Son of Rangers hero takes next step in footballing career with first spell at SPFL club as part of co-op agreement
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KILMARNOCK youngster Cole Burke has joined Queen of the South as part of a co-operation agreement between the two clubs.
The new system brought in by the Scottish FA this season allows Scottish players aged between 16 and 21 to move between their parent and loan club throughout the campaign.
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Cole with father Chris Burke after Youth Cup win at Killie
Credit: SNS
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Cole Burke in action for Killie reserves
Credit: Rex
It's to increase the amount of playing time for young players during a vital stage of their development.
Cole, the son of Rangers hero Chris, has featured for Scotland at under 16 and 17 level, and made two appearances off the bench for Kilmarnock last season.
He also helped Killie to the Scottish Youth Cup trophy in a 2-0 win over Dundee, with his dad Chris the academy coach.
As part of the agreement, Burke will be able to move freely between the clubs and can be recalled by Killie at any time provided the club give Queens the prescribed amount of notice.
Queens boss Peter Murphy said: 'The new scheme introduced by the Scottish Football Association gives younger players a great chance to develop whilst being part of a first team squad.
"Cole who turns 17 next week is a player with a lot of potential, he is a key part of Kilmarnock's youth team and helped them get to the Youth Cup final last season.
"Despite his age he has already been involved at first team level with the Rugby Park club.
"We are delighted to have entered a partnership with Kilmarnock and look forward to seeing how that and Cole develops throughout the season.'
Chris Burke came through the ranks at Rangers and famously featured in a programme charting young academy players progress at the club called Blue Heaven.
He would go on to play more than 100 times for the Ibrox outfit between 2001 and 2009 and would also have spells with Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham Forest, Ross County and Kilmarnock.
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The 41-year-old, an academy coach at Killie, believes the new system is a good idea.
He told the BBC back in May: "The academy coaches, we all try our best to try and give them the best opportunity possible and I think with the co-operation loan next year, that will help massively.
"I've seen it so many times in my short academy coaching career that I can tell when a player's already past that 18s level.
"You don't want them to become frustrated and then to plateau out.
"So, you want to challenge them constantly and to do that you need to push them out and let them play the men's game as much as possible.
"Then, if they come back, then I believe they will become a better player for that.
"I'm really looking forward to next season when that kicks in."
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