MOTHERWELL skipper Keith Lasley has thrown his weight behind the move for a change in Scottish football.

Controversy erupted over the direction of the domestic game in recent days with game bosses hoping to push through a 12-12-18 league split they believe would be far more attractive to sponsors and TV companies.

That would see the top two divisions splitting into three leagues of eight after 22 games to create, allegedly, more meaningful games.

However, the proposals have been met with the ire of Rangers chief executive Charles Green, who is in favour of a 14-team top division.

But while Motherwell captain Lasley has his reservations from a playing point of view over a 12-team top tier, he has no doubt that the other mooted changes including one governing body and an increased share of the financial pot for the smaller clubs are hugely positive moves.

The 33-year-old said: "From a playing point of view I would say that anything that means we are not playing the same teams four times a term would be a huge plus.

"On the surface, the idea of the new proposed top tier splitting into three leagues of eight, with the second tier after 22 games, is a little bit complex.

"I know the motive is to create more meaningful games but I think perhaps that could be done with a 14-team top league.

"That would also help get away from the whole familiarity and staleness of a lot of the games at present.

"Clearly though there a lot of facets to the whole aspect of a new league set-up that have to be taken into consideration, not least the TV companies, sponsors and of course most importantly the fans.

"It is certainly tough to come up with something that will please everyone.

"But while I have some reservations about the league set-up, I think the other suggestions to move to one governing body and a greater share of money for the smaller clubs is a massive step forward.

"But of one thing there is no doubt, and that is that Scottish football needs change and that there must be a better league structure available at the top level than the one we are operating in now."

Turning his attention to Sunday's visit of St Johnstone, Las is relishing the prospect of Well being able to go clear in second at the weekend.

The Fir Park favourite said: "There is no doubt about it that St Johnstone are going to be in there competing for a European place again this term along with the likes of Dundee United, Aberdeen, Hibernian and of course Inverness.

"So if we are going to have any aspiration of repeating our run last season and maybe going one better and finishing second, then we must make the most of home advantage when we meet any of these sides at our place.

"Of late our home form has been good and I think we are now five games unbeaten at Fir Park which is an improvement on earlier in the season.

"With Inverness hosting Aberdeen on Saturday we will know if we can go second on our own by the time we take the field on Sunday. That is a big plus.

"But it is all going to be about consistency over the next couple of months to the split.

"We have put ourselves in a good position and we play all of the sides we are competing against for European football during that spell so it is all to play for."