Successful deadline day for Motherwell

It was a profitable deadline day for Motherwell as the Steelmen banked more than £1million.

Published 31st Aug 2017

The sale of defender Ben Heneghan to Sheffield United netted the club £400,000, while they also landed a £750,000 profit from last summer's sale of Marvin Johnson to Oxford.

The fleet-footed forward has clinched a £3million switch to Middlesbrough - with a quarter of that fee due to the Steelemen as a result of a sell-on clause inserted into his U's package.

And there could be further windfalls down the road. Press Association Sport understands Well chiefs have demanded a similar measure be written into the agreement that has taken Heneghan to Bramall Lane.

Boss Stephen Robinson was quick to re-invest some of that jackpot in his squad as he set up deals for Liam Grimshaw and Peter Hartley.

Former Manchester United trainee Grimshaw enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Fir Park at the tail end of 2015 and has now clinched his return to Lanarkshire on a one-year agreement after negotiating his exit from Preston.

The energetic midfielder said: "I'm buzzing to be back as I only have amazing memories of the club and the supporters.

"It's by far the best time I've had in football when I was last at Motherwell and it provided me with the launch pad I needed following years in the youths at United.

"I am thankful to everyone at Motherwell for again showing faith in me and I aim to repay it in the best way possible over the next year."

Hartley joined Blackpool earlier this summer but has called time on his Seasiders stint already in order to pen a 12-month loan move to Lanarkshire.

The 29-year-old former Bristol Rovers, Plymouth and Sunderland centre-back told MFC TV: "I'm delighted. I know two or three of the boys here and when the gaffer rang me with the opportunity to come up I was straight here, literally.

"I spoke to the manager three or four times throughout the summer and it didn't work out so I chose to go to Blackpool and then the opportunity came up again to come to Motherwell on deadline day so I took it with both hands."

And Robinson said he was pleased with his late business.

"When Grimmy became available it was a no-brainer for us, really," said the Northern Irishman.

"Not only does he give us fantastic versatility in that he can play in defence, full-back or in midfield, but he's a superb character who will fit exactly with the type of mentality we're trying to create here.

"He was popular with the supporters too because he's one of these lads who will not only run all day, but is tough in the tackle with a never-say-die attitude. However, it's important to remember that he's got good ability and by the time he moved to Preston, he was providing us with a real threat from midfield.

"I am really looking forward to working with him again."

"We tried to bring Peter in earlier in the summer so we're absolutely delighted that we've managed to bring him in on a season-long loan.

"Peter is an experienced defender who has played at a high level in England so is a coup for us. He's someone who will coach and organise our defensive line, and provides a huge threat in the opposition box at set pieces.

"I'm happy with the shape of the squad now - we've revamped things this summer and we've brought in some really promising young players and now with Peter we have got that crucial experience at the back.