Stuart Kettlewell happy to sell Scottish football as career stepping stone

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell is happy to sell Scottish football as a stepping stone as part of his transfer sales pitch for his club and the William Hill Premiership.

Kettlewell and his coaching team played a huge part in one of Scottish football’s major transfer success stories in recent seasons when they signed a confidence-stripped Theo Bair on a free transfer and sold the Canada striker for a seven-figure fee to Auxerre 12 months later.

One of Kettlewell’s recent signings, Steve Seddon, revealed his perceptions of Scotland had been transformed already and the Motherwell manager will continue trying to tempt other English players to consider a move north.

“There are some lads that haven’t thought about Scotland and probably entirely see their future in England,” the former Ross County manager said ahead of Sunday’s visit of Hearts.

“But sometimes when you can show them the platform that’s here, the quality, the competition, the experiences of playing in big venues against big clubs and really good players, it’s my job to try and sell that. Every manager in Scotland will be trying to do the same thing.

“Sometimes they don’t necessarily see themselves playing here. That’s no disrespect, it’s just potentially some advice from families, former players, former team-mates, agents etc.

“But it’s my job to sell this football club and this league. We will all have a sales pitch when we speak to players and mine is very much centred around what I believe, that the top flight in Scotland is a brilliant place to ply your trade, and especially for young players.

“I need to show that’s a good platform for these guys and they can make a step in their career.

“Probably the most important part I say, it doesn’t need to be the pinnacle of your career. It’s a foundation, a stepping stone sometimes to other things.

“People in Scotland tend to take offence to that. I don’t. I think that’s not a bad place for us to be at times, to then see the likes of Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Lewis Ferguson and all these guys operating at the highest level.

“It’s great but they have all played in this league and they have all played to a real good standard in this league.”

Seddon was looking for a fresh challenge after spending most of his career in League One in England with the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Burton and Oxford and Kettlewell helped changed his perceptions.

The 26-year-old said: “I won’t lie to you, I hadn’t been up to Scotland and it was always like ‘oh, Scotland’s not great’, as an English boy. But I’ll be honest with you, I’ve loved it round here, Glasgow, Motherwell.

“When I speak to people from down south, they say ‘wow mate, you’ve changed your tune’, because I tell them I love Scotland, it’s class. I have loved living here and working here. You’ve got the city, you’ve got the countryside.

“When anyone asks me I’ll say ‘mate, Scotland’s unreal’. Six months ago when I hadn’t actually been I’d tell you different because I was a proud Englishman. I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong.

“The opportunities up here for players are a pulling point.”