Soccer: Motherwell in no rush to make signings

Billy Davies will not rush into the transfer market in a bid to strengthen his Motherwell squad before the end of the season.

Davies has already witnessed the departures of key players such as Ged Brannan, Lee McCulloch and John Spencer, and goalkeeper Andy Goram has joined Manchester United until the end of the season.

But the Fir Park boss believes the younger members of his squad deserve the chance to prove themselves at the Lanarkshire club and he is adamant that he will not be tempted into making any panic buys.

He said: "There is no rush to move before the transfer deadline - the short term is not a priority for me.

"It is all about planning for the big picture, which is the start of next season.

"I think it is vital that we give young players like Steve Nicholas, Keith Lasley, Steve Pearson, James McFadden, Dougie Ramsay and Martin Wood an opportunity to show us what they can do in the first team.

"Stuart Elliot took a big step coming here this season from Ireland. Now it is important he works at different parts of his game to get better, and playing and scoring goals for Northern Ireland is fantastic for the player and the club.

"In between times we are inundated, like most clubs, with agents faxing details about players.

"Some we already know about, on others we will do our homework by watching them or bringing them over for training which lets us see them at first hand and how they react in the dressing room."

One success from that plan has been Moroccan international midfielder Said Chaiba.

Davies added: "Chaiba is an excellent technical player, with great skills and vision.

"Because of his ability I think he is showing he can do a good job for us. With 45 caps for his country he has nothing to prove."

Nigerian international central defender James Okoli has joined the club and Dutch midfielder Edward Ankeran has this week been with the squad for training.