Several members of staff had to spend the night at Fir Park

By John Barnes

When you saw the headline "Kirk to Motherwell's rescue" it used to be because Steve Kirk had come up with a vital goal.

However, on this occasion it wasn't the 1991 Scottish Cup final match-winner but a local minister.

Monday's adverse weather forced some Motherwell staff to spend the night at Fir Park stadium.

Others stranded after the heavy snowfall were taken in by local minister Georgina Baxendale.

General manager Leaann Dempster, goalkeeping coach Stewart Kerr, physiotherapist John Porteous, groundsman Ian Wilson and a number of accounts staff were among those unable to get home.

The players' lounge at the stadium turned into a makeshift hotel where staff slept overnight. But Dempster and two female colleagues found solace at the manse of Motherwell South's Parish Church.

Dempster told BBC Scotland: "Some of the backroom team and the ground staff slept at the stadium while myself and two ladies from the accounts department, Margo and Linda, were taken in by Georgina Baxendale.

"It was very kind of her. There was a real Christmas spirit about it. Georgina fed us and looked after us.

"The guys had a good night. I think they raided the kitchen at the club and there was football on the television for them to watch."

Access roads around Fir Park stadium were dangerous and manager Craig Brown cancelled training on Monday and Tuesday.

The first team had been due to train at the Toryglen Indoor Football Centre in Glasgow late on Monday morning but by that time the severe weather had kicked in, with roads becoming hazardous.

Motherwell are trying to prepare for two matches within the space of four days. They are away to Dundee United on Saturday followed by a home match with Hearts next Tuesday.

The Fir Park pitch is currently playable as the under-soil heating has been on constantly since the bad weather began.

"The pitch is being monitored twice a day, but with the under-soil heating being on it's costing us a fortune," added Dempster.

Dundee United have already expressed doubts about Saturday's Scottish Premier League game going ahead.

United chairman Stephen Thompson told BBC Scotland that it would take a dramatic change in the weather to make Tannadice fit for purpose.

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