- Andy Halliday marginalised at Motherwell, with just two minutes of Premiership action this season.
- Praise from manager Jens Bethal Askou contrasts sharply with lack of playing time and expiring contract.
- Options include Livingston, East Kilbride or full-time move into football media.
The situation of Andy Halliday at Motherwell feels increasingly like a player standing at the edge of two careers at once.
One still on the pitch, the other already well underway within Scottish football media.
The 34-year-old former Rangers midfielder was present on the bench as Motherwell stunned Rangers 3-2 at Ibrox on Sunday, despite not being named in the matchday squad.
It was a result sealed by Emmanuel Longelo’s stoppage-time winner after a chaotic second half.
Motherwell had led 2-0 at the break before Danny Rohl reshaped his side with three changes, sparking a response that saw Youssef Chermiti level the match with a double, only for Rangers to collapse late on.
Andy Halliday role reduced
Under Jens Berthel Askou, he has made just two Premiership appearances this campaign, totalling only two minutes of action, with his contract set to expire in the summer.
Yet Askou has been clear about his value away from the pitch.
Speaking on the Open Goal podcast with Si Ferry, the Motherwell manager was effusive in his praise.
“He’s been brilliant,” revealed the Dane.
“The first thing I did when I arrived was I had a little meeting with some of the older players, him included, who have either been captain or been around the captaincy.
“I told them that they’re going to be extremely important in this process.”
Askou was also honest about the changing dynamic within the squad.
“I can’t guarantee all of them that they’re going to play all the time, because eventually a younger version of them is going to come on and take their place,” he admitted.
“But I expect it from them and hope that they would make it extremely difficult for these new players to take their position.”
And on Halliday specifically he mentioned his injury issues.
“They have been absolutely excellent and so has Andy,” he said.
“He’s been unlucky that he struggled with a few things here and there this season, which is also one of the reasons that he hasn’t played more.
“But he’s been absolutely fantastic.”
Andy Halliday on Danny Rohl’s Motherwell mistakes
Halliday, meanwhile, continues to show his value in punditry rather than action.
Reflecting on Motherwell’s win over Rangers in his Open Goal role, he was sharply critical of his former club’s tactical approach.
“100%, [Rangers] tried to go man for man,” he said.
“Everything the manager [Askou] worked on that week just worked to perfection.
“A top footballing team just can’t play 4-4-2, you can’t give a team like Motherwell 4 v 2 in the middle of the pitch.
“You will never get near the ball.
“For me, that was on [Rohl] at the weekend.
“You cannot wait to half-time to change what you were watching, he’s very lucky it didn’t end up four or five going into half-time.”
That dual identity, current player and emerging pundit, now defines Halliday’s position more than his limited minutes at Motherwell.
His Rangers legacy remains significant: 152 appearances, 18 goals, a Championship title, a Challenge Cup, and a key role in the club’s return to European group stage action.
Now, with his Motherwell contract expiring and opportunities narrowing on the pitch, three paths are emerging.
Livingston: The familiar route
A move to Livingston offers a straightforward continuation of his playing career.
The club are set for a season outside the Premiership amid impending relegation, and Halliday’s experience would fit a dressing room likely to be reshaped.
There is also precedent for a hybrid role.
Scott Arfield’s recent move has shown that players can combine full-time football with media work at the Lions.
This is something that may appeal to Halliday given his growing broadcasting portfolio.
With former Rangers teammates such as Danny Wilson and Barrie McKay also at the club, the environment would feel familiar.
East Kilbride: ambition and flexibility
A more unconventional option is East Kilbride, who are on course to win League Two after a 1-0 win over Dumbarton left them three points clear heading into the final game.
His Open Goal cohorts Ferry and Scott Allan are currently coaches with the South Lanarkshire club.
They have shown willingness to spend money to move up the league system and are set for back-to-back league titles.
However, his age may be a stumbling block for this move.
Manager Mick Kennedy has spoken about the profile of his squad previously on his social media page.
“I don’t think people realise we have a very young group of players, with an average age of the squad around 22/23,” he explained.
“They’ve shown great quality and character [this season].
That youth focus may still leave room for experience, particularly as the club prepare for a step up.
For Halliday, the appeal is clear to combine part-time football with media work, and a reduced physical demand at a lower level while remaining involved in the game.
Retirement: the media pathway
The third option is increasingly realistic, stepping away from playing entirely.
Halliday has become a regular voice in Scottish football media, and his punditry has drawn attention for its clarity and directness.
With only two minutes of Premiership football this season, the balance is already tilting away from playing.
At 34, after a career that has taken him through Rangers’ rebuild years and back into top-flight relevance, the transition into full-time media would be a natural evolution.
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Halliday’s influence at Rangers remains part of his identity, but his present reality lies elsewhere.
He is on the fringes at Motherwell, and increasingly central in the reviewing of the game itself.
Whether he continues to play or sails off into the media sunset in May, his affinity for Rangers will always be clear and well respected by those who share his love for the Ibrox club.
