STEVEN HAMMELL has been SACKED by Motherwell following the club’s disastrous 3-1 Scottish Cup exit from Raith Rovers.
The shell-shocked gaffer didn’t speak to the media after the latest setback for the Fir Park outfit.
Hammell looked stunned as he walked alone down the touchline at the final whistle with Well dumped from the competition after goals from the Fife side’s Jamie Gullan, Sam Stanton and loan signing Emsa Goncalves who only met his new team-mates before kick-off.
Kevin can Veen hit the visitors’ goal, but it could prevent the club from hurtling through the Cup exit.
THE LONG WALK…Steven Hammell heads for the dressing room after the 3-1 flop against Raith Rovers.
A Motherwell statement read: “We have parted company with manager Steven Hammell.
“His assistant Brian Kerr will also leave the club.
“Stuart Kettlewell has agreed to take interim charge of the first-team until a permanent appointment has been made.
“The chairman and non-executive directors have begun the recruitment process to appoint the next manager.”
Chairman Jim McMahon said: “Steven Hammell is and will forever be a colossus in Motherwell Football Club history.
“Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, his time in charge hasn’t worked out the way we all really hoped it would.
“Although this decision has been difficult, we feel it is necessary as we look towards the last third of the Premiership season.
“I want to thank Steven and Brian for all their efforts and wish them both all the very best in the future.”
Former Motherwell stalwart Hammell, who had a total of 17 years over two spells as a player, was promoted to the dug-out in July last year following the departure of Graham Alexander.
He stepped up from his academy director role, initially as caretaker, before his full-time appointment.
Jim Goodwin, recently axed by Aberdeen in the fall-out of the sensational 1-0 Scottish Cup loss to Darvel and then a 6-0 hammering from Hibs, is among the frontrunners for the Fir Park post.
