When a player leaves Motherwell the club may make a profit on the deal. If the player is sold for more than their book value it is a profit, for less a loss.

Motherwell have used the sale of players as a means of keeping the club going. The net income from the sale of players over the last 8 years is roughly the same as two years worth of gate receipts. The club could probably not have survived without the sales of McCulloch, McFadden, McMillan, Pearson and McDonald. Scott McDonald's transfer fee makes up the bulk of the 2008 figure.

Both Aberdeen and Hibs in particular have a stated policy of nurturing younger players and where necessary trading them at a profit, they are both benefiting from this policy.

The graphs below show ins and outs and the net figures: