Lalsey given stark choice by Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson
Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson has confessed he made club captain Keith Lasley hang up his boots before allowing him to join his coaching staff
Veteran midfielder Lasley announced he was retiring from playing duties on Wednesday after agreeing to become Robinson's new assistant.
But now the Northern Irishman has revealed he told the 37-year-old he could only take up the number two post if he gave the job his sole focus.
That meant Lasley - who has racked up almost 500 appearances for Well over two spells at Fir Park - was faced with an agonising decision but he left Robinson impressed when he agreed to take a pay cut to join his back-room team.
The Steelmen's manager - who has handed Lasley's armband to new club captain Carl McHugh - said: "Keith had a playing contract but financially being assistant manager is nowhere near as viable as being a player.
"But what impressed me most was his commitment to the new job as it was my insistence that he had to give up playing.
"I didn't want a duel job. I wanted someone who was dedicated to taking the club forward coaching-wise.
"Keith bought into that fully. Obviously financially he took a bit of a hit but that impressed me that he was showing that desire to come and work with me."
Lasley racked up more than 30 starts last season but Robinson admits even if the former Plymouth man had wanted to keep on playing next term, his opportunities would have been limited.
"I did sit down with him and made it clear he would have limited game time with me this season," he explained.
"He's almost 38 and I wanted to freshen things up, I wanted to move things on. He was well aware of that.
"Keith has been a brilliant servant to the football club but it's a new stage in his career now and I want him to be fully committed to that."
Lasley knows he is taking a gamble but reckons the opportunity to start his coaching career at a top-flight club is too good to turn down.
"It's very hard to give up playing," he said.
"I was an electrician before I signed here so it was an unconventional route into the game and I was just thankful to have played for this club.
"To then go on to captain the club, play in Europe and in cup finals was a privilege.
"I think I could have played on for another year so it's a big call.
"You speak to ex-pros and they all say 'play on as long as you can' - I can understand why they say that after just three days in the new job. It's so time-consuming.
"But I have a passion for this side of the game and the manager saw that. I'm an ambitious guy and I hope this is the start of something exciting.