Lives at Risk in Hospital Power Cut

The new £180 million Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France on the outskirts of the capital was a flagship project which was to usher in a new era in the health service in Scotland. But the hospital, built under the controversial private finance initiative (PFI) has been plagued with problems since it opened fully in May. Last month, staff walked out claiming it was too hot for them to work inside when temperatures rose to 35C. Then on Thursday, a brief dip in the national grid system caused a power cut. Back-up generators then failed to start - the third time this has happened. Patients in intensive care only survived because of batteries which managed to keep going for an hour until mains power was restored. Staff in some parts of the hospital had to work by the light of torches and computers monitoring blood test results and fridges containing blood tests had to shut down. Questions are being asked about the emergency backup which disconnected from the mains power supply when it failed for less than a second - and then failed to start generating.

Home Loans Go Through the Roof

Financial analysts have ben warning for some time that the level of debt being incurred by consumers was reaching unsustainable levels. Personal loan and credit card debts have never been higher but the amount being borrowed on house mortgages has soared even more. With interest rates at their low level for 48 years, it is not just people moving house who have been borrowing larger amounts. More and more people are taking out larger and larger mortgages. In July, lending secured by dwellings in the UK rose by £8.35 billion, the highest monthly figure for ten years. Consumers also owe a total of £51 billion on their credit cards, nearly double the amount recorded at the start of 1998. The Citizens Advice Bureau in Scotland says it is dealing with tens of thousands of new enquiries about debt problems every year. With inflation still under control, the Bank of England left interest rates this month at 3.5%. But the next move on interest rates is expected to be upwards, making the cost of borrowing more expensive. Some analysts have expressed concern that major increases in rates could cause hardship.

£2 Billion Spending Plan - On Water

The publicly-owned Scottish Water organisation, which is responsible for the supply of water and the treatment of sewage across the country, announced this week capital spending projects worth nearly £2 billion over the next three years, to improve the quality of drinking water and reduce flood risk. In addition to major projects such as the Katrine Water Project to upgrade the Milngavie water treatment works (illustrated here), which provides supplies to 700,000 customers in Glasgow, there will be a huge investment in replacing leaking water mains and providing flood prevention measures. Sewage systems in Clyde coastal resorts are also being upgraded so that beaches meet standards laid down by the European Union in Brussels. Government spending on water infrastructure has been at a low level in recent decades and now Scottish Water is having to correct that - and has been increasing the charges to consumers to help to pay for it.

Leading Architects Shortlisted for "Living" Bridge

Six leading architectural firms including Lord Norman Foster (who designed Glasgow's "Armadillo" concert hall) and Richard Rogers have been short-listed to design a new "living" bridge across the river Clyde between the new financial district at Broomielaw and the south bank. The crossing will be decked with bars and restaurants and is based loosely on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. It will carry pedestrians and cyclists, not motor traffic.

Thanks a Billion

Edinburgh may be going through a building bonanza (the ever-increasing cost of the Scottish Parliament helps, of course) but Glasgow is also managing to chalk up a creditable performance - £1.2 billion worth of developments were either completed or under construction in the last year, according to figures published this week. This was a 20% increase over the previous year and with major projects such as Glasgow Harbour in the pipeline, the boom is expected to continue for a number of years. Projects completed in the last year have included the £70 million Radisson Hotel in Argyle Street, Jury's hotel in Jamaica Street and a revamp of the St Enoch Shopping Centre (see illustration).

Scots Buy Shares

According to new research by Barclays Stockbrokers, 43% of Scots have traded shares on the stock market this year - making Scotland the most active area for investors in the UK. In contrast, only 24% of London residents bought or sold shares.

National Park Opens Amid Controversy

Scotland's second national park, which is the largest in Britain, opened this week as the controversy surrounding it rumbled on. Cairngorm National Park covers 14,665 square miles, but critics say that it is it not big enough as it omits significant areas of the Cairngorms which lie in Perthshire. Robin Harper, the Scottish Green Party Member of the Scottish Parliament, underlined this by climbing to the top of 3,300 feet high Carn Liath above Blair Atholl, which is not in the park, to highlight the issue. The national park covers some of Scotland's most stunning scenery from Grantown-on-Spey to the heads of the Angus glens and from Ballater in Aberdeenshire to Dalwhinnie in the west. The government argue that the boundaries enable better management and more efficient use of resources. An extension of the park will not be considered for "at least five years." Critics say that Scottish Natural Heritage recommended the inclusion of Highland Perthshire but the Executive ignored that advice.

Drumlanrig Castle Opens and Shuts

The scene of the largest art theft in Scotland reopened to the public last weekend - and then closed, a week earlier than scheduled. There was an air of locking the stable door after the horse had bolted about the extra security at the Duke of Buccleuch's Drumlanrig Castle, where Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the "Madonna with the Yarnwinder" (estimated to be worth £30-£40 million) had been stolen a few days earlier. Security staff had removed another valuable painting, Rembrandt's "Old Woman Reading" from the wall opposite the blank space where the da Vinci work had once been displayed. Due to the Madonna painting being so well known, it seems unlikely that the thieves will be able to sell the painting and the Buccleuch family are hopeful that the £100,000 reward for its recovery will help to get it back. In the meantime, the building is being subjected to a full review of its security.

Staff Complain About Smoking Ban

Shoppers at Scotland's largest shopping mall have backed a ban on smoking which was introduced this week for the first time. But some staff working at the Braehead Shopping Centre on the edge of Glasgow say that they are angry at being made to use designated areas outside of the centre if they want to light up. They say it will be freezing in winter - although smoking is still permitted in a few of the food outlets in the centre. A spokesman for Braehead said that customers had been surveyed several times and were in full support of the ban. Most customers in the mall were apparently observing the no smoking rule.

Taste of Scotland Turns Sour

The organisation which has promoted Scottish food and restaurants for the last 30 years is said to be on the verge of bankruptcy as a result of running the VisitScotland Food Quality Assurance Scheme. Taste of Scotland won the contract to run the grading scheme two years ago. But a number of restaurants pulled out, objecting to having to pay affiliation fees in order to be entered in the "Best Tastes of Scotland" guide. The Taste of Scotland organisation is highly respected within the industry and its annual guide to restaurants is well regarded.

From Science Fiction to Whisky

Leading Scottish author Iain Banks, well known for his science fiction and traditional novels, is to release his latest book in November. But instead of exploring other worlds and gothic themes, this book will be his first book of non-fiction. "Raw Spirit" is an exploration of the history of whisky and its place in Scotland. Banks lives in North Queensferry, in the shadow of the Forth Rail Bridge, and has travelled to 100 distilleries in the courser of his researches. The work was specially commissioned by the book publishing firm Century. Banks says he thoroughly enjoyed his researches - and put on a stone in weight to prove it.

Scottish Thistle Awards Short List

VisitScotland's has announced the finalists in the Scottish Thistle Awards, its annual tourism "Oscars". Attractions include a fame academy for sheep dogs, a farmers' market and a multi-million pound hotel and golf development. 49 of Scotland's tourism businesses are competing in the final stages in 14 main categories. The awards will be presented at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 24 October.

Buttery Named Cream of Restaurants

Dating from 1856, The Buttery Restaurant is something of a Glasgow institution. But it has struggled in recent years because it is cut off from the heart of the city by the approach roads to the Kingston Bridge and the motorway which curves round the west and north of the centre of Glasgow. In January last year, its owners closed the restaurant saying it was no longer viable. But Ian Fleming, the man behind the award-winning Auchterarder House, bought the Argyle Street premises. He was joined by Willie Deans, a previous winner of the Scottish chef of the year title and who recently was voted British Restaurant Chef of the Year by the Craft guide of Chefs. Their efforts to restore The Buttery's reputation for fine dining in plush but unstuffy surroundings were rewarded this week by being named restaurant of the year in Scotland in the prestigious Automobile Association guide for 2004. The AA's professional inspectors paid five undercover visits to The Buttery before making the award. The AA guide describes more than 1800 restaurants across the UK and awards graded rosettes for quality.

Big Day on Bute

Guests at Stella McCartney's wedding at the gothic mansion of Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute, departed as they had arrived, in a mixture of helicopters, private jets and Caledonian MacBrayne car ferries. Sir Paul McCartney, the brides father, and his wife took a helicopter to their private jet at Prestwick airport. Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie left the island by ferry in a Range Rover with tinted glass, also heading for Prestwick airport. Other celebrity guests included actor Pierce Brosnan, singer Sharleen Spitieri, film star Liv Tyler, model Kate Moss and Chris Martin from the band Coldplay. But nobody was prepared to provide any information about the wedding other than saying "It was wonderful." Stella McCartney designed Madonna's wedding dress but the waiting media were left in the dark about her own wedding outfit.

Clyde Shipyard Recruits Apprentices

The improving situation in Clyde shipyards has resulted in an increase in the number of apprentices beginning their training at BAE Systems. Although the number recruited is only 112, that is four times the level of last year's intake. A further sign of the times was that a number of the apprentice shipyard workers were girls. The Scotstoun and Govan yards have a bulging order book with work starting on six Type 45 destroyers costing £2 billion and the lion's share of work on Britain's largest aircraft carriers. The orders will mean stability in the yards for the next ten years and the company is fighting to win a £1 billion export order which would mean the creation of another 2,200 new jobs.

Shetland to Buy Fish Quota

Shetland Islands Council, which obtains significant income from the companies operating in the North Sea from the sheltered Sullom Voe Oil Terminal, is to spend £10 million purchasing 50% of the white fish quota in Europe's richest fishing grounds near the northern islands. The plan aims at saving the jobs in the white fish industry on the islands from destruction. A quarter of the islands' fishing fleet is already heading for the scrapyard under the government's decommissioning scheme.

Edinburgh Council Facing Legal Action

A dispute between residents of Edinburgh's New Town and the city council leaders is set to escalate with threats of legal action. The upmarket house owners in the World Heritage Site are objecting to plans to locate large wheeled refuse bins in the streets, arguing that they are noisy, smelly, ugly, attract vermin and impact on road safety. The bins have already been located in less affluent areas - despite protests there too. But after a stormy public meeting at which council representatives challenged residents to sue the council if they thought it was acting illegally, lawyers and architects who live in the area drew up plans to do just that. The council has now been forced to rethink its policy.

Swimmers Conquer Corryvreckan Whirlpool

Corryvreckan is a stretch of wild water between the Hebridean islands of Jura and Scarba, where the tidal surge is forced through a narrow channel and meets a steep pyramid shaped rock, creating a ferocious whirlpool. A Norse king was dragged to his death there and the sound of the roaring water can be heard up to ten miles away. But five intrepid endurance swimmers met the challenge it poses - and survived to tell their story. One swimmer from Dundee became the first Scot in 50 years to swim across the treacherous water. Corryvreckan is the sixth largest whirlpool in the world and it is caused in part because of the tidal difference between the channel on the east and the flood tides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Clan Chief Gives Away His Land

Ian Macneil of Barra, whose clan have lived on the island for 1,000 years, has agreed to donate his 9,000 acre crofting estate to the islanders - if they want it. The 46th chief of the Clan McNeil, who is a 74-year-old American law professor, will transfer the property to the Scottish Executive who will manage the land until a community takeover is organised. Giving up the estate will not mean that Mr Macneil will be severing his connection with Barra. Indeed, he claims it will mean he has more time to spend on Barra projects, including securing the long-term security of the island's air service. 11th century Kisimul Castle, on an island offshore from Barra's main town, Castlebay, was restored by Mr Macneil's late father and was handed over to Historic Scotland in 2000.

Photograph courtesy of the Photonet © Web site.

Gold Stays in the Hills

The recent discovery of Scotland's largest gold nugget for 60 years (a 6 gramme pebble worth £500), near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, has led to a minor gold rush in the area. But Perth and Kinross Council has threatened prospectors with police action and warned them to stay away from the beautiful Birks of Aberfeldy. There may be "gold in them thar hills" but that's where the council wants it to stay. They are concerned about environmental damage to the popular tourist attraction and to animal habitats. The Crown owns the mineral rights in the area and has not given permission for panning for gold, which could damage the riverbed.

Weather in Scotland This Week

Although temperatures hovered around only 17/18C (63/64F) in the early part of the week and 20/21C (69/70F) by Thursday/Friday, there was a fair amount of sunshine, especially in the west. Glasgow recorded nearly 65 hours of sunshine between Saturday and Friday. Some rain eventually arrived by Friday night and there were a few showers on Saturday, but not enough to give the dry ground a good soak.

This week's illustrations of current vegetation in Scotland show two very seasonal plants. First of all are the apples which were growing in the gardens of Kellie Castle in Fife. The photo below is not an exotic plant but a cabbage. This ornamental variety was spotted in the National Trust for Scotland's Greenbank Garden, south of Glasgow. Both photos were taken earlier this week.

True Words of Scott

A manuscript of the original draft of Sir Walter Scott's novel "The Talisman" - which has lain in a Russian museum for nearly a century - is highlighting the errors made by his publishers which have been perpetuated ever since. Scott's handwriting was abysmal and he often omitted proper punctuation marks. Printers were often working to tight deadlines and it appears that these factors combined to create thousands of errors. For example, the word "revived" was used instead of "swoon" and "superior" became "Syrian". Scott himself made what appears to be errors too - "vaunted night" should have been "vaunted knight" but the publisher inserted "wight" instead. Experts from Edinburgh University and the National Library of Scotland are now leading the painstaking study of the manuscript in an effort to create the book the way that Scott intended.

Antiques Road Show's £250,000 Find

When the TV programme "Antique's Roadshow" visited Dumfries earlier this year, a visitor brought in 23 drawings and watercolours created by Beatrix Potter, the author of the children's books featuring Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggywinkle. Clive Farahar, the expert in such illustrations, became very excited as they turned out to be the most expensive items he has ever had to value on the show - the collection has been estimated to be worth £250,000. Beatrix Potter spent a lot of time at Birnam in Perthshire and "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" is said to have been written during one of her many visits to Birnam.

007 Heading for Darien?

It is being reported that Sir Sean Connery has voiced an interest in joining an archaeological expedition to the site of the Darien colony in Panama, where Scots attempted to establish a settlement in 1698. The expedition to Caledonia Bay is being organised by the Scientific Exploration Society and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Connery is a patron of both organisations and has pledged support in fundraising. He has also said that if his filming schedule permits, he would like to join an expedition to explore a long-lost graveyard. Around 2,000 Scots died on the ill-fated Darien venture.

Photograph courtesy of the Tunes of Glory Web site.

Only Rich and Famous Need Apply

A Scottish castle is being sold along with its contents, barony title and 261 acres of land, via a Web site. But only the rich and famous need apply. Those interested must first provide their name and details which will be vetted and checked to see if they have the resources to buy the property. Only then do they get access to the site. The lawyers selling Castle Lee say that it is a way of avoiding time wasters but also gaining exposure in the US. But the selling agents are claiming that the building is 700 years old. While the Lanarkshire property may indeed incorporate some of the original castle of the Lockhart family, who owned it for 700 years until the 20th century, it is largely a 19th century mansion.

Too Many Visitors for Skara Brae

Historic Scotland is being forced to examine whether the thousands of visitors exploring the Stone Age settlement of Skara Brae on Orkney are damaging the walls of the ancient dwellings. Parts of the World Heritage site dates back to 3,000BC and it was uncovered in 1824 when a storm swept away some of the sand which had covered it for thousands of years. Skara Brae is visited by over 50,000 tourists each year but the heritage agency may have to consider limiting the numbers in order to preserve the buildings. Visitors currently walk along the top of the walls of the dwellings and there is concern that this could be causing some of the stones underneath to move. Sensors have been installed to measure this. Archaeologists are also concerned that a glass roof, fitted over one of the houses in the 1930s, may be causing damage because of heat build up inside damaging the masonry. Being beside the sea, salt crystals may also be contributing to damage to the site. There are ten stone houses at Skara Brae, connected by a maze of covered stone passages. Inside, there is stone furniture including cupboards, beds and seats.

This Week in History

• September 7 1842 - Queen Victoria's first visit to Edinburgh.
• September 9 1513 - James IV and the flower of Scotland's nobility were killed in battle at Flodden Field, near Branxton, in the English county of Northumberland.
• September 9 1543 - Mary Queen of Scots crowned at Stirling Castle.
• September 9 1935 - Benny Lynch won the World Flyweight boxing title, defeating Jackie Brown in 2 rounds.
• September 9 1963 - Jim Clark became the world's youngest F1 motor racing champion.
• September 9 1978 - Poet and Nationalist C M Grieve (Hugh MacDiarmid) died.
• September 10 1547 - English defeated Scots at Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, near Edinburgh. It is estimated that 15,000 Scots were killed, 1500 captured and English losses amounted to only 500.
• September 10 1771 - Birth of Mungo Park at Foulshiels, near Selkirk. He became an explorer and doctor who charted the course of the River Niger.
• September 10 1897 - HRH Duke of York opened the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.
• September 11 1297 - Battle of Stirling Bridge, Wallace (as famously portrayed by Mel Gibson in "Braveheart") defeats Edward I.
• September 11 1700 - James Thomson, Scots author of "Rule Britannia", born.
• September 11 1997 - Referendum on Devolution which approved the creation of a new Scottish Parliament by a substantial majority.
• September 12 1715 - Jacobites defeated government forces at Battle of Sheriffmuir.
• September 12 1315 - Thomas Dun, a privateer from Scotland, sailed into Holyhead, captured an English ship and over-ran Anglesay.
• September 13 1644 - Battle of Aberdeen, in which the Marquis of Montrose captured the city.
• September 13 1645 - Royalist troops under Marquis of Montrose defeated by Covenanters led by David Leslie at Battle of Philiphaugh.
• September 13 1913 - Sir Robert Lorimer, architect and exponent of the Scottish Vernacular Revival, died.
• September 13 1938 - John Smith, politician and leader of the Labour Party, born.

Fireworks Bring Festival to an End

This year's Edinburgh International Festival was brought to a fitting end by a spectacular fireworks display with the castle on the top of its volcanic rock as the backdrop. 150,000 people crowded into the capital to see the display which marked the conclusion of the most successful festival to date.

Rolling Stones Plant Some Trees

It was not a case of a rolling stone gathering no moss last Monday as the Rolling Stones rock band began the Scottish leg of their European tour. They have struck a deal with two telecommunications companies to fund two new forests in Skye and in Easter Ross - to offset the carbon dioxide emitted by the band and their fans travelling to the venues. Over the nine days of the tour, the carbon dioxide emitted has been calculated to require the planting of 2,800 trees. But maybe the number of trees should be reduced a bit - the canny Scottish fans have objected to ticket prices ranging up to £150 and the gig at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre may have failed to sell all the tickets. The Stones last played in Glasgow in 1990, at Hampden Park, with an audience of 40,000.

Time for T in England?

The annual T in the Park music festival at Balado near Kinross has become a Scottish institution. Now the sponsors, brewing giant Tennents, is considering taking it to the North-east of England. The Scottish event would continue but the format would be taken to a part of the country where the company wants to expand the market for its lager. Tennents has around 50% of the lager market in Scotland but is facing increasing competition from rival Carling - who now sponsor the team shirts for both Celtic and Rangers. US brewer Coors brought Carling lager to Scotland for the first time last year.

Glasgow Highland Games?

Scotland's biggest city is looking at the possibility of hosting an international Highland Games, held at the same time as the World Pipe Band Championships which are held every August on Glasgow Green. Towns all over Scotland - and other parts of the world - host annual Highland Games but Glasgow has no history of such events. Glasgow's namesake town in Kentucky (with a population of 20,000) staged the biggest Highland games in the US in 2001 and former Glasgow Lord Provost Alex Mosson was impressed by what he saw when he attended.

New Dundee Festival

Plans have been unveiled for a major new festival next summer in Dundee. "Discovery Week 2004" will include a half-marathon run through the streets of the city, a boat race between the road and rail bridges in old-fashioned whaling boats and a new business award to recognise those who have made a contribution to their company or to the city. And there will be a city-wide pub quiz to discover Dundee's top quiz team and a golf competition.

Sunday Football Results

Dundee United 1 Rangers 3
Hearts 1 Dunfermline 0
Kilmarnock 1 Dundee 1

CIS Cup, First Round

Arbroath 1 Raith Rovers 0
Ayr United 1 Dumbarton 2
Cowdenbeath 3 Alloa 0
East Fife 0 Airdrie United 2
East Stirlingshire 1 Ross County 2
Elgin City 0 Brechin City 4
Forfar Athletic 1 Berwick Rangers 0
Gretna 1 Peterhead 2
Hamilton Academical 3 Albion Rovers 2
Inverness 1 Queen's Park 2
Montrose 2 Stirling Albion 0
St Mirren 0 St Johnstone 2 (after extra time)
Stenhousemuir 1 Queen of the South 2

League Tables

With no senior football this Saturday as a result of the international match against Faroe Islands (see below), the only movement on the League Table since last Saturday came from last Sunday's games. Rangers returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League, two points ahead of Celtic with Hearts in third place.

Scotland 3 Faroe Islands 1

Although the result was another three points in the Euro 2004 group qualifying matches, Scotland's football team gave an unconvincing performance. They got off to a good start with a goal by Neil McCann after 8 minutes but the Faroe Islands equalised after 36 minutes. Then, just before half time, Paul Dickov put the Scots in the lead again. A goal by James McFadden in the second half sealed the victory. These were the first international goals for both Dickov and McFadden. Scotland face stiffer opposition next Wednesday when they play Germany.

Scotland 10 Ireland 29

Scotland's rugby team was well beaten by Ireland in their last warm-up game before they start on their Rugby World Cup campaign. The outlook is not good!

Scotland's Best Football Player

To mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of UEFA, the governing body of European football, the organisation has selected the best players from each country. For Scotland, the impressive collection, compiled with the assistance of the Scottish Football Association, includes (of course) Billy Bremner, Jim Baxter, Jimmy Johnstone, Dave Mackay and Kenny Dalglish. But UEFA have put Denis Law at the top of the list. It could not come at a better time for Law as his new autobiography is to be published in the first week of October - with the title "The King". He claims that it was the publisher who selected the title - though modesty was never one of Denis Law's weaknesses. Law was European Footballer of the Year 39 years ago. He came from the era when Scotland had some players to be proud of - Law himself scored four goals for Scotland in one game against Norway; two weeks ago the entire Scotland team could not get the ball in the net once against the same country.

Blues Still in the Red

Rangers football club announced their financial results for 2003 this week and although they were among the worst in Britain, the club chairman was upbeat about reducing the previous year's losses from £35.3 million (a UK record) to "only" £29.6 million. Net debt soared to £68 million with a tripling of the club's overdraft with the Bank of Scotland (bankers to most of the Scottish Premier League clubs - other banks have shied away from the sector). In the last five years, Rangers have lost £132.4 million. The club's wage bill is now falling as big earners depart. And surviving to the Group stage of the European Champions League will be worth a minimum of £6.5 million.

Fans Get Shirty

The Scottish Football Association was accused of rip-off prices when the new Scotland football shirt went on sale this week. The new strip (returning to the more familiar dark blue but with white flashes) was worn by the Scotland team on Saturday in the match against the Faroe Islands. But fans who had ordered the strip direct from the SFA, at a price of £35 for adults and £25 for kids, were furious to find sports shops across Scotland undercutting the SFA by as much as £10. They also complained that the material was thin and that without the Scotland badge, a shirt of that quality would cost only £10.

Celtic Fans Get European "Fair Play" Award

You don't really expect football administrators to use a lot of imagination, but UEFA, the European football governing body, has decide to bestow the annual "Fair Play" award not on a club but on the army of Celtic fans who took over Seville for the UEFA Cup Final in May. It is estimated that 70,000 fans turned up for a gigantic street party which continued in good spirits even when Celtic were beaten by their opponents Porto. The Celtic fans have developed a reputation of policing themselves so that if anyone steps out of line there are others who will move in, forcibly if necessary, to control them.

Thousands Queue for Champions League Tickets

3,000 fans had already formed a queue on Tuesday when the ticket office at Ibrox opened at 8.45am for the sale of tickets for Rangers matches in the European Champions League. The most eagerly sought tickets were for the clash against English champions Manchester United. Season ticket holders, however, were angry that they had not been given priority before the tickets went on general sale. And anybody who wanted tickets had to send a blank cheque to the club - before Rangers had even qualified.

Motherwell Sell Prize Asset

James McFadden, the 20-year-old Scotland international striker has been sold by Motherwell to English club Everton in a deal thought to be worth £1.5 million. Motherwell has been in the hands of administrators for the last 16 months and had previously rejected offers from Preston North End and Dundee and a bizarre offer of a year-long loan to Celtic. McFadden scored 32 goals in 58 appearances for Motherwell.