Motherwell have “very reluctantly” allowed Michael Wimmer to leave the club and return to Germany for family reasons after three months in charge at Fir Park.
Wimmer has been confirmed as manager of SSV Jahn Regensburg after the Steelmen accepted a compensation offer from the German third-tier club.
Motherwell made major attempts to help Wimmer’s family deal with being apart from the 44-year-old but another personal issue arose as the season came to a close which meant he felt he had to move home.
A club statement revealed Wimmer had reached out to chairman Kyrk Macmillan and chief executive Brian Caldwell to explain he would like to stay in Germany after returning home this week.
A statement added: “Wimmer explained the reasons for wishing to accept the new role were predominantly due to major family issues that have recently arisen in Germany.
We can confirm that Michael Wimmer has departed the club to become manager of German side SSV Jahn Regensburg.https://t.co/GTMG5hSgab pic.twitter.com/WX5fgQLHR7
— Motherwell FC (@MotherwellFC) May 23, 2025
“Following extensive conversations with Michael, the club very reluctantly negotiated a compensation package with SSV Jahn Regensburg.”
The former Austria Vienna manager said in a statement: “I want to thank the board and all the staff at the club for the way they welcomed me to Scotland and also supported me so much from when I arrived in February.
“They have done everything to support me and my family during my time here.
“This has been an ongoing, extremely difficult position that I have found myself in, and the club have done all they could to support me during these challenging times, both whilst I was in post and while I have been back in Germany.
“I am sorry to all the Motherwell fans; the support you have shown me has been outstanding, and I have loved learning about this wonderful club.
“This decision was an extremely hard one for me to make. However, I have decided to move back home, as I need to put my family first and be with them, and I want to thank the board for the understanding shown through these challenging times.
“I hope the club can continue to progress next season. I really enjoyed the time I spent in Scotland.
“There are great people at the club who are ambitious and want the best for the club going forward. I only wish everyone at Motherwell FC the very best for the future.”
Motherwell wished Wimmer and his family all the best and added that they would start the process of recruiting a new manager with immediate effect.
Wimmer ended his short spell in charge unbeaten at Fir Park and with victory over Rangers at Ibrox to remember.
He had the team pushing for the top six in the William Hill Premiership until the final moments before the split and they ran Hearts close for seventh place before finishing eighth.
He won five of his 12 games in charge after succeeding Stuart Kettlewell, who stepped down in late January.
