Ex-Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell has been installed as interim boss until a permanent successor is appointed.

Motherwell currently sit 11th in the Scottish Premiership, with only goal difference keeping them above bottom club Dundee United.

Ex-Dundee boss McPake has Dunfermline seven points clear at the top of Scotland's third tier, while Hughes steered Ross County to Premiership survival in 2020-21, although his last management job ended in Championship relegation with the Pars last summer.

The Fir Park side are also on the search for a new chief executive, with Alan Burrows due to join Aberdeen later this month.

'Players responsible for Hammell's sacking'

Meanwhile, club captain Liam Kelly says the Motherwell squad "feel the responsibility" of Hammell's sacking.

The club are on a wretched run of form, with just one win from 14 games, and welcome sixth-placed St Mirren on Wednesday.

"Loads of us haven't been playing well enough," goalkeeper Kelly said. "We let [Hammell] down with individual performances. We don't want to let the club down any more.

"The consequence of the manager leaving is horrible. The reality is here, it's well and truly kicked in. We need everyone pulling together."

In the aftermath of the cup defeat, Kelly spoke emotionally at Stark's Park and a "really difficult few days" have followed. But the former Rangers and Livingston keeper says the players must now do their talking on the pitch.

The midweek visit of St Mirren presents Motherwell the chance of ending an 11-game winless league run, with their last Premiership victory coming at Dundee United in October last year.

"Come Wednesday night St Mirren aren't going to feel sorry for us," Kelly added. "So we need to be ready to go again because there are still plenty of games left to try to remain in the league.

"We can train and talk well, but people just want us to perform on the pitch now. This might be our most important three points of the season."