I lapped up St Mirren celebrations after two seasons in one and SACKING three players

Keith Lasley joined the party after a quiet moment savouring St Mirren securing a third consecutive top six finish

Everywhere else in the ground, it was chaotic. Inside, St Mirren ’s players and coaching staff celebrated wildly. The music was blaring and beers were flowing.

Outside, fans stayed for as long as they could, chanting for another glimpse of their top-six heroes. But deep in the bowels of the SMISA Stadium, Keith Lasley sat quietly in his office just taking it all in.

With his family beside him, he took a moment to soak it all up. And reflect on what he and the Paisley club had accomplished by finishing in the Premiership’s top half for the third year in a row.

Later on, he partied like the rest of them. Anyone familiar with Lasley will know he wasn’t going to let that chance pass him by.

But after a remarkable campaign that involved European football and having to sack THREE first-team players, it was important that after the 3-2 win over Ross County he took a deep breath and evaluated the achievement.

When asked how the CEO celebrates something like that, Lasley told MailSport : “The CEO has a lie down in a dark room, that’s what the CEO does.

“In all seriousness, when we scored that third goal the feeling in the stadium, to do it on our own terms – it was something else.

“And seeing the stadium full and jumping like that is what gives me satisfaction.

“When you’ve worked hard at something, you do it for moments like that at the end. Did I join in with the celebrations? Oh aye, I joined in. I like to join in.

“But then there was a lull. In the moment you obviously celebrate like mad. Probably for an hour you go to see the manager, the staff, the board – everyone connected to the club.

“But then there’s a moment where you just sit in your office chair – and I had my family with me – where for 20 minutes you just reflect on what you’ve done.

“After that, don’t get me wrong, we enjoyed ourselves. The football staff and the operational staff.

“And that’s the big thing at our club, everyone’s together. That’s why it matters so much.”

Lasley had his three-year anniversary as St Mirren’s CEO last week. After playing and coaching, he completed a Masters degree to set him up for an altogether different career within the game.

But no university course could prepare him for what he had to deal with in Paisley this season. In the space of a MONTH he effectively had to fire three top-team stars.

Shaun Rooney was charged by police for assault, Kevin van Veen faced accusations of domestic violence while Jaden Brown was guilty of three driving offences.

Lasley and the club took swift action and cut the players loose, knowing the disruption it would cause to their campaign.

So what was it like as a former pro having to sack players on the spot? Lasley admitted: “This has felt like two seasons, if I’m honest.

“I say that flippantly but we had Europe as well remember and what that was from an operational perspective.

“And of course off the pitch we had other issues with some players.

“Again, it’s an experience for me. We had to deal with it and I think we did.

“At the end of the day my job is to try to give the manager as few distractions as possible and supply him with an environment that allows the team to be better.

“But this season, doing that hasn’t been without its challenges.

“You want to make sure it isn’t repeated and we hope that next season is a bit less eventful.

“But football is a strange business. And in those instances with the players, I did find myself in a position I never thought I’d be in.

“Ultimately I had to tell the players they were gone. I was heavily involved in those situations – and that’s not something you ever plan for.

“But I actually think being an ex-player helped me. I’ve been in a dressing-room. I couldn’t just consider those three players and their situations.

“It was about the effect that it might have on our dressing-room because they have friends and team-mates there.

“I’ve held a leadership role as a player in my career and hopefully that helped me.

“But nothing prepares you for it, especially when it happens in such a condensed period of time.”

St Mirren’s players and their under-rated gaffer Stephen Robinson will, of course, take the plaudits for finishing above the likes of Hearts, Dundee and Motherwell in the table.

But what about Lasley? Three years in the job, three top-six finishes, Europe – and a recruitment model that’s about to see striker Toyosi Olusanya earn the club a tidy profit.

Not bad for an apprentice electrician from Erskine who doubted he would ever make it in the game. And for now, a modest Lasley is happy where he is.

The former Motherwell and Plymouth midfielder said: “Listen, I’m hungry. Without wanting to get too sentimental, I left school to be a spark.

“So I’ve always had a real hunger just to be in the game itself. I didn’t think I was going to have a playing career, never mind do something like this.

“But I wanted to educate myself. I coached then got my Masters degree and I’ve always felt that I can make a mark in this side of the game.

“Hopefully I’ve shown evidence of that here. But I’m conscious of what St Mirren have given me, they are a fantastic club.

“It’s a privilege to be one of the leaders of the organisation. But I’ve been in the game long enough not to take my eye off the ball.

“You can’t start looking elsewhere. My big thing is being ready for any opportunities to come along.

“But that’s not something I’m looking at. If I ever move on from here at some stage, maybe it will be because I’ve done a good job.”