Latest news with #JamesWilson
STV News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Robertson excited by potential of 'excellent' youngsters in Scotland squad
Scotland captain Andy Robertson is excited by the potential of the new crop of youngsters in the national team squad. The Liverpool defender, who won his second Premier League title last month, is preparing for Friday's clash with Iceland at Hampden. He has been joined in Steve Clarke's squad by the likes of teenage Premiership stars Lennon Miller and James Wilson, and has been impressed by what he has seen. Sturm Graz right back Max Johnston, 21, is another who has caught Robertson's eye, and he has high hopes that he will be watching them qualify for major tournaments long after he has hung up his boots. Speaking to the media on Thursday, the skipper said: 'I've seen them in training this week and they've been excellent. 'Max Johnson's come on, I can talk about fullbacks, he's come on so much in the time since his first camp here, and then to now he looks a hell of a lot more composed. 'He's filled out a bit defensively and looks excellent in training. Obviously, games are different from training, but that's what we can base it on just now. 'Lennon Miller was good in March, but he's been excellent this week in training, and now he looks comfortable, he looks happy, and James Wilson as well has been here a couple of times now, and I think he just keeps on growing. 'Then, understanding the standards and training and how difficult international football is is crucial, and I know from my experience that the younger I experienced it, the better it was. 'And then I just kind of grew into it, and so did John [McGinn], and we kind of did it together. And hopefully these lads can do it together. And maybe in ten years I can be watching them at a World Cup.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish FA launch new system to revolutionise player development
SPFL clubs are set to work together more closely for season 2025/26 Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish Football Association today launched a new club co-operation system designed to improve the development of young players at all levels. Starting this month, teams can form partnerships in a 'Co-operation Agreement' to enable under-21 players to move freely between them throughout the season. The transfer window in Scotland officially opens on 16 June and, from that date, clubs with a Co-operation Agreement can move up to three players back and forward at any time over the season. Moves are not restricted to transfer windows and clubs can have multiple Co-Operation Agreements in place at the same time. However, no club is allowed two in the same division of the pyramid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The SFA are also disbanding the Under-18 league and the SPFL Reserve League, which will be replaced by a hybrid Under-19 league this season. Overage players are allowed to take part. The Under-19 matches will take place on Mondays rather than the current Friday fixtures. This is to let young players get involved in senior games over the weekend and also have the opportunity to play on a Monday. Similar systems are in place in European countries including Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Hungary and Serbia. Scotland is now following suit to enhance player development with the long-term aim of benefitting the national team. The 18-year-old Hearts striker James Wilson became the youngest international footballer in Scottish history in March and rearing more like him is a priority within Hampden Park's offices. His club are already in talks with League Two side Spartans regarding a Co-Operation Agreement. The Scottish FA released details on the new system, which is explained in full below: SFA Co-operation System Explained The Co-operation 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. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Why has this SFA Co-operation System been introduced? Based on the research we have carried out into similar systems in other countries, the Co-operation 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 Co-operation System gives young players the option to receive critical playing experiences at an appropriate level within the pyramid. How does the SFA co-operation system work? A club can place a maximum of three players on a 'Co-operation List' and these players can move freely between the parent club and the club who they are in a Co-operation 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 Co-operation club. The parent club pays the salary for the player and - unlike with loan deals - they maintain the player's registration. What other countries in Europe use a version of this system? Club Co-operation systems already operate in a number of countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. Which Scottish clubs can enter into Co-operation Agreements? A club in the SPFL Premiership or Championship is permitted to operate as the parent club, and sign Co-operation 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 Co-operation Agreement with a club in the same league as their first team or B team. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Can a club enter more than one Co-operation Agreement? The parent club may sign a Co-operation Agreement with a different club at each level of the pyramid, but a parent club cannot have two Co-operation clubs within the same division. Which players are eligible to move under the Co-operation 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 'Co-operation 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 'Co-operation List' between the two clubs. Does the SFA Co-operation System replace the previous Loans System? The Co-operation 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 'Co-operation 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 / co-operation. Clubs are under no obligation to use all three slots if they sign a Co-operation Agreement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When can players move between clubs under the Co-operation System? Clubs are entitled to change the players on the Co-operation 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 follow the transfer windows. Players who are on the Co-operation 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 co-operation list beyond the cut-off date of 31 March. As a minimum, a player on a Co-operation List must have played at least 15 minutes in at least five matches for the Co-operation club before 31 March to be eligible to feature for the Co-operation 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.
Herald Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Buyer to breathe new life into cute Geelong West cottage
An old Victorian era house that somehow skipped the waves of gentrification that have overtaken Geelong West may finally be destined for that modern makeover. The circa-1900 house at 109 Hope St was snapped up for $703,000 amid competition between four bidders at an auction on Saturday. Wilsons Newtown agent James Wilson, who listed the 275sq m property with price hopes from $625,000 to $675,0000, said the auction took off after bidding reached the top of the quote range and he confirmed the property was 'on the market'. RELATED: 1960s Highton original gives buyer the chance to unlock value Five in play as dream builders sniff the potential of 1950s home Interest rate cut has immediate impact on home prices 'I was looking for an opening bid within the range and we ended up getting a bid at $625,000,' Mr Wilson said. 'It went in $10,000, $5000 and $1000 increments up to $675,000 and stalled a bit. 'Then I went in an sought instructions of the owners, then announced to the crowd that we're on the market.' Mr Wilson said it's an attractive property, albeit it 'needs a lot of work'. 'The street frontage was appealing to where people saw that they could improve the property, and I think get a pretty good result,' he said. 'A lot of the buyers were drawn to it because of the appealing Victorian frontage and also just the proximity to Pako and some of the amenities, which we had a mix of local buyers and the buyer that bought it was from Melbourne, looking to use it as a residence.' The property sits on Hope St between Pakington St and Sparrow Park. Records show the owners paid just $190,950 for the property in 2000. Roll-top laminated kitchen benches and a textured wall feature above an open fireplace seem to be the only signs of work on the property in recent decades. But the exterior is a period picture with an iron veranda behind a picket fence. The new owners can work with ornate skirting boards, door architraves, high ceilings and fireplaces inside. Mr Wilson said the four bidders were a mix of local builders, investors and owner-occupiers. The Melbourne buyer intends to turn it into a residence, he said.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Buyer to breathe new life into cute Geelong West cottage
An old Victorian era house that somehow skipped the waves of gentrification that have overtaken Geelong West may finally be destined for that modern makeover. The circa-1900 house at 109 Hope St was snapped up for $703,000 amid competition between four bidders at an auction on Saturday. Wilsons Newtown agent James Wilson, who listed the 275sq m property with price hopes from $625,000 to $675,0000, said the auction took off after bidding reached the top of the quote range and he confirmed the property was 'on the market'. 'I was looking for an opening bid within the range and we ended up getting a bid at $625,000,' Mr Wilson said. 'It went in $10,000, $5000 and $1000 increments up to $675,000 and stalled a bit. 'Then I went in an sought instructions of the owners, then announced to the crowd that we're on the market.' Mr Wilson said it's an attractive property, albeit it 'needs a lot of work'. 'The street frontage was appealing to where people saw that they could improve the property, and I think get a pretty good result,' he said. 'A lot of the buyers were drawn to it because of the appealing Victorian frontage and also just the proximity to Pako and some of the amenities, which we had a mix of local buyers and the buyer that bought it was from Melbourne, looking to use it as a residence.' The property sits on Hope St between Pakington St and Sparrow Park. Records show the owners paid just $190,950 for the property in 2000. Roll-top laminated kitchen benches and a textured wall feature above an open fireplace seem to be the only signs of work on the property in recent decades. But the exterior is a period picture with an iron veranda behind a picket fence. The new owners can work with ornate skirting boards, door architraves, high ceilings and fireplaces inside. Mr Wilson said the four bidders were a mix of local builders, investors and owner-occupiers. The Melbourne buyer intends to turn it into a residence, he said.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Celtic and Rangers in talks with clubs over SFA's new system
Architects of the initiative believe it will tackle the shortage of young players featuring in first-team football. The Scottish FA has given clubs the go-ahead to implement these changes from June 16. Talks of partnerships are already underway, with clubs such as Celtic in discussions with Queen's Park, Rangers with Raith Rovers, and Dundee United with Montrose. Recent data from the CIES Observatory shows that St Mirren offered only 0.8 per cent of their first-team minutes to players aged 21 or under. Dundee topped the SPFL Premiership with 24.8 per cent. Concerned by this trend, the governing body, in consultation with clubs, has decided to allow more flexibility for Scottish youngsters aged 16-21 to switch between their parent club and a lower league partner. SFA chief football officer Andy Gould and head of men's elite strategy Chris Docherty, who studied similar systems in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia, convinced clubs of the need for change. Read more: Who could make up Russell Martin's Rangers backroom team if appointment is made Former Celtic misfit linked with move to Hearts Mr Gould told Herald Sport: "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. "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." The new system permits SPFL Premiership or Championship clubs to sign agreements with clubs in League One, League Two, or the Highland and Lowland Leagues. This allows for a maximum of three players eligible for Scotland's national team to be placed on a 'co-operation list.' Unlike loans, these players can freely switch between the parent club and the lower league partner during the league season. The parent clubs will pay the player's full salary, maintain the player's registration, and have the right to recall the player at any time and send another one in their place. The existing loan system remains in place, allowing clubs to use a combination of the two systems 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, and James Wilson of Hearts in the squad, with Docherty citing the trio as a positive development. He said: "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." The architects of the new system hope that it will provide a competitive edge over others, although the benefits may not be immediately visible.
