MOTHERWELL are not the team of a few seasons ago when they twice finished second to Celtic but neither are they so bad that it should have taken until the penultimate league match to ensure they were safe from relegation.

But in a world of fake news and half truths, something which never lies is the league table. It’s not been a great ten months for the men from Lanarkshire.

However, they will spend a 33th season in Scotland’s top tier, no mean feat when you think about it, thanks to a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock and the fact Hamilton and Inverness are worse than them. It’s not a lot to celebrate about.

The campaign’s pivotal moment was losing to Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup having led for most of the second half. Mark McGhee never got over that – his now infamous rant at Pittodrie the sign of someone who had lost it – and that transferred down to the players.

In fairness to the club, they did the right thing in changing managers and while it’s far too early to judge Stephen Robinson, he was brought back to Fir Park to do a job and he did just that.

The trick now, as Robinson said himself not long after Tuesday night’s win, is to move Motherwell forward and ensure they aren’t struggling next season. This is far from easy given the little resources this football has to play with.

“We shouldn’t have been in this situation,” said Lionel Ainsworth who came off the bench against Kilmarnock and transformed the game. “That’s been disappointing but the character the boys have shown, especially in games where we have performed and should have won, but didn’t has been great.

“That luck was there with us on Tuesday night. The boys who have been playing every week have been absolutely brilliant.

“We’ve been warriors in the changing room, everyone has been together, we go out there every day in training with each other and we enjoy it. We knew we were in a situation and we’re just glad to come out the other end.

“When we were warming up against Hamilton last Saturday, I was looking around and said to one of the boys we shouldn’t be in this situation, we’ve got a good team. I’m not saying we should be up in the top three or what-not but we definitely are better than third bottom.

“So being in that situation you go through some mad stages, even watching games you see things happening and when it’s not going your way, you need that little bit of luck. It fell down to the second last game of the season but we’ll take it.”

Ainsworth was put on before half-time and at the start of the second half scored a superb free-kick. His pace and directness caused Kilmarnock all sorts of problems.

“I thought I was in the starting eleven, then I got to the ground and was told that I wasn’t,” he admitted. “That was a bitter disappointment but it’s football and you have to adapt to it.

“I’ve had ups and downs this season but I knew if I could get on the pitch I would just get on with it. I’m paid to do the job, so whether it is starting or coming off the bench, I have to do it to my full potential.

“I just wanted to do it for me and my family. I’ve had a great four years here and I hope it continues.”

Ainsworth is one of several Motherwell players whose contracts will run out at the end of this month. With money scarce and books to be balance, nobody is assured to be given a new deal.

Indeed, in terms of finance, the best thing that could happen would be for a proper bid to come in for Louis Moult but that’s an awful lot of goals which would disappear if the striker were to leave.

“There are quite a few of us that are out of contract but the main thing is this football club and that Motherwell stays at a good level,” said Ainsworth.

“I got engaged to my fiancée up here, we love the area, and we love the people and the fans. My daughter was born up here. It’s like our own little bubble but sometimes you have to leave that bubble and go and make one somewhere else.

“Hopefully that’s not the case and all I can say is the next couple of weeks should be interesting.

“I’ll never forget this place, never. From Stuart McCall bringing me up here and giving me the opportunity to play in Scottish football, it’s been brilliant. He was a great manager, Ian Baraclough continued my stay here and I really enjoyed every moment and I hope there are many more years to come.”