Stuart Kettlewell insists Dundee postponement doesn't impact Motherwell
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell would understand if Hibernian have sporting integrity concerns following Dundee's latest postponement - but it has no impact on him.
Kettlewell's side need to beat Hibs on Saturday to have any chance of a cinch Premiership top-six finish and they need Dundee to lose both games before the split.
One of them should have been on Wednesday night, only for the visit of Rangers to be postponed for a second time as wet weather sparked a call-off at Dens Park for the fifth time this season.
Dundee now face Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday before, hopefully, hosting Rangers four days later.
Kettlewell said: "It doesn't change my mindset in any way because the only outcome that we've got a chance in is by trying to win a game of football.
"No doubt you will ask questions about what comes next in terms of the split and the fact that top and bottom six might not be confirmed on Saturday, which for me seems really bizarre, something we have not seen before."
Kettlewell criticised Dundee's pitch after his side's 3-2 win at Dens Park, which only went ahead after a second late inspection and following several days of uncertainty over alternative dates and venues.
"I was incredibly vocal on Saturday and I stand by what I said and the football club overall said their piece, and that's where we now have to park that and focus on what's next on the agenda," Kettlewell said.
"I would completely understand if that is the mindset from Hibs because there are different scenarios, sometimes that adjusts substitutions and what you do in a game of football if a point is enough.
"But it doesn't impact me whatsoever because I know what my task is - the only way we give ourselves a chance is by picking up three points."
Motherwell had a bright start to the season but dropped out of the top six on November 1 and have not been back since. However, they could have timed their run to perfection.
"We have touched on the fact it has maybe come from nowhere, that we had a real tough run of results but I think what it does show, for large chunks, to get into this position, we have had to be good," Kettlewell said.
"From the beginning of the year we have been in pretty good form, really competitive right throughout the season. Even in amongst that bad run I think everyone will acknowledge that at times we have played a lot of good football.
"There has been a lot of progress and development with individuals which is something that is massive to me and the football club.
"But we have always had that tendency to be in games, even if it's a late rally, we have always had that character and that aspect that this cause means a lot to us.
"But in terms of one game to give yourselves a chance to get into the top six, there was a stage where I would have bitten your hand off for that and I'm sure most Motherwell supporters would be the same."
Meanwhile, Kettlewell has no plans to meet American TV executive Erik Barmack, who is due to attend Saturday's game as a guest of the board amid talks on potential investment in the club.
"No plans for it whatsoever," Kettlewell said. "I would talk to anybody so if that's a situation that presents itself then great, but it's not my focus whatsoever, just the game on Saturday is all I'm looking at."
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