Stephen O'Donnell pleaded patience from the Motherwell fans as his side gets to grip with the way new manager Michael Wimmer wants to play.

The German boss has been vocal on his intent to play intense, attacking football - quite a change from the style under previous gaffer Stuart Kettlewell.

"When the manager leaves, it's really disappointing and especially when you've been in the team, you've been a big part of his spell, it hurts," O'Donnell reflected on Kettlewell's exit.

"But that's also part of football, we go on. It was sad that he left but there's obviously a new fresh slate and all I'd ask is that the fans give the team that the gaffer picks a bit of time to hopefully start to see improvement.

"I hope it comes on Saturday against Dundee United but Rome wasn't built in a day and hopefully there'll be improvements."

However, the Motherwell vice-captain was confident about how quickly he and his teammates have gotten to grips with Wimmer's plans.

"All we can do, as players, is ask for clarity - and that's what was disappointing, I thought we had that before, I have been at clubs and we've not had that.

"The gaffer has come in and he looks like he's going to be very clear on what he expects from us. You get the impression that if it isn't delivered then you won't play and that's how it should work. That's how it will hopefully be, and you just hope that you're in the team whenever the team's picked."

Despite the difference in perceived playing styles, O'Donnell assured fans that it hasn't been night and day from the previous regime.

"It doesn't look like he's ripping up everything, so that's always a good start.

"We've obviously got a lot of bodies in the building, which again is a positive for him he can start to cipher through where he thinks people are best suited.

"That will take time but I certainly see what he's looking to do, things that we maybe have come away from as a team, and hopefully the manager coming in reinvents that and starts to spring it back to life."