No "circus" around Louis Moult's Motherwell future

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson insists there will be no "circus'' around Louis Moult's future.

The striker spoke about his future this week in the wake of Aberdeen's failed bid for the 25-year-old and stated he would not be taking up Motherwell's offer of a contract extension in the immediate future.

But both Moult and Robinson have insisted the player will give his all amid the speculation.

The Fir Park manager would not rule out including the former Wrexham player in his squad for Saturday's Betfred Cup clash with Queen's Park after he impressed on his return to training following a groin operation.

Robinson said: "It's very, very simple. Louis is a Motherwell player, he is contracted to Motherwell Football Club, and if somebody bids an acceptable offer that we think is a good deal for the club and a good deal for Louis, then we will look at it.

"Until then Louis is a Motherwell footballer and he will be 100 per cent committed to doing well and doing what he has done for the last two years.

"Louis has been brilliant for this football club and the football club have been brilliant for him. We're not letting it become a circus and Louis is very comfortable with that.

"I speak to Louis on a daily basis, he trained on Thursday and he was quality. We are desperate to keep him, we have offered a contract and if Louis chooses not to sign it, so be it, that's the player's right.''

A number of players will make their Motherwell debuts at Hampden and Robinson is pleased with how his new-look squad is shaping up despite friendly defeats by Gateshead and Barrow.

"The cup competition comes really, really early,'' he said. "I would rather have people 100 per cent ready but everybody's in the same boat.

"We will get better, especially our understanding, we brought in nine players and potentially one or two more. I think we need a bit of an injection of pace in the top end of the pitch but we probably have to move people on first.''

One player who will not be signing is defender Bira Dembele following his trial period.

"We offered a contract to Bira and he has turned it down,'' Robinson said. "It's not something I will be chasing again, I want people who are desperate to play for Motherwell Football Club, so we won't be taking it any further.''

Meanwhile, Robinson explained his decision to allow 21-year-old winger Dom Thomas to move on to Kilmarnock.

"I wanted Dom to go out on loan because I felt Elliot Frear, Chris Cadden and Craig (Tanner) were in front of him and I wanted to see him in competitive action, I haven't seen him play for a year and a half,'' he said.

"But he made it very clear he didn't want to be at Motherwell any more and he wanted the opportunity to move on.

"I'm not in the business of begging people to play for Motherwell. If you don't want to play, we shake hands and wish him all the best, and I believe we can use the money we saved wisely.''

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