Motherwell owner Les Hutchison has pointed the finger of blame for Ian Baraclough’s dismissal at the underperforming Fir Park players.

Hutchison expressed his sadness as he relieved Baraclough of his duties, but said he was left with little choice given the recent run of results that have left Motherwell in tenth place in the Premiership table and out of the League Cup to lower-league opposition.

Hutchison said: “There was clear evidence over a number of weeks that there were certain members of the playing squad who were quite frankly just not performing to their best or what we have seen in the past," he said.

“Something has to change and after several discussions with Ian ultimately we decided that the best thing to do was to ask him to move on and thank him very much for his efforts.

“Unfortunately there’s a few that really need to hang their heads in shame today that a fine young man has gone back down the road to see his wife and family having lost his job. I think it’s shocking but they have to stand up now and the older players will help them do that.

“We do need a fresh situation in the dressing room to change the mood and change the climate to really get some of these players to play to their potential.

“We have a clear strategy for the club and that hasn’t changed. Everybody has bought into that. I’ve spoken to the senior players to get some feedback and a re-commitment towards what it is that we’re trying to do at the club. I’m pleased to say that everyone I spoke to is very committed to what we are trying to do.

“We just need more of the players playing better more of the time and it comes down to the old story of man management at the end of the day.

“We have been extremely disappointed by the series of results over the last weeks. Of course at some point one has to bring it to a conclusion.

“Despite me being overseas I’ve seen video footage of all the games, read reports and had discussions with the general manager Alan Burrows plus frequent communication with Ian.

“It’s an extremely sad day for Motherwell. It has never been a club which has hired and fired people, that’s just not the way things are done so it’s obviously extremely sad. Ian has a wife and family and he’s going home to them now.

“I think it’s a sad day but I don’t think it diminishes Ian’s position because clearly he got us through the play-offs extremely successfully and the club will forever be indebted to him for that.

“He was given as long as he was because of that - but we saw nothing that was suggesting it was about to be turned around.”

Stephen Craigan, who has been placed in interim charge of first-team affairs, is an early frontrunner for the permanent manager’s position with bookmakers.

Hutchison admitted that the former Motherwell captain will be a contender for the role.

“There are some very strong characters at the club and Stephen is one of them," he said.

"I was pleased that he has taken the interim role and the board will now take time to figure out what selection process we’re going to have and he would obviously form part of that.

Motherwell’s current captain Keith Lasley agreed with Hutchison that the players have to shoulder some responsibility for Baraclough’s nine-month reign as Motherwell manager coming to an end, and ultimately agreed that they had let their former boss down.

He admitted: “That’s exactly the feeling.

“When something like this happens, you look at yourself in the mirror.

“It’s a real sad day. The business we are in is results led but it’s never nice when it happens.

“It’s up to us now to stand up and be counted starting on Saturday against Partick.”

There were reports of an altercation taking place between Motherwell players and staff following Tuesday night’s defeat at Cappielow, with angry words clearly being exchanged in the changing room within earshot of reporters waiting to speak to Baraclough.

Lasley added: “When you are struggling the way we are there are going to be some harsh words back and forward.

“We are where we are – the reality is we are not performing to the level we know we are capable of.

“No matter who the manager is, it reflects poorly on us as a group of players that this has happened. It’s up to every one of us to stand up and be counted.

“There’s nothing else for it now – we’ve got to look forward and try to get going again.

“I don’t really want to discuss what goes on in our dressing room but needless to say it was a difficult night for us and people are passionate about the club and what direction we are going in.”