Latest news with #KeithLasley
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
There's no easy money left in football. Clubs must think differently
Every part of the club, from first team to finance, has to deliver. And in a climate where National Insurance changes, Living Wage increases and energy costs can wipe six figures off a balance sheet overnight, it's more urgent than ever. We talk a lot in football about resilience, and not just on the pitch. It's built on hard choices, deliberate strategy, and a willingness to interrogate every part of the organisation – even the ones that don't usually make the headlines. That's what led us to re-examine something most clubs never mention publicly: payroll. Earlier this year, we made the decision to outsource our payroll to SOLVD., a Glasgow-based support services company with a track record in managing large-scale operations. This move was designed to remove operational risk, reinforce trust across our staff, and free up our internal team to focus where they're most valuable – all without cutting jobs. This wasn't a cost-cutting exercise. It was a value exercise to provide extra security. The difference matters. It's tempting, and common, when facing financial pressure to slash and retreat. But short-term cuts often become long-term weaknesses. Our strategy is different: be forensic. Identify the functions that underpin the club and strengthen them. That includes back-office operations. If they fail, everyone feels it. That thinking isn't unique to us. Any time a club starts to cut costs, it is criticised. And sometimes that's justified, but the broader point stands: the era of waste and inertia in football is closing. Clubs, big and small, must operate with intent. At St Mirren, we have no choice but to create our own future. We don't have a billionaire benefactor. We generate our own income. We reinvest locally. And every decision we make – from a player signing to a payroll partnership – has to support our strategy. That strategy is built on three pillars: people, Paisley and performance. If it doesn't strengthen our community, support our staff, or improve how we operate, we question it. The SOLVD. move ticked all three. It's local. It de-risks a key financial function. And it signals to everyone in the club – from the changing room to the back office — that we're serious about running things professionally. We're not alone. Clubs across the country are facing the same economic headwinds. Some are hoping for a windfall. Some are waiting for the cycle to turn. But those that thrive will be the ones that get out ahead of it by treating operations with the same intensity they treat football. For us, professionalism is a form of care. It's about protecting people. Paying them properly. Giving them confidence that the club is built to last, without a single point of failure. Football's not just changing. It's maturing. Sustainability, risk, security, and trust are the new metrics. They may not draw chants from the stands. But they'll determine whether clubs like ours can still be here, competing long into the future. Keith Lasley is COO of St Mirren Football Club Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Park heads up St Mirren recruitment as Foyle departs
St Mirren have appointed John Park as head of recruitment and emerging talent after Martin Foyle left to join Carlisle was most recently head of recruitment at Blackburn Rovers and has also worked for clubs including Celtic, Rangers, Birmingham City, Maccabi Haifa and Vancouver Mirren CEO Keith Lasley said: "We are sorry to see Martin moving on and wish him the best of luck in his new challenge."His contributions have been key in the club's progression over the past few seasons and we thank him for all his efforts."We have, however, moved quickly to bring John to the club and we are excited to welcome him to St Mirren."John's experiences across the world, significantly in player trading and youth development, make him the ideal person to build upon the relative success at the club over the past few years in line with our club strategy."Manager Stephen Robinson says the exit of "close friend" Foyle is a "sad loss for the club".He added: "Martin has been an integral part of what we've done over the past three-and-a-half years and he's been an integral part of what I've done as a manager over 10 years now."The club have appointed John and it's important that we get working together quickly, build a relationship and I look forward to that."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St Mirren strategic move will make club 'robust, compliant and secure'
St Mirren FC has outsourced its payroll operations to Glasgow-based business support specialist SOLVD. in a strategic move designed to modernise its infrastructure, reduce operational risk and build long-term resilience across the club. The partnership comes as clubs across Scottish football face escalating financial pressures – with rising national insurance, minimum wage rates and energy costs adding significant strain to already tight budgets. For St Mirren, which operates under a community-ownership model, the decision reflects a wider shift in mindset: treating back-office functions with the same strategic importance as on-field performance. Keith Lasley, the club's Chief Operating Officer, said: 'In today's football economy, every part of the club has to deliver. We've got no luxury of inefficiency – not with the cost base clubs are facing today. St Mirren's Chief Operating Officer, Keith Lasley, Valerie Mitchell, Managing Director at SOLVD. and club captain, Mark O'Hara (Image: The Picture Agency) 'This allows us to focus our internal energy where it matters most. SOLVD. gives us confidence that payroll – a function that affects every player and staff member – is robust, compliant and secure. 'It's a major step forward for our team, ensuring there's no longer a single point of failure and giving us real confidence that things are being taken care of in the payroll front. It's a major step forward.' SOLVD. provides end-to-end business support services — including payroll, finance, HR, customer experience and reporting — to major employers across the UK. It was originally created as the in-house shared services team for transport giant Abellio, and has since evolved into a stand-alone company headquartered in Glasgow with a 150-strong workforce. Read more: The firm has processed over 300,000 payroll transactions annually with over 99% accuracy, and is a recipient of the Investors in People Platinum award. Its expansion into sport and education reflects growing demand from high-trust, high-pressure sectors seeking reliable back-office solutions. Valerie Mitchell, Managing Director at SOLVD., said: 'Clubs like St Mirren are taking bold, smart steps to modernise. They're recognising that operational systems – from payroll to reporting – are critical to how a club runs, how it protects its people, and how it stays resilient. Valerie Mitchell, Managing Director at SOLVD. and St Mirren's Chief Operating Officer, Keith Lasley (Image: The Picture Agency)'We're proud to support a club that shares our values and ambition. This partnership shows what's possible when operational rigour meets strategic leadership. 'And for us, it's another example of the role Scottish expertise can play in supporting complex, national-scale systems — whether that's in sport, transport, or beyond.' The club confirmed that no job losses are involved in the move. Instead, the goal is to eliminate 'single points of failure,' reduce internal pressure on lean teams, and futureproof a core function.
The Herald Scotland
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
St Mirren strikes payroll deal with business support specialist SOLVD.
For St Mirren, which operates under a community-ownership model, the decision reflects a wider shift in mindset: treating back-office functions with the same strategic importance as on-field performance. Keith Lasley, the club's Chief Operating Officer, said: 'In today's football economy, every part of the club has to deliver. We've got no luxury of inefficiency – not with the cost base clubs are facing today. St Mirren's Chief Operating Officer, Keith Lasley, Valerie Mitchell, Managing Director at SOLVD. and club captain, Mark O'Hara (Image: The Picture Agency) 'This allows us to focus our internal energy where it matters most. SOLVD. gives us confidence that payroll – a function that affects every player and staff member – is robust, compliant and secure. 'It's a major step forward for our team, ensuring there's no longer a single point of failure and giving us real confidence that things are being taken care of in the payroll front. It's a major step forward.' SOLVD. provides end-to-end business support services — including payroll, finance, HR, customer experience and reporting — to major employers across the UK. It was originally created as the in-house shared services team for transport giant Abellio, and has since evolved into a stand-alone company headquartered in Glasgow with a 150-strong workforce. Read more: The firm has processed over 300,000 payroll transactions annually with over 99% accuracy, and is a recipient of the Investors in People Platinum award. Its expansion into sport and education reflects growing demand from high-trust, high-pressure sectors seeking reliable back-office solutions. Valerie Mitchell, Managing Director at SOLVD., said: 'Clubs like St Mirren are taking bold, smart steps to modernise. They're recognising that operational systems – from payroll to reporting – are critical to how a club runs, how it protects its people, and how it stays resilient. Valerie Mitchell, Managing Director at SOLVD. and St Mirren's Chief Operating Officer, Keith Lasley (Image: The Picture Agency)'We're proud to support a club that shares our values and ambition. This partnership shows what's possible when operational rigour meets strategic leadership. 'And for us, it's another example of the role Scottish expertise can play in supporting complex, national-scale systems — whether that's in sport, transport, or beyond.' The club confirmed that no job losses are involved in the move. Instead, the goal is to eliminate 'single points of failure,' reduce internal pressure on lean teams, and futureproof a core function.
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lasley on swift action to cut trio loose
St Mirren chief executive Keith Lasley says being an ex-player helped when it came to sacking Adam Rooney, Kevin van Veen and Jaden Brown earlier this season, explaining that he had to consider the whole dressing room. (Daily Record), externalRead the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.
