Stevie Hammell delighted after agreeing two-year Motherwell deal

Motherwell defender Stevie Hammell has signed a new two-year contract with the Fir Park club.

The 30-year-old left-back has made 426 appearances for the Lanarkshire side over two spells.

Hammell told MFCTV: “I am absolutely delighted to have signed. It dragged on a little longer than I would have wanted but I can now look forward to next season.

“The Champions League is probably the best achievement I have managed in my time at Fir Park and we are all looking forward to it. Hopefully we can get the rest of the boys signed up, keep this squad together, and go on to have another excellent campaign.”

Motherwell also offered two-year deals to defender Tim Clancy and midfielders Keith Lasley and Steve Jennings, while second-choice goalkeeper Lee Hollis is considering the offer of a one-year contract.

Hammell hopes Motherwell can build on last season’s third-placed finish in the SPL but revealed signing on again was a formality anyway.

“I can’t really see myself playing anywhere else,” said Hammell, who could be in line for a testimonial. “There were other things out there but all the Champions League stuff and how well we have done recently doesn’t really come into my thinking. I believe this is where I should be playing.

“There was never any danger of me going anywhere else. I still feel I have got a good number of years left in me and hopefully enjoyable ones as well.

“Hopefully I’ll be the first of a few who will decide to stay. We have had such a good season, if we keep the backbone of that squad and hopefully add one or two, I’m sure we’ll have a strong season again.” Meanwhile, former Motherwell striker Ross McCormack has failed to agree terms for a new contract at Leeds United – and may now be sold this summer.

Scotland international McCormack, 29, only has 12 months left on his current deal and Leeds don’t want to lose him for nothing next summer.

Leeds manager Neil Warnock said: “It is looking unlikely that Ross will sign.

“We have offered Ross an increase but his representatives made it clear that they are looking for a more significant increase after the season he has just had.”

Former Fir Park forward McCormack has scored 19 goals this season and Warnock added: “We have agreed to play it by ear and see where things go from here.

“But he is going into his last year and it might be that people come in for him now.”

Team-mate and fellow Scotland international midfielder Robert Snodgrass, who also has 12 months remaining on his contract at Leeds, is continuing to think over an offer that would make him the highest-paid player at Elland Road.