For reported fee of more than £1.6m, Theo Bair’s Motherwell exit is still some way off the club record £3.25m they received for David Turnbull in 2020.
But, all things considered, it’s quite difficult to think of a better bit of business from the Fir Park side.
Amid a barrage of criticism for the executive board’s handling of the Barmack family’s investment proposal, Bair’s departure equates to over a third of the entire club’s recent – and heavily criticised – valuation.
However, the Canada international’s exit – announced just six hours after the Wild Sheep deal was withdrawn – is a welcome positive for the club.
Heaps of credit must go to manager Stuart Kettlewell and his coaching staff, as well as Bair himself, for the striker’s transformation.
Bair’s Motherwell arrival was a bit of a surprise given his rough ride at St Johnstone, where he scored just once in 18 months. A two-year deal was also a shock, but that was a gamble that has paid off big time.
The forward scored in Motherwell’s Premiership opener last August at Dundee. He scored just once after that, though, and found himself in and out of the team until December.
Mika Biereth’s return to Arsenal and injury issues meant Bair was thrown back into the team at the end of the year. A double against Livingston was the start of a six-game scoring run, during which he netted eight times.
Another five came in the final months of the campaign to take his tally to 15, as well as six assists. Then came his inclusion in the Scotland PFA team of the year and a place in Canada’s Copa America squad.
The 24-year-old adds to a long list of success stories Kettlewell has helped scribe: Ross Stewart, Kevin van Veen and Biereth. Who’s next?
David Turnbull,Stuart Kettlewell,Theo Bair,Ross Stewart,Arsenal
