Stuart Kettlewell has quit as Motherwell manager.

Record Sport earlier revealed the 40-year-old was ready to call time on his time at Fir Park and it has now been confirmed. The shock move comes after back-to-back defeats at St Johnstone in the Premiership and Scottish Cup. The Motherwell boss has taken it in the neck from a small section of supporters and he has decided now is the time to head for the Fir Park exit.

Kettlewell has taken Motherwell to fifth in the league, on one of the smallest budgets in the league and the Steelmen also haven’t been helped by a crippling injury list that has robbed him of a number of key players, like Aston Oxborough and captain Paul McGinn. He has also averaged more than a 40 per cent win rate since he took over from Stevie Hammell back in February 2023. The former Ross County boss dragged them out of the relegation fight and to the top of the bottom six. The following season they finished ninth and this campaign they were in the top six.

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Kettlewell has also helped develop some of the club’s top rising talent, like Lennon Miller and Ewan Wilson He has also proved to have an eye in the transfer market, bringing in Theo Bair on a free transfer and then selling him to Auxerre for more than £2 million in the summer.

Kettlewell held talks with Fir Park chiefs who were keen for him to stay but now Motherwell will need to begin their search for a new manager. Kettlewell had previously a proven track record at with the Staggies, guiding them to promotion and back into the Scottish Premiership.