Controversy may have dogged Scott Johnson's career – he cuts something of a maverick figure – but the Australian, who yesterday became the latest import recruited to try to help Scottish rugby regain status within the world game has earned the respect of many across the sport.

A skills specialist, he has clearly been brought in to help Scotland's ailing attack and, in that regard, history is on his side.

An assistant coach to the Australia A team that inflicted the first defeat on the Graham Henry-coached British & Irish Lions on their 2001 tour, the New Zealander subsequently invited Johnson to join his Wales management team where he made a significant impact. A team that had been struggling suddenly exploded into life in the course of the 2003 World Cup as players who had once been perceived as second string, notably Gareth Thomas and Shane Williams, took the game to the All Blacks and England.

On Henry's departure from Wales that aforementioned group formed the nucleus of the team that claimed an unexpected Grand Slam win in 2005. However, Johnson's popularity among the players proved a double-edged sword upon which Mike Ruddock, who had taken over from Henry, was to fall within a year of his greatest coaching achievement.

Senior figures in the camp, including Thomas, suggested that Johnson had been the major influence in the dressing room and Ruddock was ousted as soon as they began to struggle when defending their title. Johnson then took over as caretaker head coach, failing to win any of three Tests in charge as his side lost to both France and Ireland, while drawing at home against Italy.

Citing family pressures he returned to Australia to take up a post with the Wallabies who, at the 2007 tournament in France, were to endure the worst of their last five World Cup campaigns when they failed to reach the semi-finals for the only time since 1995.

Thereafter he began a brief spell with the US Eagles in 2008 which also ended under something of a cloud when, within a few months of taking up the post, he was approached by the Ospreys, a job that allowed him to work with several of the players with whom he had originally built his reputation during that time with Wales.

Very much the big spenders of Celtic rugby, the Ospreys had assembled a squad known within the Welsh game as the Galacticos, a comparison with Real Madrid, which did not extend to success on the European stage.

His team did produce a formidable performance last year to defeat Leinster on their home patch at the Royal Dublin Showgrounds to win the first ever Magners League Grand Final, but they have continued to be seen as underperformers in the Heineken Cup.

What is striking about Johnson, however, is not only the popularity he has generated among the players he has worked with, but the respect he has earned from fellow coaches.

Obviously, that is something the man who has appointed him has for Johnson in abundance. Andy Robinson, Scotland's head coach, admitted after his side's failed World Cup bid and, in particular, in acknowledging the problems they are having in scoring tries, that additional expertise needed to be brought on board and has acted decisively.

However, perhaps more significant in the context of this move was the genuine regret of those at the Ospreys at his departure.

Roger Blyth, their managing director, expressed appreciation for his work both with their first team and behind the scenes.

"While he has brought silverware to the Liberty Stadium and we hope that will be the case once again this season, the real legacy he will leave is the systems and structures he has helped to develop that will allow us to continue leading the way in Wales," he said. Andrew Hore, their chief operating officer, meanwhile commended Johnson on how he had conducted his contract negotiations.

"It is a huge disappointment for us to be losing Scott at the end of the season, but we understand that he feels it is the right time for him to move on to other challenges having served the three years he committed himself to us for originally," he said.

"By informing us of his intentions at this early stage, it allows us to use this time to consider our next course of action and the options available to us as we plan for the future."

All in all then it is a slightly confusing picture that emerges of a man who has been blamed for playing a part in undermining some colleagues yet is hugely respected by others and who has been accused of ruthlessness in his business dealings but also praised for the way he has undertaken them.

Either way, Robinson clearly believes he has created the perfect post to make the very best of Johnson's undoubted talents and, if he can get another international team to attack and finish the way Wales did between 2003 and 2005 no-one involved in Scottish rugby will have any complaints.