Knox and Brown are busy plotting Motherwell's progression

Motherwell's management team of Craig Brown and Archie Knox are striving to build on the club's recent success.

With fourth-placed Well unbeaten in 12 league games, Brown is focusing on player contracts and assistant Knox is in Barcelona studying coaching methods.

"Archie is heading out to Barcelona this week," the Well boss told the club's official website.

"I was speaking to him just before he left and joked: 'It's about time you learned something about the game.'"

As well as watching Barca coach Pep Guardiola's training sessions, Knox will take in their Champions League clash against VFB Stuttgart and Brown is keen for his Motherwell players to benefit from new coaching ideas and methods.

There's not one single player in the first-team pool, who has been playing regular for us, that I don't want to keep Motherwell manager Craig Brown

"I got in touch with my contact at Barcelona and Archie will get access to training," said Brown.

"So, whilst I'll be spending the week in here, Archie's on a "busman's holiday" trying to better things for Motherwell Football Club.

"He's like me, he can't pass a game of football without seizing an opportunity to learn something new; particularly when that game involves one of the best, most successful teams in world football.

"No matter what you do in management, you can always learn more.

"When you go on a course you may only learn one thing, but that one thing may be of great help to you or your team."

With no game to play this weekend, the players have been given time off and a number of them have taken a trip to horse racing's Cheltenham Festival.

Brown has stayed at Fir Park formulating his squad for next season, hoping to meet players' agents with a view to securing deals.

"Although we can't talk to them while they are off, we can talk to their representatives, who are just as important," said Brown.

"It's not right to name individuals, but all the players know I want to keep them.

"There's not one single player in the first-team pool, who has been playing regular for us, that I don't want to keep.

"It's just a case of trying to get things thrashed out and I'll use this week trying to do that.

"If we can get agreements, that'll save us a bit of a search elsewhere. We have players in mind if need be."

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