Motherwell have appointed Steven Hammell as their new manager on a two-year deal.
The 40-year-old, who had been in interim charge, succeeds Graham Alexander in the hot-seat, two weeks after the former Scotland international left Fir Park by 'mutual consent' in the aftermath of the club's embarrassing Europa Conference League qualifying round exit to Sligo Rovers.
He and assistant Brian Kerr will now take the team for the first time as the permanent management against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Hammell was one of three candidates interviewed by the Fir Park hierarchy this past week, including former Fir Park star Simo Valakari, amid 70 applications for the role.
Former Rangers and Hibs midfielder Kevin Thomson was left off the shortlist, while former Fir Park hero Paul Lambert also missed the cut after stating he would be interested in the role.
A club statement read: "We are delighted to confirm Steven Hammell as the new permanent manager of Motherwell Football Club.
"The 40-year-old has signed a two-year contract and has named Brian Kerr as his assistant.
"Steven has been in interim charge of the first team for the last fortnight but will now take the reins as the 26th individual to lead the club, leaving his previous role as academy director."
Hammell said: “It is an honour for me to be given the responsibility as manager of this wonderful club and something I am very excited about.
“The last two weeks have given me an even bigger appetite for it and I am determined and ambitious to take this team on and put my own stamp on it.
“I hope I can continue to get my message across and give our supporters a team that will entertain them and a team that they can see are giving their all.
“I have also spent that time assessing the squad and where I believe our short-term needs are.
“I think we have some hugely talented players in this group and it’s now my job to get the best from them. I also have first-hand knowledge of the exciting young players at the club and we will integrate them into the first-team environment when they are ready.
“In addition, I think the players need some help with some new faces. As well as taking the team and planning my application, I have been busy identifying potential targets, should I be successful in getting the job. Now that I have, one of my first tasks will be to look to strengthen our options across a couple of areas.”
Chairman Jim McMahon said: “We ran a very robust process that started with over 70 applicants. We met last weekend to narrow that down to a final three and we spent time interviewing them over the last few days.
“All three candidates were impressive, and each brought their own positives, but Steven was the unanimous pick of the directors and Well Society board members who sat on the panel.
“He inspired us with not only his short-term plans to reshape the squad and adapt the style, but his medium to long-term vision around a fully integrated club and we felt this matched how we see the future of the club.
“We think he will bring many qualities to the job that he has demonstrated running the biggest department at the club for almost five years and it’s abundantly clear to us that he has the support and buy-in of the current squad and staff.
“We are going to have a busy few weeks and months ahead, but the board will give Steven all the support we can to be successful.”
Motherwell have started the season with a 1-0 win away to St Mirren, as well as a dramatic late defeat to St Johnstone on Saturday when Stevie May's 94th minute winner for Saints inflicted a 2-1 loss.
And one of the new gaffer's priorities will be to strengthen the squad ahead of the transfer window slamming shut at the end of the month.
Hammell will hold his first press conference as permanent Motherwell manager tomorrow morning.
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