FORMER Southend United defender Steven Hammell has been appointed as Motherwell's new permanent manager.

Hammell, who made 67 appearances for the Shrimpers between 2006 and 2008, is Motherwell's post-war record appearance holder having played almost 600 games across 17 years.

The former left-back had been in interim charge for the last fortnight since the departure of Graham Alexander and leaves his previous role as academy director to take full control of first-team affairs. 

Hammell said: “It is an honour for me to be given the responsibility as manager of this wonderful club and it's something I am very excited about.

“The last two weeks have given me an even bigger appetite for it and I am determined and ambitious to take this team on and put my own stamp on it.

“I hope I can continue to get my message across and give our supporters a team that will entertain them and a team that they can see are giving their all.

“I have also spent that time assessing the squad and where I believe our short-term needs are.

“I think we have some hugely talented players in this group and it’s now my job to get the best from them.

"I also have first-hand knowledge of the exciting young players at the club and we will integrate them into the first-team environment when they are ready.

Hammell, who will lead Motherwell away to Aberdeen this Saturday, was described as the “unanimous pick” of the club’s board.

“We ran a very robust process that started with over 70 applicants,” said chairman Jim McMahon.

“We met last weekend to narrow that down to a final three and we spent time interviewing them over the last few days.

“All three candidates were impressive, and each brought their own positives, but Steven was the unanimous pick of the directors and Well Society board members who sat on the panel."

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