Wimmer says son's face 'was beaming with joy' after Well exit

Michael Wimmer says his son's face "was beaming with joy" when he decided to leave Motherwell and return to as Jahn Regensburg head coach having made family "my top priority".

The 44-year-old shocked the Scottish Premiership club by exiting after only 12 games in charge.

Motherwell "very reluctantly negotiated a compensation package" with the German club after Wimmer cited "major family issues" for his desire to leave.

Wimmer expressed himself "thrilled" and "excited" to the club relegated to 's third tier on a contract until 2027.

"My family is, of course, very happy too," he told his new club's website. "Things have now developed to the point where I would like to return to .

"The fact that it has now become so close to home is, of course, fantastic. When it was finally finalised on Friday, my son was beaming with joy – the look on his face is incomparable.

"That convinced me once again that it was the perfect decision."

Wimmer had taken over at Fir Park from Stuart Kettlewell, who has this week been named Kilmarnock manager, and steered Motherwell clear of relegation.

"I had a fantastic time in Scotland, sportingly speaking," he said. "With four games to go, we retained the league place and were able to beat Glasgow Rangers at the famous Ibrox Stadium.

"Besides sport, family is also a part of my life. They are my top priority."

Jahn sports director Achim Beierlorzer revealed that he knew Wimmer before he "reconnected" with him after the club decided they needed "a fresh start" under a new head coach.

He said it was "an additional positive" that Wimmer was from the Eastern Bavarian region and therefore knew the club well.

Wimmer was speaking as Motherwell announced the g of Austrian midfielder Lukas Fadinger after the 24-year-old left Rheindorf Altach in his country's top flight.

Fadinger, who has signed a two-year contract, told the Premiership club's website that negotiations had been ongoing "for a couple of months".

Having started his career with Sturm Graz, he had a spell with Lafnitz in the second tier before returning to the top flight with Hartberg then two seasons with Rheindorf.

Fadinger made 61 appearances overall - 26 last season, 13 of them starts, as they narrowly avoided relegation having finished bottom at the end of the regular season before overtaking Austria Klagenfurt after the league split.