or link to Motherwell, to hear the reasons cited by manager Stuart Kettlewell upon his resignation as manager of the club. Fans pay their money and are entitled to their view on their team or how the manager and players are performing, but shelling out for a ticket doesn’t – contrary to what seems to be a widespread view – give anyone licence to say whatever they like. I wasn’t covering the Motherwell game in Perth last weekend, so I have no idea of the nature of the shouts and abuse directed at Kettlewell.
They must have been pretty severe to warrant his resignation, and if he felt that quitting was a necessary step to protect his family, who he said had been affected by it and no longer wished to attend matches, then he has absolutely done the right thing. What has followed in the days since the news broke on Monday though has been, in my view, something of a misrepresentation of the wider situation, and indeed, the wider Motherwell support. And while I can fully understand the club standing by Kettlewell and supporting someone who gave his lot for the cause, I have been somewhat surprised to see Motherwell themselves contributing to a narrative that Kettlewell was chased out of town by thousands of angry yokels brandishing pitchforks who just didn’t know how good they had it.
Let’s get it right. As much time as I have for Kettlewell as a man and as much respect as I have for him fo.
