Motherwell, Scotland – The head coach of the Scottish football team Motherwell has stepped down following a wave of personal abuse he received from fans that began to negatively impact his family life.


In an official announcement, Motherwell revealed that the board of directors had “very reluctantly” accepted Stuart Kettlewell’s resignation after he expressed his concerns regarding the treatment he and his family were facing. Kettlewell disclosed to a club official that the harassment had become so severe that his family no longer wanted to attend matches.


Brian Caldwell, the Chief Executive of Motherwell, expressed his disappointment upon learning the distress that Kettlewell’s family endured and reinforced that no individual connected to the club—be it a manager, player, or staff—should have to experience such hostility. Caldwell emphasized that the club had no choice but to accept Kettlewell’s resignation for the well-being of him and his loved ones. He highlighted the importance of the club being community-focused and vowed to protect its members.


Specifics regarding the abuse aimed at Kettlewell were not disclosed in the statement released by the club. Kettlewell had taken on the managerial role in February 2023 and had overseen a total of 92 matches during his tenure. Although Motherwell currently occupies the fifth position in the Scottish league standings, a segment of the fanbase had begun to turn against Kettlewell, particularly following a disappointing defeat in the Scottish Cup against St Johnstone earlier this month.


In the wake of Kettlewell’s departure, assistant manager Stephen Frail will assume responsibility for the team during their upcoming match against Celtic on Sunday.