'I would have signed': Raith Rovers gaffer Dougie Imrie looks back on almost joining Motherwell before club legend was signed instead
As one of Hamilton Accies’ best and most influential players of the last 20 years, Dougie Imrie was once a man Motherwell fans loved to hate, but the current Raith Rovers manager says he almost joined the Fir Park club at the peak of his playing powers.
Back in February 2013 under gaffer Stuart McCall, the Steelmen looked set to sign Imrie – then a 29-year-old playing for Greenock Morton – but these plans were ditched when ex-Scotland international James McFadden, one of the Steelmen’s greatest ever players, became available on a free transfer and was snapped up instead after leaving Sunderland.
Imrie, who had been a regular target for the Fir Park boo boys due to his ability and no nonsense style in Lanarkshire derbies, told the Fife Free Press: “I think I was at Morton at the time and I nearly signed for Motherwell. Then obviously their local hero (McFadden) popped up as available, and it was between me and James to sign. So it could have been a lot different.
"Obviously there's history there between myself and Motherwell fans, but it's football. I just wanted to win, they wanted to see their team win. I was a thorn in their side.
"But if I'd got the opportunity, would I have signed? Of course. I don't have any aggro against Motherwell, they're a decent team, I stay close to Motherwell.
"But when you play for the other side, the derbies, they want somebody to hate and unfortunately for me, I was that guy. You've got to just take it in the chin and move on at times, unless it crosses a line of course.
"Those games spurred me on, these are the games you want to play. I was no different. I just wanted to win for my team. Played 110%, gave my all. I loved a tackle, loved a goal.
"So if I'd got the opportunity, of course I'd have signed. You take that as a compliment in some ways, if the opposition fans are targeting you, because obviously you're doing something that they've noticed.
"When you're getting targeted, you're obviously doing something well. So people used to think it bothered me, but it actually went the other way for me, because I used that as fuel to be successful and do well for my team.
"So it never ever fazed me getting a bit of abuse from the stands. If anything, it made me want to do better.”
All rivalries between Imrie and Motherwell were put aside in August 2025 when ’Well fans unfurled a banner reading ‘Stay Strong Dougie Rest In Peace Remi’, before their Scottish Premiership match against Hearts at Tynecastle.
This thoughtful gesture came after Imrie and his partner Lauren had endured tragedy when their newborn daughter Remi died aged 20 days having been born 14 weeks premature due to a placental issue, weighing 1 lb 4 oz.
Imrie said: “I was blown away by that, because it's not something you expect when you've been in the firing line for 15 years.
"But I think it comes down to a human aspect. Everybody's seen the hurt and pain that we're going through, myself and Lauren, but I'll never forget that from the Motherwell fans. I thought it was a really nice touch from them.”
Imrie and Raith Rovers – second in the William Hill Championship with 25 points from 14 matches – continue their league campaign in a 3pm kick-off at Ayr United tomorrow (Saturday).