Simple point: at 18 in Scotland, if you have not broken into the first team you are usually sent out on loan or released. The pathway feels dead-ended. To be fair, England gives youngsters more space with under 23s and a broader middle tier of clubs. Here the small league sizes and the fight for top or survival mean managers rarely trust youth.
Why young players get stuck
Why do clubs behave like this? Money and pressure explain a lot. With limited fixtures that matter and TV deals that favour a handful of fixtures, boards and managers look at results rather than development. When a club is pushing for the title or fighting relegation there is little appetite to blood teenagers. It is not always malicious, it is survival instinct.
What could change
We can be realistic and still push for reform. Start by rethinking league sizes so there is a broader middle of clubs who can afford to give minutes to youth. Rework the cup so smaller clubs and youngsters get more meaningful ties and everybody starts from round one. And yes, the TV deal needs looking at. If the SFA are tied to a model that protects four big fixtures it squeezes the rest. A more flexible approach to broadcasting, including club subscriptions for supporters to watch midweek games, would shift incentives.
How it helps
More games at a meaningful level, and more clubs willing to risk youth, means actual minutes for prospects. That breeds confidence and gives managers a bigger pool to pick from. It would not be an overnight fix, but over time you would expect more homegrown players stepping up. Fans might grumble at first, but watch how the young ones grow when they get regular football.
I am not naïve about how hard it is. The SFA, broadcasters and clubs have entrenched interests. But if we want Scotland to stop exporting talent early and start developing it at home, these conversations matter. Ditching an old TV model and reshaping the leagues would be a start. Punters would pay to see their team and their youngsters more often, and that would be worth something. As a Rangers supporter I want to see more kids coming through and not simply shipped out before we get to know them.
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