MOTHERWELL manager Stephen Robinson has urged young winger Jake Hastie to sign a contract extension, insisting that the offer put to him is the best that the club is able to offer.
Hastie hit the opening goal in Motherwell’s 2-1 win over Hearts at Fir Park yesterday, his fifth goal in six games as his side picked up their sixth win in-a-row.
That form has attracted the attention of scouts from England, with Leeds United reportedly among those keen on the 19-year-old, but Robinson believes that he should join the likes of David Turnbull and James Scott in committing his immediate future to the club, with Fir Park the best place for him to continue his development.
“We haven’t got any more money to offer Jake,” Robinson said. “It is as simple as that and we will offer him what we can.
“I will tell every parent that you have to play football and he has a very good coaching staff who will try and develop him, and this is the best place for him to develop. I will stand in front of any parent now and tell them that.
“A few hundred pounds now will not make a big difference to his life. He could be a very good player if he keeps grounded and improving.
“Jake has been to Airdrie and Alloa on loan and he went out a boy and came back a man.”
Another of Motherwell’s youngsters, Turnbull, hit a fortuitous late winner for Motherwell yesterday with the help of an awful blunder from Hearts goalkeeeper Colin Doyle, with Steven Naismith earlier pulling the visitors level.
“Our two goalscorers David and Jake have been terrific for us and long may that continue,” Robinson added.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here