Latest news with #TransitionReport
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers to strike Loan Cooperation Agreements with three clubs
The players have to be eligible to play for Scotland and can still turn out for their parent club's youth sides during their loan to a lower league club. It had previously been reported that Rangers would strike an agreement with Raith Rovers and the Kirkcaldy side are set to be the Championship partner of the Ibrox men. Read more: But they are set to take full advantage of the new rule by striking agreements with Alloa in League One and Stirling Albion in League Two as well, reports the Rangers Review. A Scottish FA statement last month read: 'The Cooperation System was voted through by clubs following recommendations by the Scottish FA's Transition Report. 'The new 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 teams, to join a lower-league club but be able to move between the parent and cooperation club throughout the season to increase playing time.'
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
St Mirren strikes two co-operation club partnerships
Saints chiefs have signed off on a partnership with League Two side Dumbarton as well as Lowland League outfit Clydebank as part of the new Cooperation System launched by the Scottish FA. St Mirren has announced a partnership with two new clubs as part of a new system launched under the Scottish FA. Both William Hill League Two side Dumbarton and Lowland League club Clydebank have formed a new link with the Scottish Premiership outfit as part of the new Cooperation System. It will allow young St Mirren players to gain experience and game time with the West Dunbartonshire clubs without the constraints of formal loan agreements. The new approach follows the Scottish FA's Transition Report, published in 2024, which showed that there aren't enough opportunities for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The system allows the club to place a maximum of three players, who are eligible to play for the Scotland National Team and are under the age of 21, on a cooperation list. And the new alliance is already starting to bear fruit as Carrick McEvoy, Thomas Falconer and Theo McCormick have all joined Dumbarton, with Billy Hutchison joining the Bankies after featuring as a trialist on Saturday. Saints manager Stephen Robinson said: "I firmly believe in the loan system to develop our young players and something that hindered that previously was not being able to bring them back at certain stages or leaving yourselves short in numbers. "With the cooperation agreement, we are able to get them into men's football and develop under other coaches. Hopefully, we can also help the coaches and the clubs they are going to. It will be a great benefit for both parties." On paper, the system will allow these players to move back and forth between the co-op club and the parent club without being bound by any loan rules being enforced. Chiefs at St Mirren say the club aims to provide individual development plans involving coaching and mentoring for players between aged between 16 and 18, resulting in clear pathways being set out and monitored. The integration of academy graduates into the first team still remains "a priority" for the club as they focus on nurturing homegrown talent and optimising the financial sustainability of the club. Academy director Allan McManus said: "We're looking to build a strategy that's going to help our young players get more experiences towards first-team football. The earlier we get young players exposed to first-team football, the better opportunities they'll have to go further in the game. "We feel that any of our players that will go will be looked after and treated the right way. Hopefully it's the start of a positive relationship that will last several years and we're excited that our young ones are going out there." He added: "We're all excited about the new cooperation agreements and the flexibility within them. I think it really helps the young players, they have the opportunity to be playing and learning. If they are thriving, then the manager can bring them back at any time and utilise them in the squad. "Part of our strategy as a football club is that we want to engage with our local community and the surrounding areas as well. Longer-term we want to build more of these agreements and we believe it's going to make a significant difference in the development of our young players."
The Herald Scotland
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
St Mirren finalise two co-operation club partnerships
St Mirren have finalised co-operation club agreements with Clydebank and Dumbarton under the new system launched by the Scottish FA. Chiefs at the Paisley club have struck deals with the Lowland League and League Two sides to take advantage of the new rules on loans under co-op club guidelines. Already, Carrick McEvoy, Thomas Falconer and Theo McCormick have joined League Dumbarton through the strategic partnership. Billy Hutchison, meanwhile, has moved to Clydebank under the co-op agreement. He had featured as a trialist for the club at the weekend. Under the new rules, up to three players can be placed on a co-operation list and will then be allowed freely to move between the co-op club and parent club. In theory, any of those sent to Dumbarton could be recalled to the St Mirren first-team and then sent back to Dumbarton without any loan rule complications. St Mirren chiefs are keen to take advantage of the new Scottish FA policy and work with local clubs. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said: "I firmly believe in the loan system to develop our young players and something that hindered that previously was not being able to bring them back at certain stages or leaving yourselves short in numbers. "With the cooperation agreement we are able to get them into men's football and develop under other coaches. Hopefully we can also help the coaches and the clubs they are going to. It will be a great benefit for both parties. "All in all, I believe it's a brilliant way to develop young players in Scotland and doesn't compromise any young players coming back into the first-team." Academy director, Allan McManus added: "We're looking to build a strategy that's going to help our young players get more experiences towards first-team football. "The earlier we get young players exposed to first-team football, the better opportunities they'll have to go further in the game. "We feel that any of our players that will go will be looked after and treated the right way. Hopefully it's the start of a positive relationship that will last several years and we're excited that our young ones are going out there. "Part of our strategy as a football club is that we want to engage with our local community and the surrounding areas as well. "We're all excited about the new cooperation agreements and the flexibility within them. I think it really helps the young players, they have the opportunity to be playing and learning. If they are thriving, then the manager can bring them back at any time and utilise them in the squad. "Longer-term we want to build more of these agreements and we believe it's going to make a significant difference in the development of our young players." St Mirren Chief operating officer Keith Lasley added: "As per the Scottish FA's Transition Report, it has been shown, as a country, that we need to try and produce more young footballers for the national team. "From a club point of view, it's something that we want to do as well. Making sure we transition as many young players from our academy into the first team and make that pathway as clear and concise as possible is a key point of our Performance pillar in our club strategy. "We see these cooperation agreements as a key step forward in allowing us to be more strategic in our planning and think long-term rather than what has been traditionally a short-term, reactive process. "We look forward to working with both Dumbarton and Clydebank. A big part of our strategy is working locally and we see this as a big development." Read more: Dumbarton manager Stevie Farrell said: "As a management team we have shown that we're not frightened to give young players an opportunity. And that will continue this season. "I met with Keith Lasley and Allan McManus on several occasions and I think this is the perfect fit for both clubs. "We have had a close working relationship with St Mirren over recent seasons which has allowed us to bring some talented players to the club, and we are now going one step further by formalising this. We have brought three talented players to the club this summer under the partnership and I am looking forward to working with St Mirren, giving younger talent, along with our own youth players, the opportunity to take their first steps in the senior game." Clydebank boss Gordon Moffat - who had Owen Carey on loan from St Mirren last season - said: "It's really positive news. We've had that relationship with St Mirren going back to last season when we brought Owen (Carey) into the club on loan. We've built the relationship at our level with Allan McManus and Craig McLeish, and now the clubs are building a relationship at boardroom level through the partnership. It's something I think is a real positive for Scottish football more widely. When we realised it could be an option to have that with St Mirren, we were keen and happy they have seen enough in us. "They trusted us last season with Owen, and we've had a few other lads in training with us so it's really positive. It does a lot more than just bringing players in, there's potential for us as coaches to go in and watch some sessions and learn from them so it's a really good move for both clubs."
The National
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
St Mirren finalise two co-operation club partnerships
St Mirren have finalised co-operation club agreements with Clydebank and Dumbarton under the new system launched by the Scottish FA. Chiefs at the Paisley club have struck deals with the Lowland League and League Two sides to take advantage of the new rules on loans under co-op club guidelines. Already, Carrick McEvoy, Thomas Falconer and Theo McCormick have joined League Dumbarton through the strategic partnership. Billy Hutchison, meanwhile, has moved to Clydebank under the co-op agreement. He had featured as a trialist for the club at the weekend. Under the new rules, up to three players can be placed on a co-operation list and will then be allowed freely to move between the co-op club and parent club. In theory, any of those sent to Dumbarton could be recalled to the St Mirren first-team and then sent back to Dumbarton without any loan rule complications. St Mirren chiefs are keen to take advantage of the new Scottish FA policy and work with local clubs. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said: "I firmly believe in the loan system to develop our young players and something that hindered that previously was not being able to bring them back at certain stages or leaving yourselves short in numbers. "With the cooperation agreement we are able to get them into men's football and develop under other coaches. Hopefully we can also help the coaches and the clubs they are going to. It will be a great benefit for both parties. "All in all, I believe it's a brilliant way to develop young players in Scotland and doesn't compromise any young players coming back into the first-team." Academy director, Allan McManus added: "We're looking to build a strategy that's going to help our young players get more experiences towards first-team football. "The earlier we get young players exposed to first-team football, the better opportunities they'll have to go further in the game. "We feel that any of our players that will go will be looked after and treated the right way. Hopefully it's the start of a positive relationship that will last several years and we're excited that our young ones are going out there. "Part of our strategy as a football club is that we want to engage with our local community and the surrounding areas as well. "We're all excited about the new cooperation agreements and the flexibility within them. I think it really helps the young players, they have the opportunity to be playing and learning. If they are thriving, then the manager can bring them back at any time and utilise them in the squad. "Longer-term we want to build more of these agreements and we believe it's going to make a significant difference in the development of our young players." St Mirren Chief operating officer Keith Lasley added: "As per the Scottish FA's Transition Report, it has been shown, as a country, that we need to try and produce more young footballers for the national team. "From a club point of view, it's something that we want to do as well. Making sure we transition as many young players from our academy into the first team and make that pathway as clear and concise as possible is a key point of our Performance pillar in our club strategy. "We see these cooperation agreements as a key step forward in allowing us to be more strategic in our planning and think long-term rather than what has been traditionally a short-term, reactive process. "We look forward to working with both Dumbarton and Clydebank. A big part of our strategy is working locally and we see this as a big development." Read more: Dumbarton manager Stevie Farrell said: "As a management team we have shown that we're not frightened to give young players an opportunity. And that will continue this season. "I met with Keith Lasley and Allan McManus on several occasions and I think this is the perfect fit for both clubs. "We have had a close working relationship with St Mirren over recent seasons which has allowed us to bring some talented players to the club, and we are now going one step further by formalising this. We have brought three talented players to the club this summer under the partnership and I am looking forward to working with St Mirren, giving younger talent, along with our own youth players, the opportunity to take their first steps in the senior game." Clydebank boss Gordon Moffat - who had Owen Carey on loan from St Mirren last season - said: "It's really positive news. We've had that relationship with St Mirren going back to last season when we brought Owen (Carey) into the club on loan. We've built the relationship at our level with Allan McManus and Craig McLeish, and now the clubs are building a relationship at boardroom level through the partnership. It's something I think is a real positive for Scottish football more widely. When we realised it could be an option to have that with St Mirren, we were keen and happy they have seen enough in us. "They trusted us last season with Owen, and we've had a few other lads in training with us so it's really positive. It does a lot more than just bringing players in, there's potential for us as coaches to go in and watch some sessions and learn from them so it's a really good move for both clubs."
Edinburgh Reporter
04-06-2025
- 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
