Latest news with #ChrisDocherty
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Max Johnston has reaped reaps rich rewards from lower league loans
Premiership and Championship clubs will be able to put a maximum of three players who are eligible to represent the national team and are under the age of 21 on a cooperation list from next season. They will then be able to move freely between their parent club and a club further down the pyramid system who a cooperation agreement has been struck with during the course of a campaign. Read more: The move was one of the main recommendations contained in the Transition Phase paper which Andy Gould, the SFA's chief football officer, and Chris Docherty, their head of men's elite strategy, published last year. Johnston, who help Graz to retain the Bundesliga in Austria last season and also played in five games in the Champions League league phase, believes leaving Motherwell on loan was invaluable for his own development. (Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group) The 21-year-old, who is hoping to win his second cap for his country in the friendly international against Iceland at Hampden tomorrow night, spent the 2021/22 season at Queens, where his father Allan was manager, and the first half of the 2022/23 campaign at Cove. The right back, who made his debut for the national team in the first leg of the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Greece in Piraeus back in March, thinks that playing regular first team football in the Championship improved him as a footballer and ensured he was able to cope after his move abroad in 2023. Read more: "I still say it, I think that's some of the best decisions I've ever made,' he said. 'I was extremely lucky that my dad was at Queen of the South and he took me on loan when I was 17. 'I'm just so grateful that I got that chance to play and experience and learn these little details that have helped me kick on today. It doesn't feel that long ago still, but football changes very quickly, so you just need to keep a level head and enjoy it while you can.'
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Max Johnston has reaped reaps rich rewards from lower league loans
They will then be able to move freely between their parent club and a club further down the pyramid system who a cooperation agreement has been struck with during the course of a campaign. Read more: The move was one of the main recommendations contained in the Transition Phase paper which Andy Gould, the SFA's chief football officer, and Chris Docherty, their head of men's elite strategy, published last year. Johnston, who help Graz to retain the Bundesliga in Austria last season and also played in five games in the Champions League league phase, believes leaving Motherwell on loan was invaluable for his own development. (Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group) The 21-year-old, who is hoping to win his second cap for his country in the friendly international against Iceland at Hampden tomorrow night, spent the 2021/22 season at Queens, where his father Allan was manager, and the first half of the 2022/23 campaign at Cove. The right back, who made his debut for the national team in the first leg of the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Greece in Piraeus back in March, thinks that playing regular first team football in the Championship improved him as a footballer and ensured he was able to cope after his move abroad in 2023. Read more: "I still say it, I think that's some of the best decisions I've ever made,' he said. 'I was extremely lucky that my dad was at Queen of the South and he took me on loan when I was 17. 'I'm just so grateful that I got that chance to play and experience and learn these little details that have helped me kick on today. It doesn't feel that long ago still, but football changes very quickly, so you just need to keep a level head and enjoy it while you can.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
How does the new Scottish transfer system work?
Today is day one of a new transfer system designed to revolutionise the development of young Scottish and Championship clubs are now able to enter into "cooperation agreements" with those lower in the pyramid to exchange under-21 players over and above the current loan the transfer window opens on 16 June, at any one time, up to three young players can move more freely between the parent and lower league club. So how has the new system, which also includes an amalgamation of under-18 and reserve football into an under-19 format, come about and how will it operate? Where did the idea come from? A proposal for the new "Cooperation System" was passed by senior clubs earlier this year following what the Scottish FA describes as an "extensive consultation" that followed publication of its "Transition Report" last aged 16-21 are viewed as being in a "key transition phase" of their careers and the new agreements provide greater flexibility than the existing loan aim is to increase the playing time for those eligible to represent Scotland at national system was devised by SFA chief football officer Andy Gould and head of men's elite strategy Chris Docherty after studying successful player development systems around the cooperation systems already operate in a number of countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. Why has the system been introduced? Some young players have previously been denied the chance to go out on loan because their clubs needed to fulfil homegrown matchday quotas while playing in European less affluent clubs who carry smaller squads may have been unwilling to risk sending their best young playes on loan in case of an injury new system will mean young players with limited playing opportunities at their parent club can stay registered to them while also playing at an appropriate lower level. Who can enter agreements? Premiership or Championship clubs can operate as the parent club and sign cooperation agreements with clubs in League 1, League 2, Highland League and Lowland League. Championship clubs can also form agreements with a Premiership club. However, a club cannot sign a cooperation agreement with a club in the same league as their first team or B team. How will the system work? The parent club may sign a cooperation agreement with a different club at each level of the pyramid, but a parent club cannot have two cooperation clubs within the same division.A maximum of three players can move freely between the parent club and lower league can therefore be recalled, given sufficient notice, should the parent club have injuries in the player's parent club pays the salary for the player and - unlike with loan deals - they maintain the player's registration. What about loan signings? The new system does not replace loan agreements, so clubs can use either or both systems for transferring players.A maximum of five players can be shared between two clubs, with a maximum of three on loan or three on a cooperation are under no obligation to use all three slots if they sign a cooperation agreement. When can players move? Players who are on the cooperation list are able to move freely between both clubs throughout the season. Clubs are entitled to change the players on the cooperation list - but only during the summer and winter transfer windows, as well as the extended loan windows that follow the transfer windows. What about B teams and reserves? Celtic and Hearts were the only Premiership clubs to take up the option of playing their B teams in the Lowland League in the season just passed, but all 12 took part in the SPFL Trust Trophy (Challenge Cup).Next season, the knockout competition for clubs below the Premiership will have a new format - and a new name and sponsor - designed to further help young players SPFL announced last month that the KDM Evolution Cup will again include Premiership B teams, but to provide more guaranteed fixtures, they will be involved, along with League 1 and League 2 clubs, in a new, initial league-phase format inspired by Uefa's new European club the SPFL Reserve League and the under-18 level within the SFA's Club Academy Scotland will be replaced with "a hybrid under-19 category", with several overage players also allowed to will take place on Monday instead of the current Friday, so clubs can expose the young players to the senior environment at the weekend and still include those who have had limited minutes on the Monday. What is the SFA saying about it? Gould said: "The overriding message from the Transition Report was that we haven't been producing enough opportunities for young players to play with and against senior players during that golden age of opportunity between 16 and 21 years of age. "We felt that the Cooperation System would be complimentary to the existing framework, with more freedom of movement for players who are on the cusp of the first team with their parent club."It's rare in Scotland that we can get everyone united and on the same page and we are grateful to all the stakeholders who have worked together to make this happen. We are confident that we can see a significant increase in playing minutes for young players across the pyramid."Docherty added: "Throughout our research during the creation of the Transition Report, it was also clear from speaking to clubs that the gap between both the current under-18 system and the SPFL Reserve League and the first team was far too big. "This change to a new under-19 level will benefit late maturing players, while the move to Monday matches should stop players missing minutes to sit on a bench at first-team level."
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
SFA announce new Cooperation System to boost opportunities for young Scottish players
A new Cooperation System, which will boost opportunities for young Scottish players during a vital stage of their development, is now live, with players free to move under the new system from the opening of the summer transfer window. The proposal was passed by clubs earlier this year, following extensive consultation since the Scottish FA's Transition Report was published in 2024. The Cooperation System provides greater flexibility to the previous domestic loan quotas by enabling players in the key 'transition phase' of 16-21, who are eligible to represent the Scotland national team, to join a lower-league club but be able to move between the parent and cooperation club throughout the season to increase playing time. Clubs can now enter into Cooperation Agreements, with players then free to move under the new system from the opening of the Transfer Window on Monday, 16 June. Alongwith this change, a revamped KDM Evolution Trophy was also launched by the SPFL last month, in a further move to support the progression of the best young players in the country. The new set-up will include William Hill Premiership B teams in a league phase format, providing more opportunities for youth players aged under 21, as they move from the academy environment to senior football. Based on the Transition Report's findings, the Under-18 level within Club Academy Scotland (CAS) and the SPFL Reserve League will also be replaced with a hybrid Under-19 category in CAS from the 2025/2026 season, with several overage players also allowed to participate. Matches will take place on Monday as opposed to the current Friday, so clubs can expose the young players to the senior environment at the weekend and still include those who have had limited minutes on the Monday. Andy Gould, Chief Football Officer, Scottish FA: 'The overriding message from the Transition Report was that we haven't been producing enough opportunities for young players to play with and against senior players during that golden age of opportunity between 16 and 21 years of age. We felt that the Cooperation System would be complimentary to the existing framework, with more freedom of movement for players who are on the cusp of the first team with their parent club. 'It's rare in Scotland that we can get everyone united and on the same page and we are grateful to all the stakeholders who have worked together to make this happen. We are confident that we can see a significant increase in playing minutes for young players across the pyramid.' Chris Docherty, Head of Men's Elite Strategy, Scottish FA: 'Throughout our research during the creation of the Transition Report, it was also clear from speaking to clubs that the gap between both the current Under-18 system and the SPFL Reserve League and the first team was far too big. This change to a new Under-19 level will benefit late maturing players, while the move to Monday matches should stop players missing minutes to sit on a bench at first team level. 'Also from consultations with coaches and ex-players, it was clear that the previous reserve system was a key part of their development and, by allowing a small number of overage players to play in this league, we hope we can create a hybrid model that benefits these young players by giving them chances to play against more experienced older pros as well as their peers. 'These changes – as well as the introduction of the revamped KDM Evolution Trophy – won't fix all the problems instantly, but we believe they mark a significant moment as the game comes together to get behind the development of young Scottish players.' Cooperation System Explained The Cooperation System comes following the Transition Report, authored by Scottish FA Chief Football Officer, Andy Gould and Scottish FA Head of Men's Elite Strategy, Chris Docherty. The report sought to establish trends in successful player development from across the world and the authors have below answered some key questions relating to the new system. Why has this Cooperation System been introduced? Based on the research we have carried out into similar systems in other countries, the Cooperation System affords more opportunities for the best young talent to get playing time. It offers an alternative to clubs and players, who may otherwise be denied a loan opportunity, whilst also having limited playing opportunities at their parent club. For example, clubs competing in Europe may not able to send young players on loan due to Homegrown Matchday Quotas and clubs without a large budget may carry smaller squads and not send best young talents on loan in case of an injury crisis. The Cooperation System gives young players the option to receive critical playing experiences at an appropriate level within the pyramid. How does this system work? A club can place a maximum of three players on a 'Cooperation List' and these players can move freely between the parent club and the club who they are in a Cooperation Agreement with. So, for example, if the parent club has injuries in the player's position, they can recall the player, provided they give the minimum prescribed amount of notice to the Cooperation club. The parent club pays the salary for the player and – unlike with loan deals – they maintain the player's registration. What other countries use a version of this system? Club Cooperation systems already operate in a number of countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. Which clubs can enter into these Cooperation Agreements? A club in the SPFL Premiership or Championship is permitted to operate as the parent club, and sign Cooperation Agreements with clubs further down the pyramid (League One, League Two, Highland League and Lowland League). Championship clubs are also able to be both a parent club, to a club in a lower division, and a recipient club to a Premiership club. A club cannot sign a Cooperation Agreement with a club in the same league as their first team or B team. Can a club enter more than one Cooperation Agreement? The parent club may sign a Cooperation Agreement with a different club at each level of the pyramid, but a parent club cannot have two Cooperation clubs within the same division. Which players are eligible to move under the Cooperation System? Only players who are eligible to play for the Scotland National Team and who are under the age of 21 would be able to participate on a 'Cooperation List'. For the upcoming 2025/2026 Season, a player designated as Under-21 would refer to a player born in the calendar year 2005 or younger. This is in line with the definition used by other nations around Europe. How many players can move to one club at a certain time? The parent club, which pays the full salary for players under this system, is able to list a maximum of three players who would appear on a 'Cooperation List' between the two clubs. Does the Cooperation System replace the previous Loans System? The Cooperation System does not replace the Loans system, meaning clubs can use either of, or a combination of, both systems. A maximum of five players can be shared between two clubs (including loans and 'Cooperation List' players). Clubs can have a maximum of three loan players from club to club – therefore the maximum split would be 2/3 or 3/2 in terms of loan / cooperation. Clubs are under no obligation to use all three slots if they sign a Cooperation Agreement. When can players move between clubs under the Cooperation System? Clubs are entitled to change the players on the Cooperation List – to remove a player who has been recalled or not participating and replace him with another young player who may benefit from the experience – but only during the summer and winter transfer windows, as well as the extended loan windows that follows the transfer windows. Players who are on the Cooperation List are able to move freely between both clubs throughout the season, although there is a minimum playing time for a player to remain on a cooperation list beyond the cut-off date of 31 March. As a minimum, a player on a Cooperation List must have played at least 15 minutes in at least five matches for the Cooperation club before 31 March to be eligible to feature for the Cooperation club after that date. This would ensure that a club cannot receive extra assistance for key games late in the season with a player being made available just for those games. Like this: Like Related
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
How SFA see new co-operation system benefiting Scotland team
The Scottish FA have given clubs the green light to go live with the agreements from June 16 in a bid to tackle the dearth of young players playing first team football in the senior leagues. Talks over tie ups are already underway with Celtic talking to Queen's Park, Rangers in discussions with Raith Rovers, Dundee United studying a link up with Montrose, Aberdeen preparing to work with Arbroath and Cove Rangers and Hearts negotiating with League Two Spartans. Recent figures from CIES Observatory show that St Mirren offered just 0.8% of their available first team minutes to players aged 21 or under. Dundee had the highest figure in the SPFL Premiership with 24.8%. Concerned by the trend, a consultation period between the governing body and clubs concluded with Scottish youngsters aged between 16-21 granted more flexibility to move between their parent club and a lower league partner when the transfer window opens in two weeks' time. Authors of a transition report into the issue published last year, SFA Chief Football Officer Andy Gould and Head of Men's Elite Strategy Chris Docherty studied similar systems in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia and persuaded clubs that the national game had to embrace change. 'This can definitely make a difference to Scotland teams of the future,' Gould told Herald Sport. 'It's an opportunity for clubs to use a system that enhances their chances of getting players into their first team. Read more: Peterborough stance on Celtic transfer target Harley Mills Scotland man Angus Gunn understands Rangers' pursuit of Russell Martin '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.' Clubs in the SPFL Premiership or Championship will be permitted to sign agreements with clubs in League One, Two or the Highland and Lowland Leagues allowing them to place a maximum of three players eligible to play for Scotland's national team on a 'cooperation list.' In contrast with loans those players can move freely between parent club and the lower league partner during the league season. Parent clubs will pay the salary of the player in full and maintain the player's registration, with the right to recall the player at any time and send another one. The loan system will remain in place, allowing clubs to use a combination of the two to increase the maximum number of players they can take from the same parent outfit from three to five. Scotland face Iceland at Hampden on Friday night with Motherwell captain Lennon Miller, Kieran Bowie of Hibs, James Wilson of Hearts in the squad, with Docherty citing the trio as a positive development. 'Not all of those players will start every World Cup qualifier. But Steve (Clarke) has called up players like Lennon Miller and James Wilson, now the youngest ever Scotland player, and he has shown clubs in the SPFL that if you put a young player in the first team at a young age and start to develop them they have a real chance of making it into a Scotland squad. 'So I think the national coach, in this case, is sending a signal to clubs that if you develop young players that will develop the national team and help them as well.'
