OFFSET YOUR WORLD CUP TRAVEL WITH GREENERTRAVEL
Date: 29th May 2026
Nothing Toulouse
By Donald C Stewart
A sketchy and humorous look at the outpourings of the great, the good and the not so good of Scottish fitba’ by Donald C Stewart. Readers are warned that if they take this seriously then therapy is available – just let us know where you find it so we can pass it on to others…
What have you got to lose that Motherwell doesn’t have? As Jens Berthel Askou has left Motherwell to become head coach of Toulouse, the French team, who finished 10th in La Ligue 1. Toulouse have got their hands on a manager who took Motherwell to 4th place and into European football, playing some of the best total football in Scotland over the last tumultuous season.
There are many in the Fir Park faithful who are wondering whether they will ever see another manager like the thing. The thing being that Askou led a team which managed over 60 points in a single season, ended it with losing their fewest topflight games since 1959, and had the second-best defensive record in their top tier history. They also achieved a new club clean sheet record as well as crowns. Chris Sutton was the cheerleader-in-chief, describing the football being played in their expansive attacking style as the best in the UK.
Having watched Michael Wimmer leave the club and back to Germany and Stuart Kettlebell resigning after telling people that the fan abuse got too much for him, a takeover attempt that came to nothing a couple of summers ago, you would be forgiven for thinking that the ‘Well need to be looking forward rather than back.
Were the attractions of Motherwell were not enough for Askou. Did the Board not take him enough times to M&D’s, “Scotland’s Theme Park”, or did they not append enough time in Discover Amazonia, contemplating our fragile existence on an ever-evolving planet? Did the Board not schedule enough walks round Strathclyde Country Park to chat tactics and future acquisitions for the midfield? Or was the RSPB reserve more Askou’s thing where he could go birdwatching or observing otters and kingfishers at the Barns Hawk, whilst Dalziel House and Estate clearly didn’t have enough to make Askou think of putting down roots. Perhaps it was the news that Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre are to be demolished due to the RAAC found there that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, because yet another Daniel O’Donnell Light Tribute Act was not going to be able to visit and entertain him.
Whatever it may be, Motherwell fans are now looking for a new manager. Likely candidates, many believe will not include anybody with a Scottish accent, because the last two were foreign, left of field, appointments.
Continued thinking out of the box in Motherwell, who would have thought that would ever be a thing?
Motherwell as an attractive club to manage – is that now a thing too Mr League One Kettlewell?
Chairman Kirk McMillan and the Motherwell board, helm a club in a sound financial footing, has just achieved more in one season than they probably have since they last won a cup, have tied down their senior significant stars until 2028, and have European football to look forward to.
What’s not to love if you’re on the terraces at Fir Park?
What’s not to love for about a provincial club?
What’s not to love for Scottish football demonstrating that if you come and take a chance in your career managerially, within the Scottish Premiership, that you’re not going into a graveyard?
It might not have suited some, but Askou has proven absolutely and totally that Scottish football is a place that you should consider for your career.
And there are many to name who have been Scottish footballers who have graced Italian and Croatian clubs so perhaps whilst contemplating coming to Lanarkshire they may be casting an eye over the players that Motherwell can provide to boost their squad in the way that Scots have done in Napoli and elsewhere.
Motherwell – centre of the fitba verse… Who would ah thought it…
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Tags: Motherwell, oor Donald, Scottish fans