Will summit encourage Scottish clubs to give youth a chance?
Finding a balance between the national interest and self-interest of clubs will be a challenge when it comes to how best to nurture Scottish talent, writes Tom English.
The upcoming summit, titled "Made In Scotland?" will be a crucial forum for Scottish football clubs to discuss pathways for young players and encourage them to give youth a chance. The SFA's chief executive Ian Maxwell and chief football officer Craig Mulholland will lead the presentation, pleading with Premiership clubs to improve their youth development systems.
The summit follows concerns over the lack of Scottish players in the opening matches of the Premiership season, with only 31% of players being Scottish and just 5% aged 21 or under. Dundee United had the lowest representation, using only one Scottish player in their two games. Clubs like Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, and Hibs have lost young players to English football for significant sums.
The summit aims to address the issue of young Scots being clogged up by big clubs recruiting foreign journeymen and offer a more attractive pathway for young players in Scotland.
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