Rangers strike deal with THREE other SPFL clubs for ‘loan cooperation agreements'
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RANGERS have agreed deals with three other SPFL clubs to send players on loan this season, according to a report.
We broke the news back in June that five top Premiership sides were looking into establishing partnerships with teams further down the pyramid.
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Stark's Park, home of Raith Rovers
Credit: PA:Press Association
The SFA backed the initiative, hoping it would lead to an increase in young homegrown players playing first team football.
Celtic announced a partnership with Ayr United earlier this month, after talks with fellow Scottish Championship side Queen's Park broke down.
Rangers have now reached agreements with Raith Rovers, Alloa Athletic and Stirling Albion for similar arrangements, reports the Rangers Review.
The scheme will allow Gers to send up to three of their young stars to each of the clubs.
It gives the Ibrox club options to send players to the Championship with Raith or to League One with Alloa and League Two with Stirling.
Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hearts also engaged in discussions with lower-league counterparts.
The Dons will team up with Kelty Hearts and Elgin City for loans and the Jambos will cooperate with St Johnstone for the next year.
An SFA report last year first mentioned the introduction of a so-called Cooperation System and other possible introductions including incentives for playing young Scots in cup competitions and the implementation of a scholarship system to protect against our top talents being snapped up by English clubs before they turn 18.
SFA Chief Football Officer Andy Gould spoke to The Herald on the impact of the Cooperation System: 'This can definitely make a difference to Scotland teams of the future
'It's an opportunity for clubs to use a system that enhances their chances of getting players into their first team.
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'At the top end of the game it gives them a greater opportunity of selling those players and, down the line, there is an opportunity for the national team to get the benefit of that.
'That's not necessarily going to happen overnight, it does take a period of time.
'How many years is difficult to predict, but we need to find a competitive system which gives us a competitive edge over others and at the minute we don't have that.'
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