Now that the summer's transfer activity has ended we can look forward to a period of stability. The first team squad lost one but gained a couple on the last day to complete a wholesale revamp since the end of last season.
The change in personnel has been overshadowed to some extent by the showering of cash that has fallen on us after the transfer of Johnson from Oxford to Middlesbrough. We should be able to reduce our debt and retain a healthy bank balance for future needs.
Heneghan has gone in exchange for a healthy fee and the hope of more to come. There's a fascinating glimpse into the deadline day deal from the Sheffield United perspective here (Bleacher report)
His replacement, and the only player on loan at Fir Park, is Hartley. Grimshaw's return has met with widespread approval and that pair join recent signings Petraviius and Newell in what will be a fairly crowded player's lounge.
The resources at the manager's disposal are now settled. In Carson and Griffiths we have a pair of decent 'keepers. The choice for the back line will come from Hammell, Plummer, Kipré, Hartley, Dunne and Tait. Our midfielders are Frear, Bigirimana, Grimshaw, Cadden, Tanner, MacLean, Turnbull, McHugh and Rose and the strike force will be picked from Fisher, Moult, Bowman, Petraviius and Newell.
The club chairman, Jim McMahon has revealed that we had received eight offers spread among Cadden, Moult and Heneghan before we agreed the move with Sheffield United. His statement also reinforced the sentiment repeated by Alan Burrows that we will not sell players on the cheap. This attitude has been welcomed by fans of Motherwell and the wider football community in Scotland.
The team get back to business next Saturday when we welcome Kilmarnock to Fir Park.