Premiership CEO senses sea change within Scottish football as clubs jump on growing trend

The Buddies have impressed under head coach Craig McLeish, who was hired permanently in the summer, after an interim tenure last campaign. He has opted for an attacking style with possession an objective and St Mirren are one of the several clubs now adopting such methods. Scotland has long been known for its physicality and frenetic nature but top flight sides are beginning to evolve.

Jens Berthel Askou’s success at Motherwell, clinching Europe and a fourth placed finish last season, turned heads across the division. They have since replaced him with Alfred Johansson and Hibs have hired Marink Reedijk to take over from previous manager David Gray. Hearts are growing under Wouter Vrancken and John McGlynn’s Falkirk also look to play on the front foot. Lasley insists entertainment value for fans is paramount when it comes to the on-field product.

Keith Lasley on style of play at St Mirren

He said: "No matter what country, I think it is probably a more modern way, if you like. I think there's still elements of football's football. There's some core elements that will remain in football in terms of principles, key principles. But I think it's right to say there probably is a growing trend of more possession-based play than there was, for instance, when I played , maybe for my benefit to be honest with you!

“I think it's for clubs like ourselves, and Motherwell particularly, we want to develop players, and it's a good way to do that from a framework that you can have a lot of the ball and play and test your players. From that point of view, being a club that wants to develop and sell on and things like that, I think it's conducive to that.

“So, yeah, I think it's hopefully a sign of more of that to come, because at the end of the day, we all want to entertain our fans as well, and I think that's a really important point to make. We had a lot of change in the summer, a lot of new players coming in, obviously a new manager, some new ideas, and embedding a lot of new players into that new system.

Jon Obika on work at St Mirren

“I think all the clubs could probably point to some games that they feel they could have got more from. But I think the level of, again back to that at the start of the season, I think there's a lot of things we would have signed up for, in terms of the way it's looked. So, a long way to go, still very, very early. Onwards and upwards."

Jon Obika has been a first team coach at Motherwell under Askou and now Johansson, who has continued the possession-based approach his predecessor implemented. The former St Mirren and Fir Park striker says bravery is key to such strategies proving successful.

Obika explained: “It's fluid football, progressive, obviously possession, and whatnot. Obviously, from last season, doing well. This season, starting well and hitting a bump, but the players all understand the type of system we want to play in. I think that's the most important thing, getting players up to speed. You learn different systems of play, different beliefs, sometimes the bravery for the players to get on the ball and to make things happen, progressing us up the pitch. So, for me, it's been brilliant. Knowing which systems marry up with each other. It's been fantastic."