Four straight defeats, one win in 10 and no manager to turn it around: these are uncertain, some would say worrying, times for Motherwell.
Not so long ago, they were making their presence felt in the Premiership’s upper reaches, fuelling hopes that they might secure a European place.
While that possibility should not be discounted, they have been heading in the other direction recently, with every chance of a bottom-six finish.
If they are not careful, it could be even worse. Defeat at home to Ross County tomorrow afternoon could leave them as few as two points above the relegation play-off spot.
At this stage of a fiercely-competitive Premiership season, that would be an unnerving predicament for any club, never mind one that had not been preparing for a survival battle.
While most clubs in the bottom half have recognised and responded to the challenge, Motherwell have chosen a bad time to let their campaign drift.
Motherwell interim boss Stephen Frail aims to stop the rot with a victory against Ross County
Frail took over on a temporary basis after Stuart Kettlewell resigned nearly three weeks ago
Former Georgia boss Temuri Ketsbaia is among those who have been linked with the vacancy
Nearly three weeks have passed since Stuart Kettlewell resigned as manager, citing personal abuse that was affecting his family, to the point where they could not attend matches.
While the specifics of that abuse have not been revealed, it was a disturbing episode that, for all sorts of reasons, has left Motherwell with work to do, on and off the pitch.
Kettlewell’s decision triggered a nationwide debate about the conduct of fans. It also caused many Motherwell supporters to resent their portrayal as villains of the piece. Some in the media branded them ‘shameful’.
But many fans liked Kettlewell and admired what he had done in his two years at the club. They were fifth in the league when he stood down. In November, he led them into a League Cup semi-final.
And those who didn’t appreciate his efforts will argue that their behaviour was no more ‘shameful’ than anything seen at grounds all over the country. Only the month before, a photograph showed 76-year-old Hearts owner Ann Budge being singled out for abuse by a home fan in the main stand at Tynecastle.
The difference is that Kettlewell was the manager who decided enough was enough. And that left Motherwell fans bearing the brunt of a wider problem. All of which has complicated an already difficult time for the club.
Rightly or wrongly, many supporters feel they have been blamed, at least in part, for the current situation. And that’s not a good place for Motherwell to be, especially at a time when they need everyone on side.
The board look set to appoint a new manager early next week, with Temuri Ketsbaia said to be on the shortlist. Whether it is an overseas boss or someone closer to home, he will need time to settle in.
Before then, Kettlewell’s assistant, Stephen Frail, will take charge of the Ross County game, just as he did the 3-1 defeat by Celtic at Fir Park two weeks ago.
Frail will be acutely aware that a result is badly needed if Motherwell are to stop the rot and repair some of the damage done in recent weeks. It’s time they pulled themselves together.
McDiarmid Park is one of several Premiership grounds where pitches have been threadbare
AIR OF HYPOCRISY IN PITCH BATTLE
Just about everybody would concede that, all things being equal, a grass pitch is better than a plastic one. But what about during the winter, when those mythical oases of green turn into mud baths?
In recent weeks, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren have all hosted games on threadbare surfaces that look like a throwback to the 1970s. For Sky, Premier Sports and the BBC, it’s not a good look.
It also gives perspective to the ongoing debate about artificial pitches, which are to be banned from the Premiership next year.
A number of lower-division clubs have vehemently opposed the move, describing it as unfair and ‘fundamentally flawed’.
The argument for synthetic surfaces used to be that they were financially vital to community clubs. Now it is pointed out that the cold, wet Scottish climate makes it prohibitively expensive for almost any club to maintain natural grass to the required standard.
Certainly, St Mirren seem to be struggling. Their pitch was a mess on Monday night, when they hosted Hearts in the Scottish Cup. And it is likely to be no better when Hibs are their visitors in the league on Sunday.
The Paisley club might argue, along with some others, that they have been put under pressure to fulfil fixtures that should have been postponed. Their pitch might be in better condition had there not been a desperate card of delayed kick-off times on that snowy Saturday in late November.
But that is the problem with this never-ending debate about what our game is played on. Every pitch is flawed, whether real or artificial. Neither type is perfect. But some are being told to rip up their imperfect pitches and some are not. It reeks of double standards.
By imposing a Premiership ban on plastic, the SPFL is effectively telling the likes of Falkirk, Raith and Livingston that their grounds are not good enough to warrant top-flight membership. When they don’t convey the same message to Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren, it smacks of hypocrisy.
